The United States Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association are working to support public gardens and their partners in facilitating collaborative food-growing and education programs. For 2021, the...

The Fall and Winter seasons signal many beautiful changes in the Garden landscape; from colorful leaves to Holiday Lights. Fall and Winter also signals the beginning of the flu season, which according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (...

The COVID-19 pandemic hit public gardens and arboreta in a variety of ways. Many institutions had to shut down entirely. Most retained skeleton crews onsite to maintain plants, though no visitors would be able to appreciate them. Others, like the...

This is a clip from Natural Start's COVID-19 Forum focused on plans for reopening nature-based early childhood programs. Megan Gessler of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, shares her program's plans for reopening.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world in many ways. People with disabilities, people with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, and people over the age 60, are at a higher risk of becoming infected and most...

With the current global spotlight on wild animal markets as a possible source of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is easy to forget that the biggest flows of “wildlife” in trade involve plants, not animals. This report summarises what is known about the trade...

Look for signs of anxiety in body language, tone and cadence. Understand that crisis behavior reflects a need and consider what it is the other person might want. 

Dealing with individuals who are belligerent, hostile, or noncompliant can be an everyday occurrence. Your effective response to this defensive behavior is often the key to avoiding
a physical confrontation with an out-of-control individual....

This general guidance applies to Smithsonian staff and volunteers. 

Across the world, we’re beginning to see museums, zoos, gardens, and other cultural sites reopen after coronavirus closures. Many are initiating phased reopenings, using timed-ticketing and contactless modes of entry, opening to members only, and/or...

Mt. Cuba Center is intent on keeping our employees, guests, and business partners safe while at Mt. Cuba Center. To provide guidance as we navigate this new normal, we have developed a Reopening Playbook that lays out new safety and operation protocols...

This document provides guidance for outdoor museums, open air galleries, botanical gardens, and other outdoor exhibition spaces to support a safe, clean environment for workers.

The objective of the Field Guide for Camps on Implementation of CDC Guidance is to provide educational materials for camp staff to reduce potential exposures to and spread of COVID-19. 

This document is a working blueprint for reopening the Atlanta Botanical Garden safely
following the COVID-19 shutdown. The Garden will update this plan regularly as new recommendations from health experts and government officials are made...

The following are the minimum recommended health protocols for all museums and libraries choosing to operate in Texas. Museums and libraries may adopt additional protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the...

See Longwood Gardens COVID-19 reopening plan. 

These plans and guidelines are subject to change. You can also view their printable visitor map as a companion resource. 

Please view Longwood Gardens Capacity Distribution and Guest Circulation COVID 19 Reopening Plan. 

For the safety of all guests and employees, the Botanical Garden will adhere to City and State requirements for re-opening the gates when the time is right. People need nature now more than ever as we re-emerge cautiously...

Denver Botanic Gardens plans to re-open both its York Street and Chatfield Farms locations in phases, with the initial phase beginning as early as the week of May 18. The re-opening will adhere to appropriate municipal and state guidelines and...