Bees, bats and butterflies all have one thing in common — they are pollinators! Pollination is a process that is imperative to the success of nearly all-terrestrial life on earth. Humans need healthy pollinator populations to support our food system...

Hear from a diverse panel on how to use inclusive interpretation of gardens and historic landscapes to reach a broader audience.

Panelists include Shaun Spencer-Hester of the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, Lynchburg, VA; Peggy Cornett...

How do you create that perfect combination of interpretive vehicles to reach your various audiences? Our panelists explore the right mix of brochures, QR codes, signage, apps, and other tools to connect our visitors to our beautiful garden spaces....

A strong interpretive theme statement provides a clear big idea and the "so what" message that can help deepen visitor experience. Interpretive themes are typically used for signage projects and programming, but they can be used for so much more. In...

Native plants are important to the landscape. However, there is little clear information out there informing the lay public on native plant scientific benefits, uses in the landscape, and sourcing of plants. As centers of science, public gardens have a...

Polls continue to show distressingly high percentages of people around the world do not accept that evolution has occurred. Even among individuals who accept evolution, surveys indicate that many do not understand its mechanistic basis, natural...

Earth Day Network is committed to supporting parents and teachers in providing engaging environmental education opportunities. As students and parents all over the world face a new reality of learning from home and teachers work hard to transition to...

How public gardens and arboreta evaluate their education programs determines the stories they can tell about those programs’ ability to positively impact their targeted audience and the broader community, and to build collaborations with research...

Story is a powerful, provocative interpretive medium in botanical gardens. Plants already have a hard time attracting the interest of a plant-blind public, and lists of facts do little to bring them alive. Botanical gardens and their collections are...

Humanity faces numerous challenges in adapting to a changing planet. Public gardens are an ideal setting in which to engage the public on how to be part of the solution. Climate disruption, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, food security,...

Interpretation is the best tool for orienting visitors and connecting them to a garden’s mission. Gardens also function as a gateway to the natural world and a lifelong learning tool for visitors of all ages. Studies have shown that over 80% of garden...

In an era of large-scale science-related challenges and rapid advancements in groundbreaking science with major societal implications, communicating about science is critical. The profile of
science communication has increased over the last few...

This conifer exhibit created by Morton Arboretum is now available for download! These are great digital displays/panels that educate the public about the ecological and social importance of conifers. 

This paper provides evidence from the literature regarding the social benefits associated with plants and how they influence the physiological, psychological, and cognitive well-being constructs affecting quality of life. These benefits are segmented...

The recent publication of a World Scientistsʼ Warning to Humanity highlighted the fact that climate change, absent strenuous mitigation or adaptation efforts, will have profound negative effects for humanity and other species, affecting numerous...

Academic campuses across the Great Plains can serve as landscapes for teaching and learning about native flora of cultural importance with regard to food, medicine, and lifeways. Campus visitors (tourists) and local community members could benefit from...

Despite the importance of bees, there is a gap in the public's understanding of them. To help address this gap, we developed the outreach tool Experience Bees, a series of simple learning and hands-on activities to teach community members about bees...

Educators know, based on years of research, that effective learning happens when learners are:

• Actively engaged (as opposed to passive recipients of information)
• Equal partners in the learning process
• Socially engaged
...

Opening a new or renovated garden/garden space doesn't end with construction and plants! That's when the communications and marketing teams gear up to prepare the space for visitors and then work to get the word out. Join us to hear from gardens across...

Public Gardens are positioned to not only support the protection of plants but lessons about how they intersect with thriving communities as well. Indigenous communities and their associated values are critical components to developing solutions to...