American Public Gardens Association

The American Public Gardens Association (APGA) is accepting proposals from organizations to facilitate APGA’s 2025 Garden Board Member Experience workshop series in Winter 2025. The successful applicant will create and present an engaging four-part webinar series that provides in-depth education for board members and leaders of the public horticulture industry. Application deadline: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4gjvMDC APGA’s Garden Board Member Experience is an annual program provided to the board members and executives of our member institutions. The goals and objectives of the Garden Board Member Experience vary year to year, addressing topical and timely themes that highlight the leadership qualities of successful board members and stress the importance of their role in the overall success of an organization. The participants of the Experience expect to learn from professionals in the nonprofit field and to come away with practical knowledge that they can use to best serve in their position as a board member. Board members in the horticultural field serve as trustees and advisors for public gardens, arboreta, historic estates, and more. The organizations they support may be large or small – our member institutions include those with operating budgets ranging from under $150,000 to more than $25M with employees numbering tens to hundreds. Attendees join from across the US and, in some cases, internationally. For clarification, please note that attendees are not Board Members for APGA but board members for our member organizations. The Garden Board Member Experience is a four-part webinar series for 50-60 attendees per session. Sessions take place over the course of two to three months, each focusing on a topic that supports the overarching theme of the Experience. #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #gardenexperience #RFP

Board nominations are OPEN! Nominations will close on DECEMBER 9, 2024. A strong Board represents its membership in as many ways as possible. We continue our focus on diversity including individual demographics, region, type of institution, and size of institution. All expressions of interest are considered as we look to advance the diversity and depth of the Board. To help increase representation from individuals representing small organizations, financial support is offered to help offset travel costs for board meetings. Some quick points: - The Board is composed of 15-18 members. - There are four meetings per year, with at least three occurring at a member garden. - The Board Member fulfills a three-year term. - This is a governance Board, supporting the operations leadership of the CEO and staff. - The Board has fiduciary oversight and responsibility. Most Board members find their service to be among the highlights of their careers. Announcements of nominations for openings will be posted here and through other communications channels. #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens

High Desert Horticultural Center (HDHC) in Bend, Oregon, is an educational, research, and propagation center that is committed to advancing the use of native plants for resource conservation in the high desert of the west. HDHC focuses on these four vital key issues: biodiversity, pollinator habitat, resource conservation, and the human environment. HDHC hosts educational programs to those in the industry or students and homeowners who want to learn more about native plants, native vegetation for design, and construction of native plant design. HDHC does an incredible job of providing the skills required to advance people's careers in landscape and restoration projects. Students who complete the workforce program will be educated in all aspects of restoration horticulture, from design and planning to construction and monitoring. These students can acquire a certification that is accredited by the Society for Ecological Restoration and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ef4vB2sJ Photo: Skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata) #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #bend #bendor #bendoregon #highdeserthorticulturalcenter #horticulture

Happy Hollydays! Visit our online APGA gift shop to find a special gift for yourself or a fellow APGA member! Go to this link: https://lnkd.in/eBwKhW42 #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #garden #gardengift #gardengifts #gardengiftideas #gardening #gardener #apga

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a drone soaring over the lush hills and shorelines of the island of Kaua'i as it searched and discovered a new plant species. Researchers from the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), Outreach Robotics, and Hawai?i’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, discovered this previously unknown cliff-dwelling plant thanks to using a drone and a robotic arm to collect the plant on the island of Kaua?i. The new plant, Schiedea waiahuluensis, is a member of the carnation family and one of 36 Schiedea species native to Hawai?i, and twelve of which are found only on Kaua?i. The discovery also led to discovering a new tiny insect called a mirid bug, which if proven to be entirely new, will also be the first insect to be found by a drone. National Tropical Botanical Garden's drone operator, Ben Nyberg, calls this new technology, "a game-changer for extreme cliff habitats." “We are learning so much about these often overlooked environments with drones and the Mamba robotic arm assisting plant conservation in ways we never thought possible,” Nyberg said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVYN3U-v Photos by Ben Nyberg #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #hawaii #kauai #drone #drones #dronetech #dronetechnology #plantconservation #ntbg #nationaltropicalbotanicalgarden

#FridayFlora - Since 2002, the Arnold Arboretum has been a member of the Plant Collections Network, a network of botanical gardens administered through the American Public Gardens Association in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The primary focus of the Plant Collections Network is the long-term preservation of germplasm for research. Participating institutions commit to holding and developing collections that are primarily organized at the genus level. The Arboretum holds eight collections for the Plant Collections Network: Acer (maple), Carya (hickory), Fagus (beech), Forsythia (forsythia), Ginkgo (ginkgo), Stewartia, Syringa (lilac), and Tsuga (hemlock). Our collections focus is on botanical taxa—cultivated plants are exempt—and our goal is to maximize diversity both within each genus and within each species. The Arboretum’s holdings of these eight genera are quite robust, representing some of the largest and best documented collections of their kind in the world. Because of their importance, our Collections Policy prioritizes their development and care as core collections. #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #flora #florafriday

The remnants of Tropical Storm Helene caused unimaginable destruction in its wake including throughout Asheville, North Carolina. Local governmental agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations are repurposing debris into use for local residents. FEMA's Interagency Recovery Coordination developed a project where thousands of trees damaged by Hurricane Helene will be repurposed. So far more than 320,000 pounds of trees and debris have been removed as part of the project. One huge aspect of the project includes clearing debris and fallen trees at the North Carolina Arboretum located in southern Asheville. The damaged trees will be repurposed into everything from firewood, furniture, mulch, and much more. The Citizen Times reported that they met with Drake Fowler, the Arboretum's executive director, along with members of the Army Corps of Engineer. Fowler led the Corps and a tour to assess the property. The group of Army Corps of Engineers' removal team were based out of Louisville, Kentucky. George Minges with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers said the flooding that Helene caused was the worst natural disaster he has covered. We have been saddened over the damage our members and residents endured from this storm. FEMA and other organizations are doing a wonderful job of repurposing the debris to support the local community. We wish them all well during this difficult time. Photo credit courtesy of Citizen Times / Michael Clevenger / Courier Times #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #northcarolina #asheville #ashevillenc #ashevillenorthcarolina #hurricanehelene #hurricanecleanup

Mizzou Botanic Garden in Columbia, Missouri, celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year! We hope they have had a wonderful year celebrating their anniversary. The 1,252-acre Garden was established in 1999 and is open and free to the public seven days a week. The Garden is part of University of Missouri and acts as a living lab for its students. Visitors can enjoy strolls along the Tree Trail or enjoy a scavenger hunt! There are tribute benches to sit and enjoy being surrounded by nature. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/esiXSHdU #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #mizzoubotanicgarden

#GivingTuesday is coming up on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024. This national giving movement helps to support non-profit organizations like APGA. The American Public Gardens Association is the premier source for professional development opportunities for over 11,000 public garden professionals at nearly 600 member gardens across the country and beyond. Your gift TODAY will help our garden professionals blossom in their careers TOMORROW. During this Global Day of Giving, please consider donating to APGA. Your support helps us continue to provide the garden industry with a standard of excellence through professional development learning opportunities, community networking, and more Donate here: https://lnkd.in/evUbca83 Thank you for your support! #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #givingtuesday #givingthanks #thanksgiving #happythanksgiving #supportlocalpublicgardens #supportlocalgardens #botanic #botanical #botanicalgarden

Now accepting annual award nominations! Please submit your completed nomination by January 8, 2025. The American Public Gardens Association Awards are public gardens’ best showcase for the most influential, thought-provoking individuals and organizations. These award winners set a professional precedent for other individuals and organizations to follow. 2025 Nomination Criteria: https://lnkd.in/eyCYy_rE #GoPublicGardens #PublicGarden #PublicGardens #annualawards #apgawards #gardenawards