The Garden Conservancy is a leading nonprofit organization working to preserve, share, and celebrate America's gardens and diverse gardening traditions. Through national programs, strategic partnerships, and public engagement, the Conservancy raises awareness of the vital role gardens play in the country’s cultural, historical, and environmental fabric. The organization is based in Garrison, New York.[1]
Since its establishment in 1989, the Garden Conservancy has supported the preservation of more than 100 significant gardens across the United States and developed a range of public programs to promote education and engagement with gardening. Its initiatives focus on helping both emerging and established gardens thrive as long-term community assets, drawing on expertise in design, restoration, and garden management.[1]
The Conservancy was founded by Francis H. Cabot, who was inspired to create the organization after visiting Ruth Bancroft’s dry garden in Walnut Creek, California. The visit led to the recognition of a broader need to protect privately owned gardens with horticultural or design significance.[2]
Programs
Open Days
Launched in 1995, Open Days has grown into the Conservancy’s flagship public program and the largest private garden-visiting initiative in the United States. It provides access to thousands of privately owned gardens across the country, many of which are not otherwise open to visitors. By 2025, the program had showcased more than 4,500 gardens in over 40 states. A 2024 New York Times profile described the program as “quietly unlocking some of the most impressive gardens in the country,” highlighting its role in expanding public appreciation of garden design and horticulture.[3]
Preservation
The Garden Conservancy has worked with more than 100 gardens to preserve their horticultural, historical, and cultural value. Its preservation efforts involve advising on restoration, assisting with nonprofit transitions, and helping with long-term sustainability. The Conservancy has provided support to gardens including Alcatraz Island (California), Ruth Bancroft Garden (California), Greenwood Gardens (New Jersey), John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden (New York), Peckerwood Garden (Texas), and Van Vleck House and Gardens (New Jersey).[1]
Documentary Films
Through the Suzanne & Frederic Rheinstein Garden Documentary Film Program, the Conservancy produces films that explore gardens as cultural landscapes. Recent projects include Earth, I Thank You: The Garden & Legacy of Anne Spencer, which premiered at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2025.[4][5]
Another film, A Garden in Conversation: Louise Agee Wrinkle’s Southern Woodland Sanctuary, focused on ecological gardening practices.[6]
Public Programs and Education
The Conservancy organizes lectures, symposia, webinars, and the Garden Futures Summit, a forum for exploring the cultural and environmental significance of gardens. The inaugural Garden Futures Summit was held in New York City in 2023 and brought together designers, horticulturists, architects, and cultural leaders to discuss the future of gardens in public life.[7]
Grants
The Garden Conservancy awards grants to support garden preservation and innovation. Its programs include the Garden Futures Fund, which supports innovative, community-centered projects, and the Jean and John Greene Prize, which recognizes excellence in garden preservation. Past recipients include McKee Botanical Garden in Florida and Ganna Walska Lotusland in California.[8]
Gardens
Since its founding, the Garden Conservancy has collaborated with more than 100 gardens across the United States to support their preservation and public access. Notable projects include Alcatraz Island in California, the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, Greenwood Gardens in New Jersey, the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in New York, Peckerwood Garden in Texas, and the Van Vleck House and Gardens in New Jersey.[1]
The Garden Conservancy has also been involved with historic properties such as The Chase Garden in Washington, The Fells in New Hampshire, Montrose in North Carolina, Rocky Hills in New York, Steepletop in New York, and Yew Dell Gardens in Kentucky.[1]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
