National Public Gardens Day
Encyclopedia
National Public Gardens Day, occurring annually on the Friday before Mother's Day
, is a day to promote awareness of botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, historic gardens, or any of North America's public gardens. The day was established by The American Public Gardens Association, a Pennsylvania
non-profit organization that supports, resources and promotes public gardens in North America, in partnership with their sponsor, Rain Bird
. The national spokesperson for National Public Gardens Day is Paul James
, host of HGTV
's Gardening By The Yard.
Created in 2009 as a way to increase public awareness of the educational resources public gardens provide to local communities, National Public Gardens Day was adopted by the members of the American Public Gardens Association, to highlight programs such as plant conservation, water conservation
, the preservation of green spaces, and home gardening.
celebrated National Public Gardens Day beginning in 2009 with activities that varied by garden. The Atlanta Botanical Garden
invited visitors to bring flowers, so that they could be put into arrangements for patients and their families at Children's Hospital
The Desert Botanical Garden
, Phoenix AZ, asked visitors to pledge to conserve water, displaying four hundred 5-gallon water containers that pledgers could adopt. . National spokesperson Paul James
visited media gardens, speaking with the public and media about the role public gardens play in the local community.
In 2010, Senator Durbin (IL) spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of recognizing National Public Gardens Day, listing the US Botanic Garden and gardens in Illinois
as an example.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
, is a day to promote awareness of botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, historic gardens, or any of North America's public gardens. The day was established by The American Public Gardens Association, a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
non-profit organization that supports, resources and promotes public gardens in North America, in partnership with their sponsor, Rain Bird
Rain Bird
Rain Bird Corporation is a large privately held manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, based in Azusa, California.-History:...
. The national spokesperson for National Public Gardens Day is Paul James
Paul James (gardener)
Paul James is a TV gardener from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Known as "The Gardener Guy," he has been the host of the HGTV show Gardening by the Yard since 1996. He is the creator, writer and senior producer and shoots almost the entire show in his own backyard....
, host of HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
's Gardening By The Yard.
Created in 2009 as a way to increase public awareness of the educational resources public gardens provide to local communities, National Public Gardens Day was adopted by the members of the American Public Gardens Association, to highlight programs such as plant conservation, water conservation
Water conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.- Water conservation :Water conservation can be defined as:...
, the preservation of green spaces, and home gardening.
Activities
Members of the American Public Gardens AssociationAmerican Public Gardens Association
The American Public Gardens Association is an association of public-garden institutions and professionals primarily in the United States and Canada....
celebrated National Public Gardens Day beginning in 2009 with activities that varied by garden. The Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Incorporated in 1976, the garden's mission is to "develop and maintain plant collections for the purposes of display, education, conservation, research and...
invited visitors to bring flowers, so that they could be put into arrangements for patients and their families at Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital is the name for many hospitals that care for children including:*Arkansas Children's Hospital*Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center*Children's Hospital *Children's Hospital...
The Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located within Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937 and established at this site in 1939, the garden now has...
, Phoenix AZ, asked visitors to pledge to conserve water, displaying four hundred 5-gallon water containers that pledgers could adopt. . National spokesperson Paul James
Paul James (gardener)
Paul James is a TV gardener from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Known as "The Gardener Guy," he has been the host of the HGTV show Gardening by the Yard since 1996. He is the creator, writer and senior producer and shoots almost the entire show in his own backyard....
visited media gardens, speaking with the public and media about the role public gardens play in the local community.
In 2010, Senator Durbin (IL) spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of recognizing National Public Gardens Day, listing the US Botanic Garden and gardens in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
as an example.
Recognition
National Public Gardens Day was recognized in both 2009 and 2010 by various levels of government:- The City of Philadelphia, PA
- The City of Dallas, TX
- The City of Belmont, NC
- The State of Delaware
- The Town of Framingham, MA
- The State of California, State Assembly
- The State of California, Governor's Office
- The State of Florida
- The United States Congress