2016 Annual Conference Miami

Changing Perspectives: Planting for the Future

New perspectives breathe fresh life into everything we do. With public gardens, new perspectives can mean the difference between urban lots becoming indispensable green spaces, food oases or wasted spaces. Plant species can thrive from innovative conservation efforts or wane, finding or losing new ground. How can we take fresh ideas and put them into positive action in our own public gardens? What small steps will help us plant for tomorrow? What big new ideas are needed to confront the challenges of our ever-changing future?

The answers to these questions are at the heart of the 2016 Annual Conference. To plant the seeds for our future, we will cultivate and fertilize fresh ideas for the success of our public gardens together.

The American Public Gardens Association is the leading professional organization for the field of public horticulture. We advance the field by encouraging best practices, offering educational and networking opportunities, and advocating on behalf of our members, our programs and public gardens worldwide. We work together with our members and others to strengthen and shape public horticulture, providing the tools and support industry professionals need to better serve the public while preserving and celebrating plants creatively and sustainably.

Since 1940, we have been committed to increasing cooperation and awareness among gardens. Our members include more than 585 institutions, spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 24 countries. Our members include, but are not limited to, botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, museums, colleges and universities, display gardens, and research facilities.

Mission: American Public Gardens Association serves public gardens and advances them as leaders, advocates, and innovators.

Vision: A world where public gardens are indispensable.