2025 Great American Gardeners Awards
Since 1953, the American Horticultural Society’s Great American Gardeners Awards program has recognized individuals and organizations that have achieved horticultural excellence to fields such as plant research, garden stewardship, horticultural outreach, and teaching. This year, the AHS recognizes seven of these individuals/organizations with its 2025 Great American Gardeners Awards.
The AHS’ 2025 Great American Gardeners Award Committee was chaired by Holly Shimizu, AHS board member and former director of the United States Botanic Garden, based in Glen Echo, MD. Members of the 2025 awards committee include Diane Blazek, executive director, All-America Selections/National Garden Bureau (IL); Lee Coykendall, former senior education specialist at the US Botanic Garden (Washington, D.C.); Kate Delaney, director of career development, Society of American Florists (PA); Panayoti Kelaidis, AHS board member and senior curator/director of outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens (CO); Dr. David Kopsell, professor of horticulture, Illinois State University (IL); Kelly D. Norris, author, plantsman, and landscape designer (IA).
Liberty Hyde Bailey Award
Given to an individual who has made significant lifetime contributions to at least three of the following horticultural fields: teaching, research, communications, plant exploration, administration, art, business, and leadership.
Brian Kemble, The Ruth Bancroft Garden
Walnut Creek, CA
Brian Kemble has dedicated nearly half a century making an incredible mark on the field of horticulture. He is the curator at The Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery, a botanical garden specializing in plants from arid climates. Over the years, he studied the founder’s design principles, expanded her collection, created new hybrids, and played an important role in transitioning the garden to a nonprofit. Beyond his work at the garden, Kemble has led highly impactful and hands-on research on succulents, as well as efforts to make the plants more accessible. Kemble excels not only as a horticulturist and leader, but also as a researcher, plant explorer, communicator, teacher, and mentor.
Leadership and Administration
Kemble’s exceptional leadership has been instrumental in shaping The Ruth Bancroft Garden to become not only a dynamic small public garden in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, but, as dubbed by Travel and Leisure magazine, “the most beautiful garden in the world.” He has transformed Ruth Bancroft’s private collection into a thriving public garden that inspired the founding of The Garden Conservancy and attracts 40,000 annual visitors.
As curator, Kemble has expanded the plant collection, introduced new hybrids, and maintained older specimens. His long association with the garden has cultivated a deep understanding of the site’s unique climate and soils, allowing him to establish the best horticultural practices for the garden staff and to advise on operations and maintenance for the best presentation of the garden’s outstanding collection of arid-climate plants.
In the era of climate change, Kemble’s leadership has promoted climate-conscious gardening and showcases the wonders of plants from arid climates. The Ruth Bancroft Garden serves as a model for climate resilient landscapes and gardens of the future. His commitment to public education has driven the garden’s mission to bring waterwise, climate-resilient gardening beyond its own gates and into the broader community.
Plant Exploration and Research
While Kemble has dedicated years to a small botanical garden in the suburbs of California, his extensive plant explorations have taken him to many corners of the globe. On his travels, he has searched for succulent plants in their natural habitats, studying their geographical distribution, cultural needs, and taxonomy. Throughout his explorations, he has applied what he learned to create new hybrids, promote conservation efforts, and share knowledge about many rare species. As an avid photographer, he has contributed images from his travels to numerous publications and is currently working on a field guide to the plants of Oaxaca.
Kemble is widely recognized for his encyclopedic knowledge of dry gardens and his expertise of the genera Aloe and Agave. He has sought out many of the choicest succulents, propagated them and made them available to hobbyists and professionals alike throughout his career. Kemble’s plant exploration and research is a contributing factor in the rising recognition and popularity of succulents in North America. Succulents’ durability and heat tolerance have not only made them the centerpieces of more and more landscapes, but they have inspired a new generation to horticulture.
Communication and Teaching
Communication and teaching are perhaps where Kemble shines the most. He has created an outstanding education program at the garden, expanding its reach internationally. From leading garden tours to creating “what’s in bloom” updates to posting videos of the garden online, he offers interpretation on the importance of waterwise, climate-resilient gardens.
Kemble writes for both lay gardeners and professionals in the horticulture community, with over 600 publications to his name. His writings in national and international publications, drawn from his observation of their natural habitats and combined with his cultivation experiences, have significantly expanded our collective understanding of these captivating and useful plants. If that were not enough, Kemble is also an accomplished artist, regularly providing photographs for relevant publications and initiatives. His exhibitions of Agave images have captivated audiences at the Garden and beyond.
From the Martha Stewart Show to the Seoul Botanic Park’s 2021 International Symposium, Kemble lectures across a wide spectrum of audiences and geographies. He has been a prime mover in public horticulture not only in the Bay area but across the country and the world as a sought-after speaker and authority. Brian is considered a leader in the Cactus and Succulent Society of America.
In the words of Brian Kemble’s colleagues, “It is rare to find someone with the level of devotion to a place, a community, and a field of study that Brian possesses. Over these years, he has mentored many, generously sharing his time and knowledge while always leading with enthusiasm rather than ego. His generous spirit is evident in the way he shares seeds and plants across countless gardens, as well as the many hours he devotes to helping others.”
Emerging Horticultural Professional Award
Given in the early stages of an individual’s career, this award recognizes significant achievements and/or leadership that have advanced the field of horticulture in America.
Amanda Bratcher, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Sanford, NC
Amanda Bratcher is the horticulture agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County. In this capacity, she leads and trains the Master Gardeners, improves the Pollinator Haven Garden and coordinates the area’s Pollinator Census, leads a regional Small Farms Camp, and brings technical expertise and educational enrichment to the Farm to Early Care and Education Project. Bratcher shines in the field, developing new relationships across government agencies and making site and farm visits to ensure that local growers receive vital support. She is praised for her innovation, motivation, project management, and subject matter expertise. Her work has increased awareness and appreciation for the value of horticultural support from state university extension systems, and it has demonstrated a promising standard for community engagement and diplomacy efforts with horticulture.
Previous to her work with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Bratcher served as the curator of the Mobile Botanical Gardens and Juniper Level Botanic Garden, preceded by internships at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, JC Raulston Arboretum, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the Polly Hill Arboretum. She received her Bachelor’s degree in horticultural science, with minors in Plant Biology and Agroecology, from NC State University, and her Masters of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Jane L. Taylor Award
Given to an individual, organization, or program that has inspired and nurtured future horticulturists through efforts in children’s and youth gardening.
Amy Padolf, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Coral Gables, FL
Amy Padolf is the Director of Education at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, where she oversees multidisciplinary plant science education programs for pre-kindergarten through post graduate studies, teacher professional development, adult education, and community gardening. For nearly three decades, Padolf has been a driving force behind the creation of pioneering science education programs that seamlessly connect research and education within formal and informal educational contexts. During her 15-year tenure at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, she has played a pivotal role in spearheading, coordinating, and securing funding for innovative plant science education initiatives on a national and international scale.
Padolf’s work has taken hands-on, data-driven, laboratory-based plant science to a new level. She directs the award-winning Fairchild Challenge, which reaches 125,000+ PreK-12 students annually with STEM-based, multi-disciplinary programs and creates scalable, impactful educational frameworks. Her high-impact initiatives also include the Million Orchid Project, the nation’s largest educational outreach program dedicated to orchid conservation. Padolf’s most recent accomplishments include establishing the nation’s first botany magnet elementary and high schools; partnering with NASA to create Growing Beyond Earth®, an international citizen science project to support indoor agriculture in space and on Earth; and creating the first makerspace in a botanic garden to address the technology of food production.
As a mentor and renowned leader in the field, Padolf was the keynote lecturer at the 8th Global Botanic Garden Congress in Singapore in 2024, where she shared that education is critical to save plant life from extinction, offering examples from her own work that inspired and modelled the highest standards in botanical and horticultural education. She holds a BS in Rhetoric and an MS in Science Education and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Research.
Garden Stewardship Award
Given to a public garden that embraces and exemplifies sustainable horticultural practices in design, maintenance, and/or programs.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Vail, CO
With a mission to protect the alpine environment through education, conservation and living plants collections, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is one of the world’s premier specialized botanical gardens. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is the highest elevation botanical garden in North America, situated at 8,200 feet in the central Rocky Mountains. The Gardens attracts almost 200,000 visitors annually to see its unique collection of alpine and mountain plants collected from around the world. Featuring an Education Center, Alpine House and active conservation and education programs, the Gardens is a showcase both for using native plants in the landscape and for educating about the different ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens demonstrates exemplary stewardship in several aspects of its landscape, education, and operations. Its Mountain Waterwise Garden showcases low water landscaping, emphasizing drought-tolerant, adaptable, native plant selection and interpretation. The Education Center, which features a living green roof and is powered entirely by renewable energy, hosts the Sustainable Landscaping Series and the Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project to engage the community. Sustainable operational practices include using drip irrigation with weather sensors and water meters, electric power tools, non-synthetic fertilizer, and recycled materials; responsibly reusing pots; hosting zero-waste events; and diverting 80% of the organization’s waste through efforts such as composting.
To further stewardship beyond their own property, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens co-published the North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Alpine Plant Conservation. The Gardens also work for global sustainability and conservation as members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Center for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, and the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation.
Landscape Design Award
Given to an individual whose work has demonstrated and promoted the value of sustainable horticultural practices in the field of landscape architecture.
Lauren Springer 
Fort Collins, CO
For over four decades, Lauren Springer has created groundbreaking, plant-driven, site-specific design. Starting with her groundbreaking book The Undaunted Garden and continuing through her current work with The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, CO, she has had an enormous impact on the composition of gardens across the western U.S. Springer has pioneered a new plant palette, introducing western gardeners to the kinds of plants now considered contemporary and widely promoted by programs like Plant Select. Country Gardens has featured her private garden designs and work at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Springer has shifted the horticultural landscapes by growing, breeding, and introducing plants and designing water-wise and sustainable landscapes. She has deep first-hand knowledge of how specific plants grow in the wild and in cultivation, and how to expertly incorporate them into garden designs. Springer designs and tends diverse and beautiful public naturalistic gardens to make human-plant connection accessible to everyday gardeners and professionals alike.
With many of her plantings in the public eye and widely published, Springer’s creativity has spawned a new approach to gardening that is as timely and relevant now as it was prescient early in her career. Her work has given another generation of designers a new vocabulary and language for crafting landscapes in challenging climates and biomes. The American Horticultural Society recognizes the meaningful contributions Lauren Springer has made on western United States horticulture and more broadly through her writing, speaking, and plantsmanship.
B.Y. Morrison Communication Award
Recognizes effective and inspirational communication – through print, radio, television, and/or online media – that advances public interest and participation in horticulture.
Stephanie Cohen
Collegeville, PA
Stephanie Cohen is a renowned author and speaker who has dedicated over thirty years to horticulture communication. Her lively, informative approach combines practical skills and knowledge with environmental stewardship, making horticulture accessible and exciting for all levels. Cohen’s first book, The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer, was a Storey Publishing best seller and set the bar high for other perennial references. She wrote two subsequent books – Fallscaping: Extending Your Gardening Season into Autumn and The Nonstop Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Plant Choices and Four-Season Designs – as well as articles for Country Living Gardener, Blooms of Bressingham Perennial Program, American Beauties Program, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Magazine, Organic Gardening, Fine Gardening, and Green Profit. Many of Cohen’s writings and lectures drew on her experience trialing plants for different nurseries and growers in her own garden, well as her experience as founding director of the Arboretum at Temple University. In that capacity, she also taught horticulture and design, mentoring generations of horticulturists in many facets of the industry.
Throughout her career, Cohen has demonstrated unwavering dedication to advancing horticultural knowledge and practices. She has been a driving force in the Perennial Plant Association, American Nursery and Landscape Association, and Garden Communicators International, advocating for sustainability and inclusion. Her contributions have fostered a lasting sense of camaraderie and collaboration within the horticultural community. Cohen has received awards from the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, is a fellow of GardenComm, and was named a Garden Communicator of the Year by the former American Nursery and Landscape Association. She also continues to serve as Editor Emerita on the masthead of Fine Gardening. Her ability to communicate complex ideas in a relatable, direct, and engaging manner has elevated the discourse in our field and provided invaluable resources for both amateurs and seasoned professionals.
Frances Jones Poetker Award
Recognizes significant contributions to floral design in publications, on the platform, and to the public.
Amy Merrick
New Hampshire, New York, and around the globe
Amy Merrick is a floral designer, stylist, writer, and teacher with global impact and a sensibility that has been called, “pure poetry, both simple and refined.” Merrick’s expertise stems from years owning a floral studio in New York City that created arrangements for museums and magazines. From there, she spent time as a flower farmer in Washington State, a gardener in England, an ikebana student in Japan, and a foraged floral arranging teacher in Italy. She has created installations for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA PS1, and Kamisoe Studios in Kyoto. Merrick’s floral styling has been published in Vogue, Architectural Digest, and Martha Stewart Living.
Merrick’s book On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist gathers her film photographs, intimate essays, inspirations and a fresh perspective for living with and loving flowers. It was named a Best Gift Book of the Year by InStyle and praised in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Flower Magazine. Merrick’s floral design, writing, and photographs have also been published in The Wall Street Journal, House & Garden UK, and Pleasure Garden Magazine, and she is featured in Jennifer Jewell’s The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants. Over the past fifteen years, Merrick has set floral design trends that have inspired hundreds of thousands of people.