News & Press

Meet Katie Tukey – AHS’s new Director of Development and Engagement

We’re thrilled to have Katie Tukey join the AHS team as the Director of Development and Engagement. Katie is a trained horticulturist with extensive experience in fundraising. Katie worked in horticulture with Walt Disney World’s Epcot, Longwood Gardens, and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and in development, she worked with Bowdoin College, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and most recently the Levine School of Music in DC.   

Please feel free to reach out to Katie and say hello! She can be reached at ktukey@ahsgardening.org / (703) 768-5700 ext. 144. 

News & Press

Give the Gift of Gardening for Mother’s Day

Wondering what to get mom for Mother’s Day this year? Look no further than an AHS membership! Mom will love exploring over 350 beautiful gardens across the country through our Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP), reading our exclusive, award-winning The American Gardener magazine, attending top-quality AHS webinars and events, accessing vetted educational materials and resources, and taking advantage of discounts on home and garden shows, seeds and gardening literature.  

Membership starts at only $35. Get your gift today.   

News & Press

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Earth Day reminds us to look at the beauty around us and to do our part in sustaining it. One of the many ways we can contribute to sustainability is by having sustainable gardens. Healthy soil, water usage, supporting animals and insects, selecting plants that are compatible with the environment, and using environmentally friendly gardening tools are all ways to become more sustainable. Let’s grow a greener future together!  

 

News & Press

Conversations with Great American Gardeners

The American Horticultural Society is pleased to announce the return of its national speaker series featuring current and past winners of the Great American Gardeners Awards and Book Awards. Since 1953, the AHS has been using these award programs to recognize and celebrate horticultural champions that represent the best in American gardening. This dedicated webinar series will provide an additional spotlight on these outstanding individuals. 

In a lively and engaging conversational format, speakers will share their knowledge and experience with our event host, Holly Shimizu, gardener to gardener. Holly is a nationally recognized horticulturist with a rich background in public gardens and garden communication. At the end of the discussion, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions.  

Wednesday, May 10 at 7pm ET
Dr. Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware
Winner of the B.Y. Morrison Communication Award (2018) 

Wednesday, June 14 at 7pm ET
Ira Wallace, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Winner of the Paul Ecke Jr. Commercial Award (2019) 

Wednesday, August 23 at 7pm ET
Dr. Lucinda McDade, California Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University
Winner of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award (2021)  

The series is free. RSVP required.

News & Press

Volunteer to Remove Invasives at our AHS Headquarters

 

Looking for a volunteer opportunity this spring? River Farm is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive overgrowth. Join AHS staff and other fellow volunteers on April 22, May 6, and May 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  

 

 

 

 

You DO NOT need to have horticultural experience.  

You DO NOT need tools. AHS will provide them.  

You DO NEED to wear sturdy shoes, long pants and long sleeves. AHS has limited availability of gloves.  

Contact Jack Greenfield with question and to RSVP: jgreenfield@ahsgardening.org / (703) 768-5700 ext. 133. 

News & Press

Read the March/April issue of The American Gardener!

The March/April edition of The American Gardener magazine is out! In this edition, members can read how North American irises can be found for almost any garden setting in “Indulge in Native Irises” by C. Colston Burrell; incorporating unique regional features to create a lovely, functional space in “Dry Climate Garden Design: Plant Placement” by Noelle Johnson; encouraging wildlife with native dogwoods in “Wildlife-Friendly Native Dogwoods” by Alan J. Branhagen; and an inspirational piece to urge us to open our minds and play like children in the natural classroom in “In Defense of The Courageous Gardener” by Marianne Willburn.  

In addition, we celebrate and honor the six recipients of the 2023 Great American Gardeners Awards and the three recipients of the AHS Book Awards! Please meet our winners! 

While the award-winning The American Gardener is an exclusive benefit for members, we’d like to share with everyone a captivating story about the life-threatening existence of North American bees, “Gardening for Native Bees” by Jessie Keith. You can read it here.  

AHS MEMBERS log in here to view the digital edition. You will also receive a print version in the mail.  

If you are not a member of AHS, join and become a member to read the entire issue online, and also receive 6 printed issues a year plus many other wonderful benefits. 

News & Press

An Interview with AHS Board Chair, Scott C. Plein

Please meet Scott Plein, Chairman of the American Horticultural Society’s Board of Directors since July 2022. He has been a wealth of knowledge and advice, providing strategic direction and oversight of the organization and River Farm, AHS’s headquarters in Alexandria, VA.  

 

Scott wants to see “… that we make the AHS a more influential voice and resource to everybody who loves horticulture.” He also wants to promote a horticulture that is both sensitive to ecological concerns and promotes traditional horticultural practices at the same time.  

 

David Ellis, editor of The American Gardener, interviews Plein in the January/February issue of the magazine. Find out about the Board’s key objectives for the AHS, the challenges facing the horticulture industry, AHS’s role nationally and regionally, and the top priorities of River Farm.  

 

Read the full interview.  

News & Press

Save the Date: 2023 AHS Gala

Mark your calendar for the 2023 AHS Gala celebrating 50 years that AHS has called River Farm “home.” The Gala, to be held on September 23rd, 2023 at River Farm, will be the perfect opportunity to show your support for AHS and River Farm, visit our treasured headquarters, connect with fellow supporters, and enjoy a magical evening of good food, drink, entertainment and conversation.   

 

News & Press

AHS & River Farm Closed in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

 

 “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree today.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.   

 

 

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, American Horticultural Society and River Farm will be closed on January 16. We encourage our staff and AHS members to volunteer to improve their communities on this National Day of Service.   

 Together, we are a family of gardeners sharing and planting seeds of hope, compassion, acceptance, equity, and peace.    

 

~ The AHS Team 

News & Press

Ring in the New Year with More Member Discounts to Garden Shows!

Two more great reasons to be a member of AHS!

  1. Discounts to garden shows
  2. Educational opportunities on horticulture’s relationship with environmental wellness

AHS members will receive discounts to the following three flower and garden shows (in addition to shows produced by MarketPlace Events). These shows will be presenting the AHS Environmental Awards which recognize exhibits of horticultural excellence that best demonstrate the bond between horticulture and the environment. Exhibits will be judged by the criteria of design, aesthetics, plant material, and environmental stewardship.

We are pleased to be a part of the environmental movement and to share these benefits with our AHS members.