As a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) The Arboretum at the University of Guelph will be celebrating Public Gardens Day along with over 500 other gardens worldwide.
Scheduled for May 6, the Friday preceding Mother’s Day weekend, National Public Gardens Day is a day of awareness in which communities nationwide are invited to visit and learn about the important role their public gardens play in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education.
“National Public Gardens Day is not only a great time for families and enthusiasts to enjoy the gardens, but the public also witnesses the achievements and expertise provided by public gardens, especially in the area of environmental stewardship,” said Dan Stark, executive director of the APGA. “Regardless of their size, all public gardens share a common commitment to providing outreach programs aimed at engaging their communities and educating future generations on the irreplaceable value of plants.”
It is a time for the public to recognize that gardens are not just beautiful places and great sources of inspiration, but they are demonstrations of how green spaces can entertain, educate, and inspire people all while positively contributing to the surrounding eco-system.
In celebration of botanical gardens, arboreta, conservatories, educational gardens, and historical landscapes, many of the APGA’s 500 member institutions will mark the day with special events and activities for schools, families and thousands of visitors.
While many of the gardens in warmer climes will have activities continuing through Mother’s Day weekend, staff at the Guelph Arboreteum will still be fully engaged in spring clean-up activities as it enters another season of offering visitors a place to enjoy the beauty of the arboretum while learning about a commitment to education, research, and environmental stewardship.
Founded in 1940, Pennsylvania-based American Public Gardens Association is an organization devoted to strengthening the public gardens throughout North America. With over 70 years of work increasing cooperation and awareness among the gardens, APGA has built a membership of more than 500 public gardens located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and seven other countries.
The members include public gardens as well as arboreta and zoos.
APGA has also built up an international network of individual members in the U.S., Canada, and 24 other countries. The APGA is committed to increasing public awareness for public gardens and supplying resources to the industry.
Through itsleadership, public gardens have become vital to public appreciation and understanding of the irreplaceable value of plants. For more information, visit http://www.publicgardens.org.
