Education

As part of the Garden Conservancy's mission to preserve, share, and celebrate America's gardens and diverse gardening traditions for the education and inspiration of the public, we organize and cosponsor lectures, symposia, webinars, garden tours, and Open Days across the country. Many of the programs are presented in partnership with public gardens, our preservation garden partners, and other like-minded organizations. Through all of our educational programs, we work to raise awareness of the important role gardens play in America's history, culture, and quality of life. 

National Speaking Tour

The Garden Conservancy National Speaking Tour brings leading thinkers and practitioners within the world of gardening to audiences throughout the US. Since 2018, we have brought leading scholars, authors, and experts in the fields of design, history, research, and preservation, to numerous locations so that their work can be shared with the public. Education is a key component of our mission, and through these annual events, we aim to inspire and engage those who have a passion for gardens and want to know further about the benefits that they bring to our lives.  

Virtual Programs

Garden Conservancy virtual programs aim to offer our members opportunities for online engagement, while addressing some of the seismic changes—ecological, economic, social, and cultural—that the world is experiencing today and exploring how these changes interact with the world of gardens. We presented our first webinar series, Gardens for a Changing World, in partnership with Lord Cultural Resources in July and August 2020. We have continued this tradition yearly since then.

Garden Masters Series

Started in 2019, Garden Masters Series programs are connoisseur-level educational programs at exclusive gardens.  Stay tuned! The 2025 Garden Master Series season will be announced shortly.

Open Days and Digging Deeper

Open Days is our most extensive public educational program and includes self-guided garden tours across the country as well as an assortment of site-specific Digging Deeper programs.

Garden Futures Grants

The Garden Conservancy’s Garden Futures Grant Program (previously known as Gardens for Good) is an initiative through which the Conservancy awards grants—typically ranging from $2,500 to $10,000—to small public gardens and other nonprofit organizations making a significant impact in their communities through garden-based programming.