Gardens of Alcatraz. Photo Caitlin Atkinson.

Preservation

The Garden Conservancy's garden preservation program is our primary means of fulfilling the “preserve” portion of our mission.

The Garden Conservancy is dedicated to a dynamic and expansive approach to garden preservation. Our broad perspective captures the full complexity of gardens as cultural, historical, and ecological landscapes; seeks to ensure long-term sustainability; and engages diverse audiences. This strategy protects not only the physical aspects of gardens but also their unique stories, layered significance, and biodiversity that foster a deeper public connection and commitment to their preservation for future generations.

Overview

The broader view requires a more complex preservation narrative, integrating a wide range of activities that go beyond traditional preservation. We recognize and celebrate the multi-faceted nature of gardens as living assets. We achieve this through:

On-the-ground restoration: Physical restoration that also preserves the gardens' stories, breathing new life into historic and culturally significant landscapes.
Conservation easements: Legal protections that ensure gardens are preserved in perpetuity, maintaining their unique character, history, and cultural heritage
Documentary film: A powerful means of storytelling that broadens our understanding of gardens as culture.
Education and advocacy: Programs that empower professionals and communities to preserve public gardens and recognize and protect gardens at risk.

By weaving together threads of history, ecology, community engagement, and storytelling, we aim to create a more holistic understanding of why gardens matter and why they deserve to be preserved.

Blithwood Garden in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. — Blithewood Gardens, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.

Gardens at Palmdale in Fremont, California. — Gardens at Palmdale, Fremont, CA.

Hollister House in Washington, Connecticut. — Hollister House in Washington, CT.

How Preservation Works

The Garden Conservancy's Preservation department works to preserve and restore gardens in many ways, in both short-term and long-term partnerships, employing multiple services.

We help restore, rescue, & rehabilitate public gardens.

All gardens are living works of art and face ongoing challenges, both natural and manmade. We have helped gardens recapture their original design excellence after natural disasters such as hurricanes, or to recover from decades of neglect. These gardens are often of historical and cultural significance; many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or are National Historic Landmarks.

Examples include:

We assist gardens by providing a range of preservation services.

We help private gardens become public gardens.

These collaborations tend to be long-term in nature, entailing many different steps and many partners, and using multiple planning tools and preservation strategies. Each case is different, but the examples below illustrate some of the many steps in the transition.

Examples include:

Documentary Film

Underutilized in preservation, documentary film is a powerful storytelling tool that deepens our understanding of gardens as culture. It is a vital component of our preservation strategy, adding impact to how we share the stories of gardens and their significance. Through film, we illuminate gardens as cultural legacies and communicate that concept to diverse audiences:

Amplifying narratives: Our films highlight the history, significance, and challenges faced by gardens, amplifying a diversity of voices and stories.
Archival materials: Incorporating photos, letters, drawings, and ephemera, our films capture the spirit of each garden, preserving its story for future generations.
Inspiring engagement: Each film aims to educate, evoke thought, and inspire action, broadening the preservation narrative.

Our goals are to transport viewers, spark thought-provoking conversations, and foster a deeper connection to the living gardens as culture by communicating the power of preservation.

Watch Films