Our Programs

Relevant, influential and pivotal programming is essential to the American Public Gardens Association’s outreach and goals.

Key programs address some of the most crucial needs of our times regarding plant collections, research, and resilience.

Disaster Readiness Initiative

The Disaster Readiness Initiative works to establish public gardens as cornerstones of resilient, healthy communities. The initiative builds capacity and enhances the ability to extol how public gardens can provide solutions to local and global challenges.

Plant Collections Network

Through its Nationally Accredited Plant Collections program, the Association coordinates a continent-wide approach to plant germplasm preservation and promotes excellence in plant collections management.

Plant Protection Program

The Plant Protection Program encompasses a variety of activities and resources that engage public gardens in forest health protection and plant conservation including the Sentinel Plant Network and Plant Heroes.

Urban Agriculture Resilience Program

In 2020, the U.S. Botanic Garden and the Association initiated the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program. Since its inception, the program has provided financial awards to 80 urban agriculture projects nationwide, promoting public garden participation in collaborations that combine food growing and education while addressing food security challenges facing communities.

Public Gardens Sustainability Index

The Public Gardens Sustainability Index is a suite of Environmental, Social, and Economic attributes that comprise an organization’s overall sustainability. By addressing each attribute, gardens improve resource management, define leadership best practices for cultural institutions, and deliver meaningful environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Tree Gene Conservation Partnership

A partnership with the United States Forest Service’s Forest Health Protection to establish living gene banks of US at-risk tree species native to the United States, by collecting seed from across its natural range to capture broad genetic diversity then distributing propagules to public gardens for safeguarding in their collections.