Cultivating Influence: How PA Gardens is Growing a Statewide Coalition for Change

By: Kelly Herrenkohl

August 2025: THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION VOLUME 40, ISSUE 3, 2025

In the spring of 2020, the horticulture staff from Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA, spent hours preparing beds and pruning branches, ready to welcome the wave of visitors that always comes with warmer weather. But as COVID-19 closures swept across the state, public gardens across Pennsylvania were ordered to close their gates. The shock came when Mandy Santiago, then Executive Director, learned that the golf course down the street had been granted a waiver from the state government to reopen, while Tyler Arboretum, with 650 acres of woodlands and meadows, was left behind.

This wasn’t just an oversight. It was a wake-up call. For Pennsylvania’s horticultural institutions, the message was clear: without a unified voice, even the most vibrant public gardens could be overlooked.

Out of that moment of exclusion and urgency, PA Gardens was born.

Composed of botanical gardens, arboreta, conservancies, urban greening organizations, and more, PA Gardens is a statewide coalition formed to elevate the voice and impact of Pennsylvania's public horticulture sector. PA Gardens member organizations have always been drivers of economic development, environmental stewardship, and public engagement, and now they have one voice to celebrate the benefits they create for Pennsylvanians every day. What began as a response to pandemic-era inequities has grown into a powerful force for policy change and for amplifying their collective impact.

"We realized that if we didn’t speak together, we wouldn’t be heard," said Paul Redman, President and CEO of Longwood Gardens and a founding member of the coalition. "Forming PA Gardens allowed us to connect with elected officials and build lasting relationships that make a difference."

Those relationships began with strategic, high-visibility events: a reception with the Governor, lobby days at the state Capitol, and even a state House Tourism Committee hearing hosted at Longwood Gardens. The coalition has also hosted annual legislative receptions at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest, longest-running, and most iconic horticultural event in the nation.

These activities began an important exercise: developing legislative champions. It began by building relationships with lawmakers whose districts are home to member gardens and then by expanding outreach to members of relevant House and Senate committees.

"This kind of coordination is exactly what the sector needed," said state Representative Christina Sappey. "Public gardens are not just pretty places. They are engines of tourism, education, job creation, and community wellness."

As PA Gardens' presence in Harrisburg has grown, so too has its focus. With the groundwork of trust and visibility established, the coalition is now advancing a bold statewide policy agenda and is working to establish a formal PA Gardens Caucus in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate.

Gardens as Tourism Drivers
Building upon its members’ major tourism draw - more than 4.2 million visitors flock to public gardens across the Commonwealth each year, rivaling attendance at professional sports events in Pennsylvania - PA Gardens is now advocating for state funding to specifically support major tourism events.

In 2027, Pennsylvania has a unique opportunity to shine on both the national and international stage. That year marks the 200th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), a milestone that will be celebrated at the globally renowned Philadelphia Flower Show. This annual event draws more than 230,000 attendees to experience its colorful exhibits, educational sessions, extensive plant collections, and vibrant activities and atmosphere.

Also in 2027, Philadelphia will host the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) national conference, bringing together horticulture professionals, international media, and tourists from across the country and the world.

“These events are more than just celebrations, they’re powerful platforms to show how gardens fuel tourism, connect communities, and contribute to Pennsylvania’s economy,” said PA Gardens co-chair Nancy Goldenberg, President & CEO of Laurel Hill. “We have a chance to showcase our leadership and legacy on a global scale.”

To seize this moment, PA Gardens is calling on state leaders to invest in these 2027 events, ensuring they not only reflect Pennsylvania’s rich horticultural heritage but also help drive lasting economic growth across the Commonwealth.

Growing the Next Generation
Another PA Gardens policy priority is bolstering the sector’s skilled workforce. With a $500 million economic footprint and over 2,000 full-time employees, the horticulture industry is a key contributor to Pennsylvania’s economy. Yet, with many experienced professionals nearing retirement, gardens are facing challenges with succession planning and preparing the next generation to carry the work forward. To address this, PA Gardens is advocating for the creation of a statewide horticulture apprenticeship program, one that would provide hands-on training and create a direct, sustainable pipeline of skilled workers for roles in public gardens, landscape design, conservation, and environmental education.

“Fortunately, I’m gaining incredible exposure to this work through a full-time, 12-month fellowship program,” said Fateen Stafford, a 21st Century Fellow at Natural Lands. “I’m learning from people who have built a wealth of experience and knowledge over their whole careers–some for 30 years plus. A statewide apprenticeship program would give more young people like me a chance to gain real experience and find a future in this field.”

Rooted in Learning
In Pittsburgh, PA Gardens member Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has a history of integrating horticultural experiences into school curricula to enhance local educational programming. An example of this is the Phipps Education Advisory Committee, a dedicated group of Pittsburgh-area educators, community leaders, and staff who meet throughout the school year to collaborate and build connections between schools and cultural institutions. This year, the committee’s focus is on developing an educational touring program that directly reflects the needs of local students, teachers, and families.

At a statewide level, PA Gardens is working to build on models like Phipps’ by establishing a public-private partnership that connects K–12 students with hands-on, experiential learning at public gardens across Pennsylvania. Many member gardens already offer programming aligned with state academic standards, and the coalition sees a clear opportunity to scale these efforts by tapping into existing education funding streams. The goal: to inspire the next generation of scientists, environmentalists, and horticultural professionals by cultivating curiosity in nature-rich learning environments.

With every political endeavor, PA Gardens is careful to focus on the bipartisan and communal benefits of gardens. In a digital age where many citizens interact only online, gardens serve as gathering spaces where people from diverse backgrounds physically meet, work, and learn together.

"You can’t stay in an echo chamber when you’re weeding a bed next to someone with a different worldview," joked PA Gardens co-chair Tom Smarr, Executive Director of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens. "Nature levels the playing field."

That human connection is PA Gardens' real superpower. The coalition's ability to mobilize, inform, and advocate across organizations, geographies, missions, and communities is redefining what a unified voice for horticulture can accomplish.

"This coalition isn’t just about gardens, it’s about what grows from them,” said Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. “By coming together, we’re cultivating a movement rooted in community, powered by collaboration, and focused on a flourishing future for all Pennsylvanians," said Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "We’re growing a movement."

Visit pagardens.org to learn more or get involved.

Kelly Herrenkohl is Vice President of Communications and Engagement for Natural Lands, a conservation non-profit whose public garden is Stoneleigh: a natural garden, located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Stoneleigh celebrates the beauty and importance of the natural world and inspires the cultivation of native plants for the benefit of all. Stoneleigh enjoys a long history as a palette for notable landscape architects. Today, our gardens interpret this historic landscape through a contemporary lens, one that emphasizes beauty, biodiversity, and supporting our local ecology.

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