Members

National Gardening Association
The National Gardening Association is a nonprofit organization established in 1972 to help gardeners, and to help people through gardening. NGA has long been recognized as a national leader in garden-based education. This includes providing horticultural and teaching expertise, resources, and networking opportunities to help kids in schools and communities grow. Programs include Youth Garden Grants and GrowLab.
Web site: www.garden.org, www.kidsgardening.com
Contact: Mike Metallo, President, mikem@garden.org, (802) 863-5251 x 123

American Horticultural Society
Since 1922, the American Horticultural Society (AHS) and its members have been dedicated to "making America a nation of gardeners, a land of gardens." Through our numerous national programs, our mission is to:
--open the eyes of all Americans to the vital connection between people and plants
--to inspire all Americans to become responsible caretakers of the Earth
--to celebrate America’s diversity through the arts and sciences of horticulture
--to lead this effort by sharing the Society’s unique national resources with all Americans
Web site: www.ahs.org
Contact: Katy Moss Warner, President, kmwarner@ahs.org, (703) 768-5700 x 123

United States Botanic Garden
The U. S. Botanic Garden (USBG), situated at the heart of the U.S. Government at the base of the Capitol on the National Mall, is a living plant museum with over 750,000 visitors annually. Founded in 1820 and originating in the vision of George Washington, the USBG is one of the oldest public gardens in the nation. Public facilities of the USBG include the recently renovated Conservatory and Bartholdi Park, an outdoor landscape demonstration garden featuring the historic Bartholdi Fountain. USBG exhibits and programs interpret the aesthetic, ecological, economic, therapeutic, and cultural importance of plants to human societies and the role of plants in supporting earth’s diverse and fragile ecosystems. The USBG is supported by an extensive 25-acre propagation and nursery facility with 86,000 square feet under glass located in the Blue Plains area of Washington. USBG collections include more than 26,000 plants. Noteworthy collections include economic plants, medicinal plants, orchids, cacti and succulents, bromeliads, cycads, and ferns. The living collections date from 1842 when living plants from the U.S. Exploring Expedition came under the care of the U.S. Congress. A federally funded institution, the USBG has been administered through the Architect of the Capitol since 1934 under the authority of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress.
Web site: www.usbg.gov
Contact: Christine Flanagan, Manager, Public Programs, Cflanaga@aoc.gov, (202) 225-1269

National Wildlife Federation
NWF advances common-sense conservation initiatives through action and education, working hand-in-hand with its affiliates, other like-minded groups and citizen-activists across the country and around the world. Efforts focus on restoring and protecting wildlife and wild places, along with working to improve the health of the environment upon which we all depend.
Web site: www.nwf.org
Contact: Bill Street, street@nwf.org
National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 438-6000

Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a 385-acre site on Chicago's north shore that features 26 different gardens, three native habitats and 81 acres of lakes and waterways. Owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society, the Garden attracts 800,000 annual visitors come to enjoy its beauty, learn about all aspects of gardening and participate in a huge variety of educational programs, lectures and arts programs. The Garden is home to four areas of plant science: Plant Conservation Biology, Ornamental Plant Development, Global Plant Collections and Aquatic Plant and Urban Lake Studies. As a designated U.S. partner of the Kew Botanic Garden’s Millenium Project, the Garden is also an important center of research, collection, preservation and graduate training related to endangered plants. The School of the Botanic Garden hosts 400 adult education classes annually, including certificate course for professionals in horticulture, landscape design and related fields. The Horticultural Therapy Services program offers a national demonstration site for enabling gardening design and professional education for educators and therapists working with special needs clients. The Garden is also an active regional and national center for curriculum development and educator training in K-12 plant science subjects, model youth education and training, and school gardening outreach.
Web site: www.chicagobotanic.org
Contact: Patsy Benveniste, Director of Education, pbenveni@chicagobotanic.org, (847) 835-6945