For decades, the American Horticultural Society has honored exceptional books in the garden field with our longstanding AHS Book Awards. Each year, AHS gathers a committee of renowned garden communicators to recognize outstanding books and their publishers. Books are judged on qualities such as writing style, authority, accuracy, and physical quality. This year, four books were awarded out of over 35 nominated books published in 2023. Uncover them below.   Dry-Climate Gardening by Noelle Johnson (Cool Springs Press)    The Seven-Step Homestead by Leah M. Webb (Storey Pub ..read more

Throughout the centuries, Black Americans have elevated the field of horticulture, making discoveries and revolutionizing gardening practices. This Black History Month, we celebrate all Black horticulturists making a difference and paving the way for future gardeners. While there are too many impactful changemakers to recognize, we have chosen a few key figures to highlight. By lifting the voices of these select gardeners, we hope to foster a culture that invites all Americans to garden to ensure a thriving and beautiful world for current and future generations. Historical Figures Many histo ..read more

Celebrated annually around the end of January, National Seed Swap Day is a great opportunity for gardeners to explore new plants, save money on seeds, support biodiversity, and encourage heirloom cultivation. Kathy Jentz, editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, came up with the idea to start Seed Swap Day. The first official event was held on January 26, 2006. Now, the seed swap has gone national, and it is celebrated across the country, bringing gardeners together and celebrating the power of community nationwide.  This is a great time to begin gathering seeds, since sprin ..read more

This year, we celebrate the rich legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15. His activism and philosophy are rooted in unity and connection of all people regardless of their background. We are inspired by the repercussions of his actions and their reverberations that we still feel today, more than 50 years after his passing.  In his 1967 speech “Where do we go from here?” delivered at a meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization founded by Dr. King, he stated “The plant of freedom has grown only a bud and not yet a flower.” His words still ring true ..read more

As we begin preparing for cooler months, we often shift our focus from outdoor gardens to indoor plants. Indoor gardening is a wonderful way to bring the tranquility of an outdoor garden inside your home. But what exactly is indoor gardening? According to The Spruce, indoor gardening is related to the act of growing a selection of plants inside that you would typically grow outside. Gone are the days of only growing plants in the spring and summer thanks to indoor gardening.   There are many benefits to indoor gardening for you and your family. Houseplants can act as natural air pur ..read more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its new Plant Hardiness Zone Map, a national standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures at a certain location.  The USDA describes the latest map, jointly developed by Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, as the most accurate and detailed version it has ever released. PRISM, part of the OSU College of Engineering, stands for Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model. The previous version of the ..read more

‘Tis the giving season with the American Horticultural Society! This year, we are bringing back our annual Donor Match Challenge where our Board of Directors and CEO have pledged to match every single donation 100% through December 31 until we reach our $55,000 goal! This matching opportunity will allow us to continue our important work to foster excellence, innovation, and passion in gardening.    Your gift supports:  Lifelong Learning – Twenty-one newly launched, online programs cover a range of topics from Landscape Stewardship and Designing with Nature to Gardening fo ..read more

The American Horticultural Society is hiring for the position of Assistant Manager, Development and Travel onsite at our beautiful River Farm headquarters! This role supports the day-to-day activities of the organization’s Development and Travel Study program efforts to achieve annual operating and capital revenue goals. Primary responsibilities focus on data entry, recording gifts and producing donor acknowledgements, managing operational and administrative processes for the AHS Travel Study Program; and supporting the AHS Gala and other special events. Learn more. About The American Horticu ..read more

The American Horticultural Society, in collaboration with Chicago Botanic Garden, has issued a Call for Sessions for the annual National Children & Youth Garden Symposium (NCYGS) taking place on Chicago’s North Shore, July 8-11, 2024. NCYGS is an annual professional development conference for garden educators who inspire today’s youth to become tomorrow’s gardeners. Interested in leading a session at the conference? We are accepting session proposals through Friday, December 1, 2023. Please review the proposal guidance and submit your session proposals by Friday, December 1, 2023. All su ..read more

We are grateful to announce three new members of the American Horticultural Society Board of Directors! Doug Barker, Dr. Larry Deaven, and Philip Tabas bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the organization. Our Board’s diverse range of talents and expertise help guide AHS’ mission and exemplify commitment to innovation and excellence in horticulture.  Read more about these outstanding individuals and their passion for gardening, ecological health, and nonprofit work below!    DOUG BARKER  Doug is a strategic advisor for Barker & Scott Consu ..read more