Pennsylvania’s public gardens and public horticulture institutions preserve thousands of acres of natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds and healthy private working lands and bring together a wide array of expertise, approaches and solutions that are essential for biodiversity in food and agriculture.

Annually, public gardens in the Commonwealth have a diverse visitor base of approximately 4.2 million people. Public horticulture brings many benefits to all Pennsylvanians including education, community partnerships and development, research, agricultural cultivation, tourism and conservation. These public gardens provide a place of beauty as they connect all of us with plants.

Public Gardens include botanical gardens, arboreta, cemeteries, zoological gardens, sculpture gardens, college and university campuses, historical homes, urban greening organizations, natural areas, and city/county/state/federal parks. They are open to the public, staffed by trained professionals and maintain a collection of plants for public education and enjoyment.

This year, May 10 through 19, 2024, is recognized nationally as ‘Go Public Gardens Days.’ As we know, tourism is among Pennsylvania’s most impactful industries. Our state’s community of public gardens plays a great role in promoting visitors to come to our state and driving money back into our communities.

On average, public gardens and horticulture-centered entities generate a half-billion-dollars in economic impact here in Pennsylvania and employ more than 2,000 people. ‘Go Public Gardens Days’ presents a premier opportunity to celebrate these impacts.

Please join me in sponsoring a House Resolution to commemorate May 10-19, 2024, as ‘Go Public Gardens Days’ here in Pennsylvania.