Sappey highlights impact of public gardens at state Capitol
Southeast Delegation May 14, 2025 | 3:11 PM
HARRISBURG, May 14 – State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, today joined representatives from public gardens across the state to highlight the economic impact, green job development, environmental and educational contributions of public gardens in Pennsylvania. 
The PA House on May 7 adopted a resolution (H.R. 167) sponsored by Sappey commemorating May 9-18, 2025, as “Go Public Gardens Days” in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Public Gardens Coalition had several tables on display in a high traffic area of the Capitol Complex to showcase and provide information on their work. Capitol visitors were treated to seed packets, flowers, information on growing native species gardens, pollinator gardens and more.
“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,” Sappey said. “They bring many benefits, including education, community partnerships and development, research, agricultural cultivation, tourism and conservation. They also provide a place of beauty as they connect all of us with life affirming 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. Annually, public gardens in Pennsylvania have a diverse visitor base of approximately 4.2 million people.
Thomas Smarr Jr., executive director of Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens in Devon, PA, and president of the Pennsylvania Public Gardens Coalition, noted the group’s appreciation of Sappey’s advocacy for public gardens in the legislature and her support of its “Go Public Garden Days” Capitol event. He said the group began efforts to highlight the impact of their gardens in a coordinated way at the state Capitol nearly six years ago.
Member gardens of the coalition include The Allegheny Arboretum, American Public Gardens Association, The Arboretum at Penn State, Bartram’s Garden, Bidwell Training Center, The Bower, Brandywine Conservancy, Chanticleer, Hershey Gardens, Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens, Laurel Hill, Longwood Gardens in Sappey’s legislative district, Morris Arboretum and Garden, Natural Lands, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Millbourne, Scott Arboretum, Stoneleigh: a natural garden, and Tyler Arboretum.
