Olbrich Botanical Gardens Wins National Award for
Garden Excellence
Olbrich Botanical Gardens was chosen among public
gardens in North America to receive the 2005 Award for Garden Excellence
from the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA).
The award is presented by the AABGA, a professional organization
of approximately 500 gardens in the United States and Canada, and
sponsored by Horticulture magazine. It's given to one public garden
each year which best exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural
practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating
the best gardening practices.
In receiving the award, Olbrich was
recognized for the best designed and most horticulturally outstanding
display; gardens that reflect the regional environment; environmentally-friendly
gardening practices; a commitment to plant collections; and a pattern
of encouraging home gardeners and students at all levels through
innovative horticultural practices.
Olbrich's executive director,
Nancy Ragland, accepted the award in July at the annual meeting of
the AABGA in Chicago, which hosted more than 500 public garden professionals
from around the country. She says, "There's something very special
about a free public garden, such as Olbrich, that can be shared by
all. This hasn't gone unnoticed by the national gardening community.
The award is an honor and a compliment to Olbrich, and to our local
community. I'm very thankful to the community which has supported
Olbrich Botanical Gardens for so many years and had the vision to
see the importance of a garden in everyone's life."
Nan Sinton, Director
of Programs for Horticulture magazine, was on the award selection
committee and has visited Olbrich many times. She says, "Olbrich
represents a garden where there's excellence at every level. We feel
that visitors to Olbrich go away with ecological knowledge and can
apply what they've learned at Olbrich in their gardens at home. It's
a vibrant, living garden, never static. There's something for all
seasons.
More than 250,000 visitors
come to Olbrich each year for inspiration, relaxation, and learning.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a free public garden, open and accessible
to the public 362 days a year. Olbrich features 16 acres of outdoor
display gardens and a year-round tropical conservatory, along with
classes and events year-round.
Olbrich's mission states that the
gardens are "dedicated to the creation, conservation, and interpretation
of gardens and plant collections hardy to the American Midwest and
the world's tropical forests...for study, enjoyment, and public benefit."
Olbrich's approach to gardening is to present innovative, beautiful,
and environmentally-friendly gardens that inspire visitors to create
the same at home. A Prairie style design unifies the gardens throughout.
Horticulture magazine,
which sponsors the Garden of Excellence Award, serves as a primary
resource for avid gardeners throughout the country. In recent years,
Olbrich has hosted annual Horticulture magazine symposia in Madison.
In 2004, Olbrich was honored by the editors of Horticulture magazine
as one of the ten most inspiring gardens in the country.
Previous
winners of the Garden of Excellence Award, established in 2003, are
Missouri Botanic Garden in St. Louis, one of the most prestigious
public gardens in the nation; and Lotusland in Santa Barbara, California.
For more information call 608-246-4550. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is located in Madison, Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Monona at 3330 Atwood Avenue. Visit Olbrich's website at www.olbrich.org.
CONTACT:
Sharon Cybart,
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
608-246-4716
scybart@cityofmadison.com
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