The idea of civic horticulture has substantially matured and expanded since the days when it meant just planting street trees for their shade or aesthetic value or the plant collecting mania that resulted in what was then considered fashionable masses of vibrantly colored plants often laid out in intricate mosaic patterns.

Today, in this post-Earth Day generation, benefits that were once limited to those that were merely aesthetic and economic, have been expanded; leveraging the interconnectedness of the natural, cultural and ecological systems that provide the essential foundation for civic horticulture, while recognizing its prominence in fostering healthy, vibrant cities.

The Civic Horticulture conference will take a look at Philadelphia’s use of horticulture in city shaping and what that portends for the future of Philadelphia and elsewhere. We will examine issues through multiple lenses – health/lifestyle, environment, economy and sense of place – but this conference will be unique in putting plants first in developing criteria for holistic stewardship.

ASLA CEUs will be available for this event.