At the Longwood Graduate Program symposium this year, a session called Dessert and Dialogue fostered discussion around tough topics relevant to public horticulture institutions. Symposium attendees participated in small group discussions led by skilled facilitators from our local public gardens, Cornell University, and BGCI. Topics discussed at the tables were submitted by local public gardens as some of the most pressing issues facing their gardens today.
Over 120 of public horticulture’s finest participated in this session, and some key themes came up again and again. Below are two of the questions tackled at the tables and some of the top takeaways that came from the session.
Question 1: How should gardens and other cultural institutions reach out to the next generation?
Question 2: To what degree should gardens seek to engage and educate visitors on environmental impact?
The session provided a chance for attendees to share their experiences and ideas, and hear from other gardens about what challenges and opportunities they currently face. Thanks to all our facilitators and participants – let’s continue the conversation!