In 2024, The Garden Club of Wilmington created an annual speaker program named in honor of Elizabeth Price Martin. Her varied interests, including Garden History and Design, Conservation and Preservation, and Horticulture, will be highlighted in an annual program by a speaker of note on one of these topics. A member of the Garden Club of Philadelphia, Elizabeth later became the first president of The Garden Club of America. The forward-thinking spirit in all the clubs created The Garden Club of America for “a better knowledge of horticulture among amateurs, for the improvement of our national taste, the preservation of our natural beauty, and for war on its disfigurement.”

Cornell Lab‘s All About Birds recently posted best bird photos from the winter 2024 issue of the Living Bird magazine. The photos cover five themes: The Thrill of the Chase, Birds in Built Environments, Feeding Time, Birds Never Cease to Amaze and Rare Glimpses. Get inspired to go outdoors with your camera and capture birds in your own enviroment.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has shared its list of 2024 Gold Medal Plant winners, now available to the public through most garden retailers.  The Gold Medal Plant Program was created by PHS in 1979 to celebrate and showcase beautiful, easy-to-grow plant species that are ideal for home gardening. Each year, a committee of horticulture experts convenes to assess trees, shrubs, and perennials on various criteria including their suitability for home gardens in the mid-Atlantic region, their ease of cultivation, ready commercial availability, wildlife value, weather tolerance, and pest resistance.

For centuries, orchids have brought us inspiration. Today, orchids also inspire conservation – the work to protect our environment for the future. The future of orchids is lush, bold, inspiring, and something that we can realize together. This year’s orchid exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute, The Future of Orchids : Conservation and collaboration takes visitors on a deep dive into the weird and wild world of orchids, highlighting large scale artworks that invite visitors to unexpected forms that entice pollinators, foster genetic diversity, and improve the plants’ ability to survive.

Mt. Cuba Center’s latest trial garden report is here! Amsonia of the Eastern Temperate Forest presents the results of a ten-year trial that evaluated 20 types of Amsonia, commonly known as bluestars. The report shows that Amsonia are attractive, long-lasting, and reliable plants that provide interest and beauty in the garden from spring through fall.