The industry’s best public gardens keynote speakers and futurists would tell you that the term speaks to gardens that are open to the public for leisure, recreation and education. Top features that such storied destinations tend to exhibit are…
- Open access – Do not charge an entry fee or have limited opening hours. According to public gardens keynote speakers, destinations are open for anyone to visit and enjoy.
- Maintenance – Designed, planted and maintained by professionals like horticulturists and landscapers, often with public funding. This allows them to be kept tidy and display well.
- Diverse plantings – Showcase diverse botanical collections, including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, roses, aquatic plants etc. Like public gardens keynote speakers note, provides year-round interest.
- Amenities – Many public gardens have walking paths, benches, fountains, gazebos and other amenities for visitors to enjoy. Many may have cafes or gift shops as well.
- Educational mission – Aim to educate visitors about different plant species, gardening practices, conservation efforts etc through informational signage, tours or classes.
- Photography policy – Most spaces allow visitors to take photographs of the gardens for personal use. It makes them popular photography destinations.
Based on public gardens keynote speakers and futurists’ feedback, famous examples of public gardens include the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, Butchart Gardens in Canada, and the New York Botanical Garden in the USA. Public parks and university campuses also often have public gardens open for visitors to explore and learn from.