This week, when many in the US have time off with family and friends, we note our gratitude for our many teachers: the plants and the places and the people that have grown us. Including our beloved public gardens and their leaders.
With that in mind, guest-host Abra Lee is in conversation with a mentor and hero of hers, who is also one of North America’s public garden leaders: Paul Redman. Paul is active in advancing the horticulture industry and raising awareness of the important role of public gardens around the globe. He currently serves as co-chair for Seed Your Future, a national campaign to promote awareness and careers in horticulture and is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s Board of Directors.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Longwood Gardens for the last 16 years, Paul has implemented institutional and strategic reforms that have positioned the Gardens as a premier horticultural, cultural, and educational institution of the 21st Century, while respecting the values of its founder.
What the fashion industry is to Paris or what the auto industry is to Detroit, that is what the public gardens industry is to The Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Founded by Pierre S. Dupont, Longwood is the capstone garden of this region and encompasses more than 1,100 acres.
Today Paul gives us us a deep dive on the history of the Longwood
Reimagined Project and the newest West Conservatory that just opened this month!
The Longwood Reimagined project is the pinnacle of what Gardening can be in
our modern world. Spanning more than 1100 acres Longwood gardens showcase horticultural splendor, intricate fountain systems and so much more. Paul led Longwood through its most ambitious expansion in a century to further the Gardens’ mission of sharing beauty with the world. Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience. He is proud to represent one of the most visited gardens in the country!
The result has been nothing short of astounding with overall attendance doubling to almost 1.54 million visitors per year; an incredible climb in Membership support from 17,000 to 78,000 households; and earned income has almost tripled – all in the last decade. Longwood Gardens is now the most visited paid public garden in North America and the most visited paid cultural attraction in Philadelphia.
In their conversation, Abra and Paul explore ideas of leadership, envisioning public gardens for the future, and fearlessness.
Enjoy!
Follow Paul's work Online:
All photos courtesy of Longwood Gardens, All rights reserved.
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JOIN US again next week, when guest host Ben Futa will be back this time and in
conversation with Katie Elzer-Peters of The Garden of Words. That's right here, next week.
Cultivating Place is made possible in part by listeners like you and by generous support from
supporting initiatives that empower women and help preserve the planet through the intersection of environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity.
Thinking out loud this week...
Hey, y’all its Abra,
From being a municipal arborist to working as an airport landscape manager and
my most current role as Director of Horticulture at Oakland Cemetery a vibrant Victorian garden cemetery and public park in downtown Atlanta, I have had a colorful journey in the world of horticulture for over 20 years.
My most passionate work is as a writer, speaker, and scholar of black garden
history in the United States. I work nationally with many cultural institutions
where I share my research through speaking engagements and exhibitions. I am
currently working on my book, “Conquer the Soil” which is a collection of profiles of American garden greats.
I would love for you to come out and visit Oakland Cemetery in downtown
Atlanta. Oakland Cemetery depends on the financial support of generous listeners like you to allow us to continue serving our community. Please consider contributing to OaklandCemetery.com/donate.
After my conversation with Paul this week, I am really so revitalized and excited to return to my stomping grounds at Longwood Gardens. Thinking about the Monet’s of the world, and the Van Goughs that are so priceless, that's what Longwood is for landscape architecture and garden design at the West Conservatory.
They just recently launched into their Christmas season and starting November
22nd they have officially opened their doors! Paul worked with a wonderful team to launch this project while I was at Longwood and seeing all their hard work come to life has been so awe-inspiring for me. I have had the deep pleasure of being able to witness these gardens in person and I just want to encourage you today to make that trek to Pennsylvania and experience the splendor yourself.
The views are indescribable and I can’t wait to experience it again and again as the years go on. We will see the vegetation continue to grow just like the gardening community that is apart of Longwood. I want to invite you to join us in this community and beautiful garden culture when visiting Longwood, take pictures! Take your family! Enjoy all the hard work, dedication, and sheer beauty that is the West Conservatory.
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The CP team includes producer and engineer Matt Fidler, with weekly tech and web support from Angel Huracha, weekly communications support by Sheila Stern and Carley Bruckner, transcripts by Doulos Transcription, and regular guest hosting by Abra Lee and Ben Futa. We’re based on the traditional and present homelands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria. Original theme music is by Ma Muse, accompanied by Joe Craven and Sam Bevan.
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