Show #14/2001. American Horticultural Society

AHS & River Farm

GardenSMART visits one of America's oldest horticultural organizations. They have beautiful display gardens and artfully use many of their flowers inside their lovely historic home/headquarters.

The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is a national nonprofit educational organization. It began in 1922 and to this day strives to support the American gardener in their pursuit and interest in gardening. Their members range from young to old, from people who garden in an urban setting to those that garden in the countryside. Their educational programs are offered both in person and online. AHS offers reference materials, such as books, and they also have the American Gardener Magazine, which comes out 6 times a year. AHS supports gardeners throughout the year with information for every season of gardening.

The headquarters of AHS is River Farm. The property has a very unique history and was once one of George Washington's 5 farms in the Mt. Vernon area. The home today is a 1920's era estate and was acquired by AHS in 1973. Its grounds are a celebration of American horticulture and gardening at their best, showcasing a variety of plant material and landscaping styles.