The American Horticultural Society announced the eight recipients of the 2026 Great American Gardeners Awards.
Since 1953, the American Horticultural Society has recognized the trailblazers, educators, innovators and community builders who shape American horticulture. These awards honor exemplary individuals and organizations for their notable contributions to areas such as education, environmental stewardship, garden sustainability, horticultural innovation and scientific research.
The 2026 Great American Gardeners Awards winners are:
Liberty Hyde Bailey Award: Dr. John Dole, professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University
Presented to an individual whose lifetime achievements have profoundly advanced American horticulture across multiple fields such as teaching, research, communications, plant exploration, administration, art, business and leadership. Named after Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954), a horticulturist, educator author.
Dr. John Dole is a professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University, where he has shared his passion for floriculture since 2000.
From authoring floriculture’s definitive resource and developing cut flower strategies that revolutionized nursery production to founding organizations that grow the next generation of floriculture professionals, his lifetime achievements have profoundly impacted American horticulture.
Rising Star Award: Michael Guidi, manager of horticulture research programs at Denver Botanic Gardens
Spotlights an emerging horticultural professional whose energy, leadership and creativity are already reshaping how North America gardens.
Michael Guidi is the manager of horticulture research programs at Denver Botanic Gardens, where he integrates scientific research, ecological theory and practical horticulture to promote resilient plant choices and landscape strategies.
As an accomplished curator of living plant collections, he designs, plans and maintains several gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens while also running the tissue culture laboratory, managing the trial grounds and leading research projects on topics such as optimal soil mixes for native plants.
Jane L. Taylor Award: Sam Ullery, school garden specialist at the Washington, D.C., Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Honors those who cultivate future generations. Given to an individual, organization or program making a lasting impact through children’s and youth gardening initiatives. Named for Jane L. Taylor, a youth advocate, horticulturist and educator.
Sam Ullery is the school garden specialist at the Washington, D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
With a decade of classroom teaching experience as his foundation, Ullery has dedicated the past 13 years to supporting garden programs at more than 100 Washington, D.C., school gardens by offering technical support, conducting trainings and providing resources and connections with local organizations.
Jane L. Taylor Award: Lisa Whittlesey, senior txtension program specialist at Texas A&M University
Honors those who cultivate future generations. Given to an individual, organization or program making a lasting impact through children’s and youth gardening initiatives. Named for Jane L. Taylor, a youth advocate, horticulturist and educator.
Lisa Whittlesey is the senior extension program specialist at Texas A&M University, where she lectures for agriculture, floral design and socio-horticulture classes and creates educational horticulture segments for a local television show, Weekend Gardener.
Whittlesey is also director of the International Junior Master Gardener Program, which operates in all 50 states and which she has expanded through collaborative partnerships with the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, JMG Korea and U.S. military and National Guard projects.
Garden Sustainability Award: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
and Botanical Gardens
Celebrates a public garden that is setting the bar for sustainable design, maintenance and programs — proving that beauty, education and environmental responsibility can grow together.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, excels in advanced green-building practices, sustainable gardening and environmental horticulture.
From constructing one of the world’s greenest buildings to practicing integrated pest management, Phipps educates visitors that sustainable action is the key to addressing ecological challenges such as loss of habitat and biodiversity, environmental injustice and climate change.
Scientific Award: Dr. Silvia Alvarez-Clare, director of the Global Tree Conservation Program at The Morton Arboretum
Acknowledges breakthroughs that matter. Recognizes exceptional scientific research that enriches the understanding and practice of horticulture in meaningful ways. In honor of H. Marc Cathey, a researcher, horticulturist and administrator.
As director of the Global Tree Conservation Program at The Morton Arboretum, Dr. Silvia Alvarez-Clare safeguards threatened tree species through science-based conservation work with stakeholders around the world.
Her research uses long-term monitoring, experimentation and ecological techniques to understand how changes in climate, land use and soil nutrients impact plant communities, particularly trees. She translates her research into better policies, improved management practices and restoration actions that aid in saving tree species from extinction.
Horticultural Innovation Award: Ian Ford-Terry, archaeologist and tribal liaison for the Springs Preserve
Recognizes bold thinkers. Presented to an individual or company that’s making horticulture more sustainable, accessible or inclusive through fresh ideas and forward-thinking solutions. Previously given as the Luther Burbank Award, Paul Ecke Jr. Commercial Award and G.B. Gunlogson Award.
Ian Ford-Terry currently serves as the archaeologist and tribal liaison for the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he applies his interdisciplinary expertise in horticulture, ethnobotany and archaeology.
His work focuses on leveraging Traditional Ecological Knowledge to inform modern land and plant conservation practices, particularly in arid ecosystems like southern Nevada.
Community Greening Award: ReGreen Springfield
Celebrates grassroots greatness. This award honors an individual, institution or company that is using plants to create more livable, healthy and equitable communities.
ReGreen Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts, has transformed the city’s urban landscape through a holistic approach to horticulture that blends large-scale greening projects with deep and authentic community engagement.
The organization has facilitated the planting of thousands of trees, established urban orchards and created pollinator gardens in parks and libraries, all of which strengthen biodiversity and provide tangible benefits to residents. For years, ReGreen Springfield has led invasive plant management efforts and maintained U.S. Forest Service research nursery plots, ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the region’s green infrastructure.
2026 Great American Gardeners Awards
The AHS’ 2026 Great American Gardeners Awards Committee was chaired by Holly Shimizu, AHS board member and former director of the United States Botanic Garden.
Members of the 2026 Awards Committee include: Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections/National Garden Bureau; Lee Coykendall, educational consultant and former senior education specialist at the United States Botanic Garden; Kate Delaney, director of career development at the Society of American Florists; Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Panayoti Kelaidis, senior curator and director of outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens; David Kopsell, professor of horticulture at Illinois State University; Kelly Norris, author, plantsman and landscape designer; Nan Sterman, garden designer, botanist, author and garden communicator; and Toshi Yano, director of horticulture at Bryant Park.
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