title: The Garden Conservancy
text: # The Garden Conservancy
  
  The Garden Conservancy is an American nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve, share, and celebrate America's gardens and diverse gardening traditions for the education and inspiration of the public.
  
  Founded in 1989, by Frank Cabot, the Conservancy has since helped a number of American gardens to develop preservation strategies, organizational structures, and funding plans. In some cases, the Conservancy takes the lead in transitioning the garden to a sustainable, nonprofit status. The Garden Conservancy is headquartered in Cold Spring, New York.
  
  ## History
  
  During a visit to Ruth Bancroft's garden in Walnut Creek, California, Frank Cabot asked Bancroft what would happen to the garden after her death. Cabot's wife suggested the establishment of a nonprofit organization for garden preservation, and the idea for the Conservancy was born. Cabot founded the organization in 1989. The first garden the Garden Conservancy opened to the public was the Ruth Bancroft Garden, which began tours in 1992 and officially became a nonprofit in 1994.
  
  ## Gardens
  
  Projects include:
  
  * Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California
  * The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California
  * The Chase Garden, Orting, Washington
  * The Fells, the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge, Newbury, New Hampshire
  * Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills, New Jersey
  * The John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden, Mill Neck, New York
  * Montrose, Hillsborough, North Carolina
  * Peckerwood Garden, Hempstead, Texas
  * Rocky Hills, Mount Kisco, New York
  * George Schoellkopf’s garden, Washington, Connecticut
  * Steepletop, Austerlitz, New York
  * Van Vleck House and Gardens, Montclair, New Jersey
  * Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky
  