Georgeson Botanical Garden is a nationally recognized botanical garden known for its abundance of herbs, ornamental trees, vegetables and flowers that flourish within 100 miles of the Arctic Circle. The farthest-north botanical garden, Georgeson is well-known for its work with peonies—which bloom in June and July—as well as its research, education and outreach about high-latitude horticulture. The garden is a popular summer destination for residents and tourists and hosts a wealth of special events.
The Georgeson Botanical Garden began in 1989 as a research, educational, and public outreach program.However its roots lie much deeper. In 1898, 31 years after the US purchased Alaska, the Secretary of Agriculture of the USDA sent special agent of agriculture, Charles Christian Georgeson, to Alaska to explore the agricultural potential of the state. His job was to determine if this remote land of extreme environmental conditions could be farmed and, thus, sustain a human population. Georgeson established 7 Agricultural experiment stations in Alaska. Fairbanks
and Matanuska are the only remaining experiment farms. The Fairbanks experiment station was established in 1906 and in 1931 the farm was incorporated into the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines (renamed the University of Alaska in 1935).
The purpose of setting up these experiment stations was to learn which crops would grow best, to develop techniques for crop production and to share knowledge with local residents. The public showed interest and visitation to the agriculture experiment plots increased. Some visionaries at UAF proposed turning the muddy paths and straight rows of trial plants into a space that is more accessible and welcoming to the public. As the Garden grew, so did its focus on community involvement. The Garden is a dynamic space and continues to grow, adding programs and events that encourage connections between people and plants.
The Georgeson Botanical Garden Friends is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit, which exists in order to support and advance the Georgeson Botanical Garden. In recent years, the Friends have taken an increasingly active role in programming and future planning. Georgeson Botanical Garden Friends is a small, all-volunteer board that provides support and funding for seeds, maintenance and some staff, raising money through regular donations from garden supporters, appeals to the public at Music in the Gardens concerts,
The Friends are truly the humanitarian spirit of the garden. Managed by the volunteer Board of Directors, the Friends offer an ever-expanding menu of services:
- Education and outreach, so that everyone can learn in the garden.
- Event management for outreach, education, and fundraising.
- Funding for garden staff, maintenance and construction.
- Volunteer coordination to help ensure the garden is beautiful and accessible.
- Community input for the garden’s future development and current priorities.
If you’re interested in becoming involved with the Friends, please contact us directly at gbgardenfriends@gmail.com. The Friends are always looking for committee and Board members as well as help at fundraising events!
If you’d like to support the Friends mission, please donate! All donations are tax-deductible!