Horticulturist Holly Shimizu to speak March 15 at Swarthmore

As someone who has made an outstanding national contribution to the science and the art of gardening, Lewes resident Holly Shimizu has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Scott Medal and Award.

Most recently, Shimizu was executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.  Now she spends her time as a writer, consultant and environmental gardening activist.

Shimizu will speak about her passion for sharing horticulture with the nation and the world at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 15, at the Lang Performing Arts Center at Swarthmore College, home of the Scott Arboretum in Swarthmore, Pa. Her address is part of the Scott Associates Spring Celebration.

“As host of the PBS Victory Garden program, she has contributed substantially to the spread of exciting, beautiful, and sound gardening widely through our nation and beyond,” said Peter Raven, 2009 Scott Medal recipient, president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Holly Shimizu and her husband Osamu live in Lewes where they have created a series of gardens around their home, which was built in 1730.

She uses their garden for teaching and garden tours for interested people. Her front garden is a version of a historic dooryard garden which is filled with herbs, and pollinator, native, and fragrant plants.

All are welcome for a champagne toast and hors d’oeuvres following Shimizu’s presentation. The program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

The Scott Arboretum is a unique garden of ideas and suggestions encouraging horticulture in its broadest sense through displays on the 350-plus-acre campus of Swarthmore College. 

For more information or to RSVP, call 610-328-8025 or go to www.scottarboretum.org.