named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Index Seminum/Rarium
Annual seed catalog featuring hundreds of plants grown at Stonecrop, available to members and the public for ordering
Internship Program
Year-long horticultural training program from February to December for students, including hands-on work in garden maintenance, propagation, greenhouse management, and educational projects
Membership Program
Membership tier system offering free admission, guest passes, event access, and discounts to support the garden and its educational mission
Public Garden Visitation
Self-guided and guided tours of the 15-acre display garden, open multiple days per week with seasonal Sunday events featuring tea and cake
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 3 activities
- Educational Seed Distribution ProgramCollects seeds from hundreds of plants grown at Stonecrop and distributes approximately 400 varieties annually to the public through the Index Seminum/Rarium, a carefully annotated seed catalog that includes detailed botanical information and serves as a trusted horticultural reference. The catalog is available online for plant selection.
- Horticultural Education and Outreach MediaProduces educational videos showcasing plant collections, garden features, and the School of Practical Horticulture to engage plant enthusiasts and disseminate horticultural knowledge beyond physical site visitation.
- School of Practical Horticulture and Intern TrainingOperates a School of Practical Horticulture that provides full-time, season-long internships from February through December, offering hands-on training in horticulture for both amateur and professional gardeners. The program includes plant identification testing, lecture preparation, field trips with analytical essays, vegetable plot management with formal assessments, and culminating projects such as Members’ Day displays.
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Public Garden Tours and Events 2 activities
- Guided Tours, Events, and WorkshopsOffers free monthly guided tours for members, hosts seasonal events and workshops open to the public, and organizes special open Sundays with tea and cake. Also conducts holiday openings and maintains a public calendar of events for 2026 highlighting garden activities and plant displays.
- Seasonal Horticultural Programming and DisplaysMaintains dynamic seasonal plant displays throughout the year, including spring bulb displays, alpine plant cultivations, summer aquatic and tropical plant features, late-season flowering plants, and autumn foliage and fruit displays. These are integrated into public visitation and educational programming across designated garden areas.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Public Garden Operations and VisitationOperates a 15-acre public garden with diverse horticultural displays, including specialized gardens such as a Grass Garden, Alpine Stone Beds, Cliff Rock Gardens, Systematic Order Beds, a Conservatory, and propagation greenhouses. Offers regular public visitation on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and one Sunday per month, with self-guided and fee-based guided tours, tiered admission pricing, and participation in the Reciprocal Admissions Program.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Photography Permits and Special Use AccessAllows wedding and engagement photography in the gardens on open days, subject to application and guidelines, providing structured access for personal use beyond general visitation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.73M
Contributions & grants$58K2%
Program service revenue$115K3%
Investment income$3.54M95%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$2.09M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$984K
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$63.60M
Cash$773K
Investments$49.03M
Liabilities$156K
Net assets$63.45M
Liquid reserves285.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -6.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLINE BURGESS | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $139K |
| JENNIFER CAMPBELL | ASSISTANT TR | 20 | $46K |
board members · 11
- ANNE P CABOT — VP/SEC/TREAS
- CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER — DIRECTOR
- DIANE BOTNICK — DIRECTOR
- EMILY DETRICK — RESIGNED 05.
- F COLIN CABOT — PRESIDENT
- JESSICA GALLIGAN GOLDSMITH — DIRECTOR
- MARILYN YOUNG — DIRECTOR
- NAT PRENTICE — DIRECTOR
- PAGE DICKEY — RESIGNED 05.
- STEPHEN ORR — DIRECTOR
- TAMSIN GOGGIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- American Horticultural Society Network — Participates in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program, offering members access to nearly 400 public gardens.
- American Horticultural Society Network — Participates in the Reciprocal Admissions Program through the American Horticultural Society.
- Caroline Burgess Partner — Directed the transition of Stonecrop into a public garden in 1992.
- Caroline Burgess Partner — English horticulturist who directed the development of Stonecrop Gardens and shaped its garden expansion and design.
- Gatehouse Partner — Provides shared housing for interns participating in the horticulture internship program.
- Glynwood Partner — Neighbor organization located near Stonecrop Gardens; visitors are cautioned not to use Glynwood's address for GPS navigation.
- Members Partner — Individuals who log in to use the online seed ordering system
- Stonecrop members Network — Long-time members use the Index Seminum as a trusted horticultural reference and receive discounted seed pricing.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Education Through Exemplary Horticultural Demonstrationmethodology: demonstration-through-aesthetic-horticultureBy showcasing best practices in garden design and plant cultivation through aesthetic displays and curated collections, the organization promotes the adoption of high horticultural standards among both amateur and professional gardeners, because visible, well-maintained examples serve as effective models for learning and emulation.
- Experiential Learning in Practical Horticulturemethodology: experiential_learningBy immersing participants—especially interns and students—in hands-on gardening and plant stewardship, the organization fosters deeper understanding and long-term engagement with horticulture, because direct, sensory-rich experience produces more durable learning and professional development than passive instruction.
- Membership-Supported Horticultural Education and Accessmethodology: membership-supported educationBy offering membership benefits such as exclusive seed access, discounted workshops, and reciprocal garden admissions, the organization sustains its educational mission and broadens public engagement, because financial and experiential incentives increase member investment and extend horticultural learning beyond the garden’s physical boundaries.