Data show the number of visitors per year to public gardens in the United States. In many places the number of visitors to public gardens has declined in recent years. According to Rick Colbert, director of Tyler Arboretum in Pennsylvania, founded in 1825, “young families are not interested in being outside…. Kids today are much more comfortable behind a computer screen.” As a result, many public gardens are promoting their sustainability efforts, tapping into the theme of “going green”, which is popular with young people.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2009
Market size: 70 million
Source: W. Barksdale Maynard, “A Bold New Mission for Arboreta: Sustainability,” American Forests, Autumn 2010, pages 38-43