George Washington’s River Farm
Alexandria, Va.
Dedicated: 3 Dec. 2004

Dedication Remarks
by Fred S. Davies
President of ASHS

River Farm, national headquarters of the American Horticultural Society (AHS), is a historic 25-acre site on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. Once part of George Washington’s original five farms, River Farm has been the home of AHS since 1973, when the society was able to acquire the property through the generosity of the Enid A. Haupt Charitable Trust.

River Farm has provided a home base for the society’s work and has hosted hundreds of programs attended by thousands of amateur and professional horticulturists, furthering the base knowledge in horticultural science.

Following in the footsteps of George Washington, River Farm has been used as a platform from which to promote horticultural innovation, practical experimentation, and conservation. ASHS Headquarters was located at River Farm from 1974 to 1979.

The site’s features include an early 20th century mansion and an artful blend of naturalistic and formal garden areas. The property boasts a spectacular river view, historic trees (gifts from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington), boxwood hedges, woodland areas, a three-acre meadow, and a popular children’s garden.

It’s a pleasure to welcome all of you to this beautiful site to commemorate The George Washington River Farm as an American Society for Horticultural Science Landmark. My name is Fred Davies, President of ASHS and I’m pleased to represent the Horticultural Landmark Committee who selected this site.

River Farm, national headquarters of the American Horticultural Society (AHS), is an historic 25-acre site on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. Once part of George Washington’s original five farms, River Farm has been the home of AHS since 1973, when the society was able to acquire the property through the generosity of the Enid A. Haupt Charitable Trust. It was also home to the American Society for Horticultural Science from 1974-1979. River Farm has provided a home base for the Society’s work and has hosted hundreds of programs attended by thousands of amateur and professional horticulturists, furthering our basic knowledge of horticultural science. Following in the footsteps of George Washington, River Farm has been used as a platform from which to promote horticultural innovation, practical experimentation, and conservation.

The site’s features include an early 20th century mansion and an artful blend of naturalistic and formal garden areas. The property boasts a spectacular river view, historic trees (gifts from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington), boxwood hedges, woodland areas, and three-acre meadow, and a popular children’s garden.

The ASHS Horticultural Landmark Award is designed to commemorate sites of horticultural accomplishments. Awards are selected based on historical, scientific, environmental, and aesthetic value.

Previous ASHS Horticultural Landmarks include Monticello-the home and gardens of Thomas Jefferson, Charlottesville, Va.; Como Park Conservatory-an oasis within the City of Saint Paul, Minn.; the famed Plant Science Research Area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Md.; the recently restored United States Botanic Garden in Washington D.C.; the Royal Botanic Gardens near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in Santa Rosa, California; the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Jamaica Plains, Mass.; and the San Antonio River Walk.

On behalf of the American Society for Horticultural Science I am pleased to present this plaque to Dr. H. Marc Cathey and declare River Farm as an ASHS Horticultural Landmark.

Congratulations!