Smithsonian Gardens is preserving our diverse garden heritage through stories, videos, and images collected from people from all around the country. Anyone can share a story and read the stories on the website, and the stories are a part of the Smithsonian's collections. Smithsonian Gardens is especially interested in habitat and wildlife gardening, stories from women and people of color, and stories related to gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We encourage you to share stories from your own community with us:

  • How do you benefit from time spent in the garden?
  • How has COVID-19 shaped the way you spend time outside?
  • Are you finding hope in gardening?
  • Are you growing your own food for the first time?
  • Are you helping others learn to garden?
  • Write a #PublicGardenLoveLetter about your favorite public garden. What do you miss the most? Do you have a favorite memory from this public garden?

If you'd like to share your garden story with our digital archive:

Fill out this form

Or you can email us your story if you'd prefer.

To submit a story via email please include:

  • Title of your story
  • The story itself, long or short. 
  • Location of the story (just city and state for private gardens, no home addresses, please.)
  • Images are not required but are encouraged! Snap a cellphone picture if you can, or share an older image.
  • Make sure you review our Submission Agreement
  • Email the story and images to: communityofgardens@si.edu

Thanks for helping us preserve our shared garden heritage, one story at a time.