Questions for discussion:

• What do you think J. Horace McFarland meant when he wrote "Great parks are in the highest degree...a sheer expression of democracy"?
• How did J. Horace McFarland use his photography to persuade people of his cause?
• What is your vision of a beautiful city? What makes your city or town beautiful? Are there elements that could be changed or improved upon? Take it a step further by working in small groups to design a new public park for your town or city that embodies the spirit of J. Horace McFarland. 

Projects: 

• Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador Challenge: Apply what you have learned about the history of community gardens to the future of green spaces in your very own community. Up to the task of being a leader, steward, and designer? Take the Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador Challenge and make your community a healtheir place by designing and building a green space or garden; we walk you through the process every step of the way!
• Smithsonian Gardens Community of Gardens digital archive: Interview gardeners in your area or document a community garden and add your story to our digital archive - help us preserve garden history in the United States and become part of the Smithsonian! Click on "Share a Story" in the navigation to get started. 

Further Reading: 

• Morrison, Ernest. J. Horace McFarland, A Thorn for Beauty. Harrisburg: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1995.
• USDA National Agricultural Library J. Horace McFarland Collection. 
• "Perfecting Space: J. Horace McFarland and the American Civic Association." Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies 77, no. 4 (2010): 486-497.
• Smithsonian Gardens, Archives of American Gardens, J. Horace McFarland Company Collection