As a longtime staff member at Smithsonian Gardens, Cindy Brown has been involved in a wide array of community outreach and educational programming in the nation’s capital. She has worked diligently to ensure that people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities feel comfortable and empowered in a horticultural landscape. In this episode we explore the challenges and rewards associated with greening the city, working with volunteers, and bringing Smithsonian Gardens into the lives of people everywhere.

Glossary of terms used in this episode:

“Gerontology” - defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the comprehensive study of aging and the problems of the aged.”

“Green Spaces” - most often this refers to densely planted spaces in cities, which usually contrast with the paved and/or developed spaces that characterize urban landscapes. Green Space could include a park, bike trail, arboretum or public garden.

“Stewardship” - the practice of taking responsibility for protecting, preserving or improving a place or property. Stewards are often volunteers.

“Living Collections” - in botany and horticulture, this refers to plants and specimens that are catalogued and made available for scientific research and public exhibits.

“Natural History” - in this context, it refers to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, which was founded in 1910 and is administered by the Smithsonian Institution.