Photo courtesy of AHS
Past reception at AHS gala at River Farm.
The American Horticultural Society (AHS), the nation's premier organization for promoting excellence in gardening, is celebrating 50 years of stewarding River Farm as its headquarters in Alexandria.
The organization is marking this anniversary with a series of public programs and community activities, culminating in a spectacular gala fundraising event on Sept. 23, featuring renowned designer Charlotte Moss.
Moss, the honorary chair of the event, will receive AHS’ National Achievement Award that evening. In addition, horticulturalist Claire Sawyers, director of the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College, will receive AHS’ annual Liberty Hyde Bailey Award, which is given to individuals who demonstrate a lifetime of achievement in the horticulture field.
River Farm is a special place of historical, cultural and natural significance. This iconic property, one of George Washington's original farms situated on a 27-acre swath of rolling fields, gardens and woodlands along the Potomac River, serves as the national headquarters for AHS, where it provides a prestigious home to carry out AHS' horticultural mission.
In 1973, former AHS Board member Enid Annenberg Haupt gave the organization a $1 million gift to purchase River Farm as its permanent headquarters. At the time, the property was under threat of being acquired by the Russian government. She believed that River Farm should remain in American hands and facilitated the purchase of River Farm for AHS.
In a ceremony attended by then-First Lady Patricia Nixon, Haupt stipulated that the beautiful grounds and open spaces of River Farm should be accessible to the general public in perpetuity. Since then, AHS has honored its promise to maintain the property as its national headquarters, a national treasure, and a community asset that is open for public enjoyment.
Recently, the property once again came under threat of being purchased for potential private development and sold to the highest bidder. In 2020, the AHS Board rejected the sale of the property to an unknown group of investors, which would have removed it permanently from the public domain.
With the help of public officials and the local community, the AHS Board reaffirmed its commitment to carry out its mission at River Farm. A newly reconfigured Board and staff are dedicated to ensuring that AHS will have sufficient funding and resources to secure a bright future for both AHS and River Farm for generations to come.
To celebrate the important milestone of 50 years at River Farm, AHS is focusing on activities and events that expand community involvement, engage new audiences and promote gardening for all. Earlier this year, AHS relaunched "Conversations with Great American Gardeners," a popular webinar series where individuals can learn gardening tips from experts on a broad range of topics.
This summer, AHS is sponsoring free concerts at River Farm as part of its “Music at the Manor” series. On Aug. 26, AHS will open River Farm from 6 - 8 p.m. for a community picnic where visitors are invited to bring their own picnic to enjoy a late evening of live music in the gardens. See the AHS website at Membership Benefits – American Horticultural Society (ahsgardening.org) for more details about these events.
On Sept. 23, the celebration of AHS' 50th anniversary at River Farm will culminate in a beautiful evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing set against the spectacular gardens of River Farm that will be awash in early autumn splendor.
Charlotte Moss, one of the nation's most renowned interior and garden designers and a native Virginian, will serve as honorary chair of the event. Moss, the author of 11 books, including "Garden Inspirations" and "Flowers," is currently working on a new book titled "Women in Horticulture" — including a chapter on Enid Haupt — to be published by Rizzoli in 2025. She has received numerous honors, including the New York School of Interior Design's Centennial Medal and the Royal Oak Foundation's Timeless Design Award. In addition to her business pursuits, Moss is active philanthropically: she is the Emerita Trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, on the Boards at the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, The Order of Saint John, The Madoo Conservancy, the International Council of Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, and the Board of the Board of American Corporate Partners where she mentors veterans. The AHS Board will present its most prestigious award, the National Achievement Award, to Moss at the event.
Laura Dowling, an AHS Board member who was formerly the chief floral designer at the White House, is serving as the gala chair this year. "We are absolutely thrilled that Charlotte Moss is joining us to celebrate our 50th anniversary at River Farm," she said. "With her outstanding record of accomplishment in creating elegant and timeless interiors and gardens as well as her achievements as a prolific author of beautiful books on design, she inspires all of us to incorporate beauty in our everyday lives. And, as a native Virginian who understands the importance of preserving our state’s cultural and natural heritage, she is an ideal ambassador to help us make the case that both AHS and River Farm are national treasures that deserve our ongoing support. It will be an honor and pleasure to present the AHS National Achievement Award to Charlotte Moss at our 50th anniversary gala event.”
For ticket and sponsorship information, please go to AHS GALA 2023 and/or contact Katie Tukey, Director of Development and Engagement at (703) 768-5700, ext. 144.
