Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Every year, a special invitation goes out to a group of about 65 chief executives of the largest public gardens in the US and Canada for an exclusive conference for them to meet and discuss issues that are important to their large and influential organizations.

The Vallarta Botanical Garden has been selected as the host for the upcoming occurrence of this event, the Directors of Large Gardens Conference, next scheduled for February of 2018. This will be the first time this conference will take place in Mexico. A few select directors of Mexican botanical gardens will also be in attendance.

Paul B. Redman, president and CEO of Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens, reached out to the Vallarta Botanical Garden about the idea of hosting the conference locally.

After hearing a constant stream of recent positive news about the exciting work being done at public gardens south of the border in general, and at the Vallarta Botanical Garden in particular, Mr. Redman knew this could provide an inspirational setting for the conference. Also considering how much the region is known for its tropical paradise splendor, beautiful climate, friendly people, and rich culture, it made for an obvious consideration.

Dr. Steven Windhager, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden (in Puerto Vallarta's California "Sister City") also attended the meeting when the Vallarta Botanical Garden was selected. He shared the following with us, "This year's topic is plant conservation, and the Vallarta Botanical Garden is a great place for that theme. The Jalisco region is so diverse ecologically, and the Vallarta Botanical Garden is doing so much to collect and conserve its most uncommon species. This will be our first meeting that will include botanic garden leaders from all of North America."

Executive Director of the American Public Gardens Association, Dr. Casey Sclar - who will be attending the conference as a special invitee - contributed the following thoughts on the impact of the field of public horticulture: "Gardens are central to conservation. They are likely safeguarding the next cure for cancer or crop wild relative that relieves famine in their collections right now. However, it is the hundreds of incredible stories - of native habitats or of cultures present and past - through which gardens reveal how plants are critical not only to our survival, but to our ways of life."

The board, staff, and volunteers of the Vallarta Botanical Garden are delighted to have this unique opportunity to share the best of their botanical collections, horticultural displays, and world class hospitality to so many top garden leaders. The relationships that the team at the Vallarta Botanical Garden will further develop during this time have enormous potential to result in powerful international collaborations for the benefit of plants and people in Mexico and beyond.