ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 14, 2020) -- Catharine McCord, a horticultural therapist specializing in sensory and therapeutic garden design and programming, has been named the 2020 recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s (AHS) Horticultural Therapy Award, which recognizes significant contributions to that field.

The accolade is one of the Great American Gardeners Awards that the AHS presents annually to individuals, organizations, and businesses that represent the best in American gardening. Each of the recipients has contributed significantly to fields such as scientific research, garden communication, landscape design, youth gardening, and conservation.  

Known for her multidisciplinary approach to horticultural therapy, McCord blends her training in landscape architecture with her personal passion for mental health awareness and her interest in herb- and plant-based medical treatments. As the program coordinator for Denver Botanic Gardens’ therapeutic horticulture program, McCord helps deliver programming both on-site in the Sensory Garden and off-site at care facilities. She also serves as a sensory garden design consultant in the Metro Denver area, supporting cultural institutions and other non-profit organizations as they plan and build sensory gardens.

In 2017, as part of her master’s thesis project, McCord designed a sensory garden for Denver’s Sewall Child Development Center. The garden was constructed with the aid of a $75,000 grant McCord helped secure from the Colorado Garden Foundation. These accomplishments led to her selection as a National Olmsted Scholar Finalist and an invitation to present her thesis at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture conference held in Beijing, China.

For full descriptions of each award and brief biographies of this year’s recipients, please visit our 2020 Award Winners. 

Founded in 1922, the American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to modeling, educating about, and advocating for earth-friendly and sustainable gardening practices. Our mission is to share with all Americans the critical role of plants, gardens, and green spaces in creating healthy, livable communities and a sustainable planet. Since 1973, we have been headquartered at River Farm, part of George Washington’s original land holdings on a 25-acre site composed of gardens, meadows, and woodlands along the Potomac River in the Mount Vernon section of Fairfax County.

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