Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices at PHS. Andrew has elevated each of the departments he oversees and has increased the brand and visibility of PHS through their respective work.
Andrew received his B.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University. Prior to arriving at PHS, Andrew worked at Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer Garden, and the Scott Arboretum for a tenure of 27 years. He has received the American Public Gardens Association’s Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, and the Certificate of Merit from PHS. He also serves on the Board of Magnolia Society International. Andrew published his first book in 2015 The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias. Andrew enjoys bird watching, travel and, of course, gardening. You can learn more about Andrew by visiting PHS’s website and his Instagram page @abunting64.
ANDREW BUNTING BIO
Early horticulture experiences growing up in northern California
Learning about horticulture career opportunities in high school
The importance of internships for his early horticulture career
Andrew’s internships at The Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and the year-long curatorial internship at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College
Learning about plant curation from Ray Schulenberg and his approach to documenting every hardy plant that could be grown at the arboretum
Floyd Swink’s practice of keying out plants
Traveling to England to work for Penelope Hobhouse, making friends, and visiting over 100 gardens
Core lessons learned from England including mixed border practices; attention to color and incredible color combinations with Pam Lewis at the Sticky Wicket and her approach to cutting out plants in magazines and mixing them on the floor for inspiration; and gardens have to be gardened including twiddling clematis and staging practices
Gardening for three months in New Zealand with Gordon Collier at Titoki Point
Transforming people’s lives with PHS
Partnering with community gardens for the PHS Harvest program for improving food insecurity (and growing 270,000 vegetable seedlings!)
PHS Tree Tenders, advocates for planting and caring for street trees in areas of the city where there are equity issues
PHS Land Care, a program from PHS to plant and tend vacant lots in the city of Philadelphia
Research from Dr. Eugenia South showing the benefits of these greening programs from PHS
The concept of instead of PHS being a single destination garden it is woven throughout the community
Funding sources for these PHS projects
Core values of public garden management—get involved and integrate the public, have a personal life with gardening, and be generous
Andrew’s passion and drive for life
Surprises from converting his front yard into a gravel garden
The myth of cutting things back in the garden in autumn
One of Andrew’s favorite books, Michael Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants Their Identification
Staying current by visiting gardens and subscribing to The English Garden, Gardens Illustrated, RHS’s The Garden, The American Gardener; Grow by PHS; journals; reading blogs; and listening to podcasts
The importance of writing to stay current on topics
Andrew’s belief in composting everything
Propagating horticulturists by starting garden societies in towns that then tend pocket gardens, host garden tours, have educational sessions, do kid-focused workshops, and be involved in community events like parades
Learning more about PHS through phsonline.org and on his Instagram @abunting64