Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

What Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens does

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public botanical garden and arboretum located on a 48-acre site at 631 Berwyn Baptist Road in Devon, Pennsylvania. Founded on May 22, 1976, the organization operates as a free-admission public garden featuring accredited plant collections with a focus on rhododendrons, azaleas, and native flora, alongside the Green Ribbon Native Plants® plant conservation initiative. The site includes the John J. Willaman Education Center, the Explorer Garden, and The Garden Shop at Jenkins (a seasonal on-site retail store). The organization is part of Philadelphia's America's Garden Capital network and holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and 1% For The Planet Environmental Partner designation.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure built on five streams: tiered membership dues (Patron $250+, Sustaining $500+), paid program and event fees ($5-$120 per session across wellness, education, and family offerings), retail sales at The Garden Shop, charitable contributions and planned giving, and garden rentals and professional photography. General admission is free, which functions as the customer acquisition mechanism. Programs are delivered in-person and virtually (via Zoom), registered through Eventbrite, and promoted through Constant Contact email, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The organization serves four primary visitor segments: families with children, adults seeking wellness activities, photography enthusiasts, and horticulture/conservation enthusiasts.

The organization is led by Executive Director Tom Smarr and Education Manager Amy Mawby, with a staff of 11-50. Operational delivery is augmented by an active partnership network including the Tredyffrin Public Library (Arbo-READ-um), Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, Upper Main Line YMCA, Willistown Conservation Trust, and The Art of Ecology. Volunteer, apprenticeship, and internship programs support labor-intensive horticultural operations. The organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 and currently has no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

Legal name

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

Website

https://jenkinsarboretum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public botanical garden in Devon, Pennsylvania, offering free general admission, accredited plant collections, and year-round wellness, education, and family programs funded by memberships, donations, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Garden and Botanical Garden Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Botanical garden services
• Public garden programs
• Horticultural education
• Plant conservation
• Nature education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Devon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and ongoing membership program offering various tiers (Patron Level $250+, Sustaining Level $500+) with exclusive benefits including member-only events, tours, and discounts at the Garden Shop.
2. Program and Event Fees: Fees charged for educational programs, wellness classes, workshops, and special events. Pricing varies by program type with member discounts available.
3. Retail Sales: The Garden Shop at Jenkins sells garden-related merchandise, plants, and nature-themed products. Hours vary seasonally (May-Sept 9AM-6PM, Oct-Apr 9AM-4PM).
4. Donations and Planned Giving: Charitable contributions from supporters, including planned giving programs and corporate sponsorship opportunities.
5. Garden Rentals and Photography: Professional photography sessions and facility rentals generate additional revenue from visitors seeking exclusive use of garden spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens operates a 48-acre public botanical garden in Devon, Pennsylvania offering free general admission year-round. Its core offering includes accredited native plant collections and the Green Ribbon Native Plants® conservation initiative, supported by a tiered membership program, a monthly calendar of paid educational and wellness programs (yoga, tai chi, forest bathing, children's programs, lectures), and an on-site retail Garden Shop selling native plants and garden merchandise.

Product overview

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is a single-location public botanical garden and arboretum offering free general admission. The organization's product portfolio centers on its 48-acre garden grounds, complemented by paid educational programs and wellness activities, retail operations at The Garden Shop, and facility rentals. Core programs include guided garden tours (Summer Wednesday Walkabouts, Golf Cart Tours), children's education (Jenkins Juniors, Mini Microscope Mondays, Summer Storytime), wellness programming (Mindful Yoga, Forest Bathing, Tai Chi), and the Third Thursday Lecture Series. The John J. Willaman Education Center hosts indoor programs and exhibitions. The membership program provides tiered benefits including discounts and exclusive access. Events can be registered via Eventbrite with calendar integration options (Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Ribbon Native Plants®: A plant conservation initiative focusing on native plants
• The Garden Shop at Jenkins
• John J. Willaman Education Center
• Explorer Garden

Products and services

• Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens (General Admission) 48-acre public botanical garden and arboretum in Devon, PA, offering free admission year-round with access to native plant collections, accredited horticultural specimens, conservation programs, and educational garden landscapes.
• Membership Program
• The Garden Shop at Jenkins On-site retail shop selling native plants, garden-related merchandise, and botanical gifts. Located at the arboretum grounds with seasonal hours.
• Mindful Yoga (7-week series, in-person and virtual) 7-week gentle yoga series led by instructor Janet Muti, available as hybrid in-person/virtual or virtual-only, designed for adults seeking wellness. Members $84/series; Non-Members $120/series.
• Tai Chi (5-week series) 5-week Tai Chi series offered to adults as a wellness and mindful movement practice. Members $60/series; Non-Members $85/series.
• Forest Bathing walks Guided forest bathing walks for adults, including tea and reflections, designed to reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Members $35/walk; Non-Members $40/walk.
• Jenkins Juniors (Ages 2-5) 4-week outdoor education series for ages 2-5 featuring stories, scenic strolls, and creative crafts. Offered in spring (May-June) and fall (September). Members $50/series; Non-Members $60/series.
• Summer Wednesday Walkabouts Weekly free guided walking tours of the gardens held every Wednesday during summer months, offering visitors staff-led exploration of seasonal highlights.
• Summer Storytime (All Ages) Free family program featuring nature-themed read-aloud stories held in Jenkins' Explorer Garden, designed for ages 3-6 with adult accompaniment required.
• Mini Microscope Mondays Children's science program using kid-friendly handheld mini microscopes to explore plants and nature up-close. For ages 3 and up. Members $5/class; Non-Members $10/class.
• Golf Cart Garden Tours Guided 45-minute accessible tour exploring Jenkins via golf cart, offering an accessible way to discover the gardens. $5.00 per person.
• Photo Walks Guided photography walks led by a professional photographer for hobbyist photographers using smartphones through DSLRs. Members $20/walk; Non-Members $30/walk.
• Tree Identification Workshop Tree identification workshop led by The Art of Ecology founder Marissa Jacobs, combining nature journaling and ecological education. Members $45; Non-Members $50.
• Third Thursday Lecture Series Monthly virtual lecture series held on the third Thursday of each month featuring expert speakers on topics including trees, gardening, conservation, and nature. Delivered via Zoom and partnered with Tredyffrin Public Library's Arbo-READ-um.
• Professional Photography Sessions Permit-based professional photography sessions on the arboretum grounds, available to visitors and photographers seeking exclusive use of garden spaces.
• Garden Rentals Facility rental program for private events and exclusive use of garden spaces at the arboretum grounds.
• Green Ribbon Native Plants® program Plant conservation program promoting the use of native plants in landscaping and gardening, supporting biodiversity and ecological health. The program is a registered trademark of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens.
• John J. Willaman Education Center Education facility hosting programs, classes, workshops, art exhibitions, and indoor events on the arboretum grounds. Seasonal hours: May-September 9 AM-6 PM; October-April 9 AM-4 PM.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission ensures universal accessibility to nature and horticulture education

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tredyffrin Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArbo-READ-um partnership for joint educational programming. Co-sponsored The Tree Collectors virtual lecture featuring author Amy Stewart. Partnership combines library and botanical garden resources for community education on trees and nature.
• Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative plant sales featuring uncommon and unusual rhododendrons and azaleas at Jenkins' Opening Weekend Sale events. Joint effort brings specialty plant material to regional gardeners.
• Delaware Valley Ornithological ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for bird-focused programming. Club members Phil and Bonnie Witmer led the Creating Safe Spaces for Birds event on window collision prevention.
• Upper Main Line YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Environmental & STEM Education Naturalists led the Discover Native Turtles program, bringing youth education expertise to Jenkins' family programming.
• Willistown Conservation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Programs Manager Blake Goll presented Gardening for Birds virtual lecture as part of the Third Thursday Lecture series, focusing on native plant landscaping for bird habitat.
• The Art of EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducator and Founder Marissa Jacobs leads tree identification workshops at Jenkins, bringing nature journaling and ecological education expertise.
• 1% For The PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental Partner designation. Membership in global network of businesses and nonprofits committed to environmental giving. Demonstrates organizational commitment to sustainability.
• Cultural Alliance of Chester CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization connecting Jenkins with other cultural institutions in the region for collaborative marketing and regional tourism promotion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tyler Arboretum: A 650-year-old, 650+-acre public arboretum in Delaware County, PA, offering native plant gardens, education, and family programming. Comparable as a regional public arboretum with similar conservation mission and event-driven GTM.
• Chanticleer Garden: A 35-acre public pleasure garden in Wayne, PA, focused on horticultural display and creative planting design. Comparable as a small, high-quality public garden in the Philadelphia Main Line with strong plant-collection identity.
• Mt. Cuba Center: A 1,000-acre botanical garden in Hockessin, DE, dedicated to native plant conservation and education. Directly comparable for its native plant mission, conservation programming, and educational event calendar.
• Morris Arboretum: A 92-acre public arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, offering plant collections, educational programs, and ticketed admission. A direct peer in scale, mission, and programming mix (gardens, education, events, membership).
• Scott Arboretum: A 300+-acre arboretum at Swarthmore College in PA, offering plant collections, free public access, and educational programming. A close peer in size, mission, free-access model, and college-area location on the Main Line.

Broad incumbents

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: A 52-acre public botanical garden in NYC offering free/low-cost admission, plant collections, and extensive education programming. Comparable in free-access model, education focus, and botanical garden mission, though at much larger scale.
• Longwood Gardens: The premier public garden in the Philadelphia region, operating 1,100+ acres of gardens, conservatories, and fountains. Comparable as a member of America's Garden Capital network and as a horticultural/educational destination, but operates at vastly larger scale with paid ticketing.
• New York Botanical Garden: A 250-acre national historic landmark botanical garden in the Bronx, offering paid ticketing, plant collections, research, and education. Comparable as a large-scale public garden with conservation and educational programming.
• Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library: A 1,000-acre naturalistic garden and museum estate in Delaware, offering a designed garden, library, and ticketed cultural programming. Comparable as a Mid-Atlantic garden/education destination with paid admission and event programming.

Regional players

• United States Botanic Garden: A federally operated public botanical garden in Washington, DC, focused on plant conservation, education, and free public access. Comparable as a free-admission public garden with educational programming and conservation mission, though federally operated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI5DCnwjI-hNfRegGSgpR_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/JAGardens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jenkins-arboretum
• Instagraminstagram.com/JAGardens
• Xx.com/jagardens

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens