Jane G. Pepper

President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Jane G. Pepper took over the reins of the182-year-old Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1981. In her role as president, she oversees the Society’s activities and programs, including the renowned Philadelphia Flower Show and Philadelphia Green, a national model for neighborhood revitalization. Under Pepper’s guidance, the organization has become a leading voice in regional greening initiatives.

At the Show
The Philadelphia Flower Show grew into a new name in 2009 -- the Philadelphia International Flower Show --having achieved national and international stature during Pepper’s tenure. It is the largest and most prestigious indoor flower show in the world, and enjoys an unprecedented level of participation and attention. The Show plays host each year to more than a quarter million visitors from around the country and overseas.

At PHS
The Society’s programs and activities have seen tremendous growth under Pepper’s leadership. Nearly 16,000 active members enjoy a variety of benefits, including the award-winning Green Scene magazine, a 14,000-volume horticultural library, garden tours, lectures, workshops and awards programs.
           
In addition, the Society’s acclaimed neighborhood and public landscape greening program, Philadelphia Green, has grown extensively over the past decade. Philadelphia Green coordinates greening projects with organized community groups on blocks in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and revitalizes downtown areas and gateway open spaces in partnership with public and private organizations. More than five million square feet of vacant urban land has been reclaimed and revived so far. Today, Philadelphia Green is the nation’s largest such program and serves as a model and consultant for other cities throughout the United States.

Education
Prior to her position with PHS, Pepper, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, was Horticulturist at Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania. She holds a Master of Science degree in Public Horticulture Administration from the Longwood Graduate Program and a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science from the University of Delaware. She also has an Associate of Science degree in Landscape Design from Temple University.

Other Work
A Fellow of the Garden Writers Association of America, Pepper authored her first book in 1997, Jane Pepper’s Garden: Getting the Most Pleasure and Growing Results From Your Garden Every Month of the Year. Camino Books is the publisher.
Pepper is a director of the PNC Financial Services Group; a member of the Board of Directors of the First Hospital Foundation, the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; and chair of the Selections Committee for the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Philadelphia International Leadership Initiative. She is also a trustee of Longwood Gardens, Inc.

Awards

• Drexel University Institute for Woman’s Health and Leadership  “Woman One Award,” 2009  

• Wyck-Strickland Award, 2007

• Massachusetts Horticultural Society Grand Gold Medal, 2005

• The Temple University General Alumni Association Certificate of Honor, 2005

• The Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize (awarded by the National Recreation Foundation), 2003

• Honorary Doctorate, Public Service (awarded by Chatham College, Pittsburgh, Pa.), 2003

• Liberty Hyde Bailey Award (awarded by the American Horticultural Society), 2003

• Magee Hospital Humanitarian Award, 1997

• The Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, December 1996

• The Royal Horticultural Society Gold Veitch Memorial Medal, 1996

• Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Paradigm Award, 1995

• PENJERDEL Council “Citizen of the Year” Award, 1991

FOR PRESS INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ALAN JAFFE, email or call 215-988-8833
LAURA HOOVER, email or call 215-988-8836