Encinitas CA— Julian Duval, president and CEO of the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, California is among the 2017 AHS Great American Gardeners Awards. The individuals, organizations, and businesses who receive these national awards represent the best in American gardening, and recognized for their outstanding achievements within their areas of expertise.
Over his 20-year tenure at the San Diego Botanic Garden, Julian has led its transformation from a struggling county-run garden with depleted financial reserves into the successful nonprofit organization it is today. This has included enhancing its educational programs and creating the largest children’s garden on the West Coast.
Prior to this position, he helped establish the Indianapolis Zoo at a new location, where he championed efforts to make the zoo’s three-acre garden an accredited botanical garden. In the process, he became a pioneer in advocating for the growing role of zoos in conservation and horticulture. Duval received the Horticulturist of the Year Award from the San Diego Horticultural Society in 2014.