Program History
The North Carolina Botanical Garden’s horticultural therapy program was founded in 1978, making it one of the oldest programs of its kind in the nation.
In efforts to broaden our range of services and scope of educational offerings, the Garden made the conscious decision to transition from a horticultural therapy program to a therapeutic horticulture program in 2022. We are currently equipped to provide TH or HT direct services and consultations. Read more about the differences between therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy.
Through the years, the Garden and surrounding communities have benefited from the dedicated leadership of several passionate program managers:
Judy Carrier: 1978-1984
Bibby Moore: 1984-1992
Nancy Easterling: 1992-2009
Sally Haskett: 2009- 2021
Emilee Weaver: 2022-present
Read more about the history of the NCBG horticultural therapy program in A Conservation Garden: The North Carolina Botanical Garden at 50 (pages 48-57).
Therapeutic Horticulture Department Staff
Emilee Weaver
Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager
erweaver@unc.edu
Emilee Weaver has been a professional horticulturist for over 25 years in five different states/climates in the U.S. More than 15 of those years have been spent as a horticultural therapist and consultant. Stemming from a formalized education in social work, years of in-field horticulture experience, and a horticultural therapy certificate from the Horticultural Therapy Institute of Denver, she has developed and managed numerous therapeutic horticulture programs involving a variety of populations and settings. Most notably, she developed a therapeutic/vocational horticultural therapy program at a high-security treatment facility for adolescent girls, a military veteran reintegration program at Denver Botanic Gardens, and managed an HT program at a 400 bed, state-managed psychiatric hospital.
She currently serves as the Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, providing local and international TH consultation and training and managing the Hybrid and Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture programs offered by the Garden. Emilee has spoken at national and international conferences and symposiums and co-authored the HT textbook, “The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy” which was published in 2019. She is enthusiastic about supporting a thriving local and national TH/HT community in the U.S and abroad.
Sarah Tanke
Therapeutic Horticulture Community Engagement Specialist
tanke@unc.edu
Sarah Tanke has been passionately connecting people to nature since earning her Psychology degree from the University of Florida in 2017. Her journey began with teaching outdoor education, where she spent several years before discovering her love for horticultural therapy. Captivated by its potential, she obtained her Certificate in Horticultural Therapy from the University of Florida in 2022 and has been actively involved with their program as a teaching assistant ever since. Sarah is a registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) through the American Horticultural Therapy Association.
Sarah brings a rich and diverse background to her role as the Therapeutic Horticulture Community Engagement Specialist, with experience spanning clinical settings, nonprofit program development, and higher education. Most recently, she managed a horticultural therapy program at a residential mental health facility, where she honed her skills in developing therapeutic environments and programming.
In her current position, Sarah facilitates direct client services in the community and supports the Hybrid and Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture programs offered by the garden. She is deeply committed to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility within the horticultural therapy profession, striving to make it welcoming and beneficial for all.