Years: 

1925–2011

Year Hutchinson Medal awarded:

2000

Chairman of the New York Botanical Garden (1973–1976); Advisor to Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Royal Botanical Gardens (Ontario)

Francis H. Cabot was one of the most significant horticultural visionaries of the last century. His work continues to influence garden design, stewardship, and plant conservation across the world. Cabot was the creator of two of North America’s most acclaimed gardens: Stonecrop and Les Quatre Vents. He founded America’s foremost garden preservation organization.

Key Contributions:

Cabot founded The Garden Conservancy in 1989 after witnessing the rapid loss of America’s great private gardens. 

Achievements of the Conservancy include opening 300+ private gardens through the Open Days program and the preservation of 17 major gardens, including the gardens at Alcatraz. 

He is credited with introducing notable plants to North America, including Japanese blood grass.

Other Major Honors:

Chevalier, National Order of Quebec (2000)

CBHL Literature Award (2003) for his book The Greater Perfection: The Story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents (2001)

Honorary Member, Order of Canada (2005)

Garden Club of America Achievement Award (2006) for “the greatest horticultural accomplishment in America in the last half‑century.”