JW Marriott announced three herb gardens envisioned and planted by landscape designer Lily Kwong, part of the brand’s JW Garden program. Kwong founded Studio Lily Kwong, a next-generation landscape design studio with a mission to reconnect people to nature and her JW Garden projects can be found at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Essex House New York.

© JW Marriott

JW Marriott hotels around the world grow fresh produce and herbs in their own gardens to use in recipes, cocktails and more — inspired by founder J. Willard Marriott’s daily nature walks and his wife’s growing of her own fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Kwong used sustainable practices in each of her JW Gardens, like repurposed, low-emission materials, water-conserving techniques, and the omission of spray pesticides and fungicides. Each of the gardens center around a signature herb, and Kwong’s expertise will also be shared through a JW Garden Toolkit. Additionally, JW Marriott will donate to one of Kwong’s favorite charitable organizations in each destination.

© JW Marriott

“There is a synergy that exists between JW Marriott’s point of view on well-being and Lily Kwong’s passion for bringing people back to nature,” said Bruce Rohr, global brand leader, JW Marriott. “Our JW Garden program invites guests to enjoy serene spaces and find balance while staying with us — the garden instantly acts as a respite for the mind and spirit and later nourishes the body through its gifts. Lily is further elevating the JW Garden experience and we cannot wait for guests to enjoy her vision.”

At JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, the signature herb is sage, planted alongside rosemary, prickly pear and olive trees. The native plants and edible herbs were selected for therapeutic properties, and the beds morph into hidden seating. The Mojave Desert Land Trust is the partnered charity.

In Orlando, at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, herbs were chosen for strong aromatic powers to help embed joyful memories for guests. The signature herb, rosemary, grows with thyme, lavender, chives, oregano, mint, marjoram, orange, kumquat, tangerine and Meyer lemon, with Orlando City Foundation as the chosen charity.

© JW Marriott

Mint is the signature herb at JW Marriott Essex House New York, where the garden sits in the hotel lobby and draws inspiration from Central Park. GrowNYC’s Greening program benefits from this garden, also lush with lavender, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, chives and oregano.

“An herb garden is a beautiful portal to reconnect us back to the land and our senses,” said Lily Kwong. “Our JW Garden projects were designed to honor traditional kitchen gardens, but Studio Lily Kwong’s artistic approach to plant life adds unique and unexpected dimensions to each project. We are thrilled that JW Marriott guests will not only enjoy our gardens’ beauty, but also their bounty. Our greatest aspiration is that our work might inspire some guests to go home and grow their very own herb garden.”