William (Ned) Friedman is pleased to share that Rodney Eason has been hired as The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University’s Director of Horticulture and Landscape and will assume his responsibilities on December 4. A recognized leader and consummate professional in stewarding historical landscapes, Rodney brings more than a quarter century of experience growing plants and managing gardens to this pivotal role at the Arnold Arboretum.
Rodney comes from Land & Garden Preserve in Mount Desert Island, Maine, where he served as Chief Executive Officer and led efforts to transition 1,400 acres of land near Acadia National Park from private ownership to public garden. Rodney also guided the incorporation of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden into the Preserve, a historic undertaking he detailed eloquently in a feature in Arnoldia last summer. Rodney’s extensive background in botanical garden management also includes serving as Director of Horticulture and Plants Curator at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and as Display Division Leader at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.
You are invited to read more about Rodney’s accomplishments and his enthusiasm for joining the community in the announcement of his impending arrival on the Arboretum website.
