“People are looking for a place to experience nature where they live,” says Daniel Grose, new Director of Horticulture at the Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG), “and it is such a privilege to be able to provide that through the Garden!”
Daniel began his tenure as Director at MBG on May 1, at which time Rick Pudwell, who served in the position for 27 years, initiated his transition to Director of Horticulture – Emeritus until his retirement in September. Daniel is a resident of Eads, Tennessee, and has been the owner/operator of Set Apart Landscaping since 2009. He is a graduate of Evangelical Christian School (ECS) and attended the University of Memphis.
In the spirit of connecting Memphians with nature where they live, Daniel encourages people to enjoy the MBG often. Engaging outdoor activities such as feeding koi in the Japanese Garden, finding a retreat in the woodland areas or taking the kids to My Big Backyard make the MBG a playground for all ages.
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniel to our team and look forward to his passion for landscape design and horticulture, especially as it pertains to native plants and ecologically minded landscapes that he will bring to our Garden,” says Michael D. Allen, MBG Executive Director.
“Over the past few years, even through the pandemic, we have invested in the modernization of our Garden’s buildings and grounds, strengthened our financial position, and begun to reinvest in our horticulture operations. Daniel’s arrival will allow us to take our gardens and grounds to new heights, building upon Rick Pudwell’s efforts,” Michael explains.
Daniel asserts that he is grateful for this opportunity, adding, “I walked into a team of people who are so energetic and deeply passionate about what they do. It is both humbling and inspiring to lead a group like this, and I cannot wait for the people of Memphis to experience the things we have in store!"
