JARS v46n4 - Species Foundation Selects New Director

Species Foundation Selects New Director
Don King, President Rhododendron Species Foundation
Federal Way, Washington

The Rhododendron Species Foundation is proud to announce the selection of John T. Fitzpatrick of Charlottesville, Va., as the new director of the RSF. For the past six years, John has overseen the establishment of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at Monticello in Charlottesville. He indicates that he "cares deeply about the preservation of wild plants, those bequeathed to us by the earth."

Previously, John has been the assistant director of horticulture at White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Conn., and the Garden curator at Bressingham Gardens near Diss, Norfolk, England, where he worked under the direction of Alan Bloom. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture from the University of Maryland. He is the author of four published articles and is presently writing a book on the roses grown at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson. He enjoys giving lectures, is active in several plant societies, and is a member of the Historic Landscapes Committee of the United States/International Council on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS). It is important to acknowledge that in addition to the selection of Mr. Fitzpatrick by the Director Search Committee, he has likewise reviewed and selected the RSF. He indicated that he was "impressed with the publications and programs of the Foundation" which has "a strong team on board already."

We welcome Mr. Fitzpatrick to the RSF and we look forward to his arrival.

Don King is a member of the Seattle Chapter of the ARS.