There’s a new and accomplished plantsman at the helm of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ horticulture department. Rodney Eason joined the staff on October 1 as director of horticulture, filling the position held from 2008-2011 by Bill Cullina, who is now the executive director.

Eason is responsible for the plants and plantings throughout the 248-acre property in Boothbay. He supervises a core staff of seven horticulturists, as well as summer interns and seasonal employees. He’s already participating in planning future projects and is well suited to the task.

For 8 years prior, he was on the staff of the famed Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. At Longwood, he ensured that 300 acres of horticultural display gardens were at their best all year long; managed more than 35 horticulturists, as well as volunteers; was part of the design team for major projects; and served as curator of the native Magnolia collection.

“We’re thrilled to welcome someone of Rodney’s caliber to the Gardens,” said Cullina, who is a nationally known horticulturist and celebrated author/photographer. “His talents and experience will be a tremendous asset to the gardens, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”

Eason followed up a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture at North Carolina State University with a master's degree in public horticulture from the University of Delaware and Longwood Graduate Program. Before joining the Longwood Gardens staff in 2004, he was the gardens curator at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, N.C.

“Although we’ll miss Rodney Eason’s professionalism, creativity, and passion for his work, we are thrilled that he’ll be joining a wonderful team, caring for beautiful gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens,” Longwood’s head of horticulture Sharon Loving said.

Rodney Eason and wife Carrie, who is also a landscape architect as well as an accomplished artist, and their four young children have relocated from Kennett Square in Pennsylvania to East Boothbay. They look forward to becoming active members of their new community.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is located at 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, off Barters Island Road in Boothbay. For more information, call 633-4333 or visit www.MaineGardens.org.