Maren Gunning, Arboretum Horticulturist

I joined the Arnold Arboretum in 2023 as a certified arborist with prior experience pruning and climbing trees in residential spaces throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Although I have always preferred to be outdoors rather than in, it took me many years to realize that I could have a successful career outside the confines of a traditional office. I first learned about the urban tree care industry while I was already pursuing my bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and felt that I had finally found my true calling. I graduated from Vassar College and immediately began working full time for a tree care company, where I learned about pruning, plant health care, and landscaping.

At the Arboretum, I was very fortunate to be mentored by horticulturist Ryan Devlin. As of 2024, I care for several zones within the Arboretum, including the beech, birch, carpinus and viburnum collections. I also work with the plant propagation team to help transition young plants from the greenhouse to the nursery, and finally out into the landscape where they can be enjoyed by the public. I was born and raised in the Boston area, and some of my happiest childhood memories were made at the Arnold Arboretum. My favorite spots as a child were the mass of forsythia at the top of Bussey Hill and the wetland area around Spring Brook, which is now within one of my zones. I feel that my journey has taken me full circle, and I look forward to sharing the Arboretum with many future visitors.