Rachel Lawlor, Arboretum Horticulturist

Biography

I have always been fascinated by nature, starting with animals, and moving on to insects, plants, and fungi. I knew from a young age that I would enjoy a career working with living things and was lucky enough to discover horticulture as a teenager, which led to studying horticultural science at UMass Amherst.

During college, I was a Hunnewell intern at the Arnold Arboretum in 2017 and knew I would love the opportunity to work here full time. Upon graduating in 2019, I started working as a seasonal gardener for the growing season alongside horticulture staff. In 2020, I became a full-time Gardener at the Arboretum, and in March 2023 I was promoted to Horticulturist, taking over the Bradley Rosaceous Collection (BRC), Maple Collection, the ponds, Willow Path, and the Leitneria bowl. Most of my time is spent in the BRC, which has many challenges from thorns to rabbits to many plant diseases. However, the satisfaction of learning rose pruning and care techniques, developing plant health care programs, and the display value of the garden all make it feel like my home away from home.

In addition to the hands-on work, I also enjoy giving seasonal tours of specific garden areas such as the rose garden, maple collection, or the lilac collection for events, as well as winter bark diversity walks. I also coordinate our high school internship program with Norfolk County Agricultural High School, which was a very full-circle moment being an alumnus of the school, and a former “Aggie” and intern at the Arboretum in 2014.

Every day, I learn something new while caring for the collections. I get to appreciate, and contribute to, the astounding beauty of a place I’ve grown up in and has inspired my life’s path. It is an absolute dream come true to work here, and I feel truly honored to serve this institution every day.