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Joy Columbus

Smithsonian Gardens New Director

By Molly Cuddy

Joy Columbus is the new director at Smithsonian Gardens. The gardens’ mission is to: “Engage. Inform. Inspire.” Smithsonian Gardens covers 180 acres encompassing 13 public exhibition gardens, the “museum without walls.” Smithsonian Gardens’ staff also produce interior exhibits and horticultural displays around the Smithsonian, develop educational programing; and manage artifact, archival, and living collections. Columbus has been working in public gardens for more than 20 years at sites in New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in botany and horticulture from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She earned a master’s degree in biology from John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH. Previously, Columbus was the vice president of horticulture at the new Houston Botanic Garden and led the horticulture program at Lake View Cemetery and Historic Gardens in Cleveland, OH. Tell us about you and your background. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Akron, OH, and I spent several summers on a farm in Butler, PA. What made you interested in horticulture in the first place? I started gardening as a youngster with my family and maintaining our suburban landscape. Every spring in Akron, OH, I remember aweing over the American dogwoods and deciduous azaleas with my mom. My family (I was the youngest of five children) built a vegetable garden and I vividly recall harvesting tomatoes while they were still warm from the sun, sitting in front of the toaster with a loaf of roman meal wheat bread plus a jar of mayonnaise and eating tomato sandwich after tomato sandwich.

One spring, our garden had an overly abundant peony bloom. I fondly recall helping my dad prepare bouquets of peonies and we went around the neighborhood (in his tractor & my wagon) delivering fresh flowers. The smiles on their faces (and mine) left an indelible mark. How could I ever find a career that brought similar smiles to faces? At Smithsonian Gardens, my dream has come true because I am able to see millions (yes, millions!) of faces light up with smiles from the beauty of the gardens—a gift I witness every time I leave my computer and walk through the gardens. What is a typical day like for you? What I love best about my profession is that no two days are the same. As plants and gardens are always adapting to the weather and changing conditions, so too, are my responsibilities. I am most happy leading tours and talking with Smithsonian Gardens staff as they share with me the garden and greenhouse challenges that they are overcoming. Gardening can be difficult in any environment, but in a harsh urban environment like Washington, DC, the tenacious ability of our horticulturists to overcome these hurdles and create spectacular beauty, day after day, simply amazes me. I am captivated by every gardening and growing tip they share, and I am honored to work alongside them. Tell us about some of your peers and predecessors whom you admire. When you follow your heart into a profession that uses horticulture and botany, there is a special and unique bond fellow plant lovers share. We have chosen our professions out of passion and love for the planet, and not about personal ego. Of course, we do love to share (and okay, maybe brag) about our recent gardening successes, but at the end of the day, we recognize we are mere stewards of nature. We share a bond that acknowledges that we are lucky to have found this gift and we are so grateful for the simple pleasures that plants provide. Plants, far beyond nourishment of our bodies, have special ways of feeding our souls. When you meet a new plant lover, there is an immediate bond of respect and friendship. I admire and learn from every plant lover I meet. What is the most-fulfilling part of your profession? It is tremendously gratifying to recognize that accomplishments in the field of botany and public horticulture help protect plant biodiversity and the future of our planet. I don’t think you can get any more fulfilling, can you? Where do you see the horticultural industry in the next 10 years? There is growing appreciation for the role that plants and gardens play in our daily lives. I see this trend continuing, on many levels. Do you like to garden for yourself? If so, what plants are your favorites to grow? I love being outside and getting my hands in the soil. My husband and I relocated to the DC area last December and we bought a home in Silver Spring, MD. We have a beautiful canvas with mature bones of established shade trees and abundant spring-flowering shrubs. My top two short-term goals in my garden are to reduce plant redundancy and increase the herbaceous layer. I have an affinity for any plants that are divided and shared with me from my plant pals, because not only are they free, but they already have a fun story. What are your hobbies and interests when you’re not working? I love to exercise and entertain. My husband is an awesome cook and I do the dishes. Is there anything else about yourself that you want our readers to know? Not only am I a fan of public gardens, but I am also a museum groupie. One of the reasons that Smithsonian Gardens appealed to me is because it is an accredited museum with the American Alliance of Museums. Less than 3% of public gardens across the country hold this distinction. Smithsonian Gardens is not only a place of pleasure and beauty, but an intellectual opportunity.

Check out the Smithsonian Gardens website at https://gardens.si.edu/and read more about my background at https://arcg.is/1Xnrjj. o

Molly Cuddy is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener. She is also a campus tour guide and will be a teaching assistant for a professional writing class next semester.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.