Fall 2009

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Collecting Plants and Stories for Harvard's Arboretum

Michael Dosmann, curator of Arnold Arboretum, says "new cultivars of plants are always under our noses and we evaluate a number of them." Here he examines the showy dried flowers of Hydrangea paniculata "Bulk", a popular shrub hydrangea whose petals take on a deep pink hue with age. (Credit: Nancy Rose)

When people ask horticulture alum Michael Dosmann what it is he does, he usually starts out by telling them that he just tells stories about trees.

"To me, every plant has a story, or two, or ten", and nothing is more rewarding than uncovering these accounts and sharing them with others," he says.

Dosmann (MS '98 horticulture) shares his tree stories with audiences around the world as curator of living collections at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The arboretum sprawls over 265 acres in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston, Mass. and consists of more than 15,000 plants, with particular emphasis on woody species of North America and eastern Asia.

"In addition to providing curatorial oversight and leadership for North America's oldest public arboretum, I conduct research, teach and liaise with botanical and horticultural audiences around the world," he says. "Oh, and there are those administrative duties, as well!"

Dosmann knew he wanted to work in a botanic garden or arboretum by the time he reached his teens. He earned his B.S. from Purdue University in public horticulture and worked with horticulture professor Jeff Iles at Iowa State to complete his masters.

"Each member of my graduate committee at Iowa State taught me something about the research process, about being a scientist, about following my interests. Also, the late Dave Cox (University Professor of statistics) became a formidable force, teaching me about experimental design and the philosophy of science. He also taught me how to appreciate a Guinness or two," Dosmann says.

After gaining experience through two fellowships, one in the United Kingdom and the other at Arnold Arboretum, Dosmann earned his Ph.D. from Cornell, working at the university's Urban Horticulture Institute.

His combined experiences give him a unique view on ensuring the sustainability and preservation of plant collections even while funds for public gardens continue to diminish.

"Gardens face innumerable challenges these days. They must often do more with less. They are drawn towards infotainment and other gate-driven activities just to keep the lights on. But if we do not adequately advocate for our living plant collections I fear they will only continue to lose their integrity and substance," he says.

Despite economically challenging times, Dosmann is hopeful outreach and public service efforts at private and public universities will continue to bring meaningful information to audiences around the world.

"Call it extension, call it outreach, call it cream-of-mushroom soup - the important thing is to take the outstanding work of the university and translate it in ways that impact and advance our lives," he says. "To some, extension may have lost its luster, but in my mind the original principles of the Smith-Lever Act are in even greater demand today. I challenge Iowa State to enhance and grow its extension program as a means to transform not just a farm family outside of Waterloo, but an urban child on the streets of Karachi. Luckily, ISU is expertly poised to accomplish this, due to its renowned and committed faculty, staff, current students and alumni, each of which can play a role."

STORIES online extras:

• Read Dosmann's essay about his career and time at ISU
• View a video of Dosmann talking about careers in public gardens