Chris Woods Bring A New Vision for the Botanical Gardens
Article Provided by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
The Board of Directors of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is pleased and honored to welcome Christopher Woods as the Gardens’ new Executive Director.
Chris brings tremendous experience, creativity, and energy to the position. Born in England and now a U.S. citizen, he moved to the United States in 1981 and was director and chief garden designer for Chanticleer Garden. He transformed this private estate in Wayne, Pennsylvania, into a world-renowned public garden.
In 2003 he became vice president for horticulture and external operations at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and then executive director of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy before becoming Executive Director at VanDusen Botanical Garden, his most recent position. In 2003 he was awarded the Professional Citation for significant achievements in public horticulture by the American Public Garden Association and in 2007 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture. He is a sought-after public speaker and author of The Encyclopedia of Perennials.
At Chanticleer, Chris created a captivating tapestry of color, form, and texture through use of common plant material on a large scale, while also introducing surprise and delight with a sudden focus on one particularly interesting plant or a well-placed sculpture, making Chanticleer both a visual delight and a plant-lover’s treasure trove.
He integrates all kinds of art, including performance art and music, in the life of the garden. He is deeply committed to plant conservation regionally and globally. He also brings strategic and visionary attention to organizational management.
The Board of Directors and staff of the Garden spent more than six months conducting an international search that attracted many applicants, each of which was carefully and thoughtfully considered.
Our community can take pride in how many excellent, highly qualified people applied for this position. We are fortunate that Chris, with his outstanding talents and experience, was charmed by our gardens and natural areas, excited by the potential we have for conservation and education, and impressed by the team of staff, Board, volunteers, and members eager to work with him to achieve that potential.
