Fernwood Botanical Garden welcomes new Director of Horticulture

Published 12:40 pm Monday, August 26, 2024

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NILES — Fernwood Botanical Garden has announced a new hire to the garden’s horticulture team. 

Jonathon Hensley, Director of Horticulture, joined the staff on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Hensley is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and has an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Wabash College, where he was assigned the opportunity to work at the college’s arboretum. This experience determined his career path. Hensley went on to earn his Professional Gardener’s Training Program Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens/Temple University. Following this, he went on to pursue a Master of Science in Horticultural Science/Floriculture from the University of Minnesota. Among other areas, Jonathan studied green roof technology at the University of Minnesota.

Hensley is an experienced horticulture professional, with twenty-three years of horticulture, greenhouse, and landscape experience with crossover and supplemental trade skill capacity. His thirteen years of project management and staff supervisory experience will be a strong asset in his new position.

“We are so excited to welcome Jonathon Hensley to Fernwood in this important leadership role. He brings a broad range of work experience to the position, where he will apply his knowledge and expertise to our gardens, natural areas, and facilities. Jonathon will follow in the path of other visionary leaders in this position and bring great energy to the Fernwood team,” said Carol Line, Fernwood Executive Director.