Proposed by: a member of Green Fingers Garden Club, Zone II

An expert on forests, historic trees, and urban landscapes, Todd A. Forrest joined The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in 1997. In his current role as Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections, he oversees programs and exhibitions in 50 gardens within 250 historic acres. He has managed 26 major NYBG garden and landscape projects including the restoration of the 50-acre old-growth Thain Family Forest, development of the Native Plant Garden with nearly 100,000 regional species, and transformation of the 11-acre Azalea Garden. He oversees a staff of 80 managers, curators, gardeners, and community horticulturists. 

Gregory Long, NYBG president emeritus, writes, “Todd Forrest’s educational background in forestry and environmental studies, and his curatorial work early in his career at the Arnold Arboretum and in the Institute of Economic Botany at NYBG, shaped his thinking about the evolutionary history of plants, plants useful to humankind, the relationship between cities and the green world, plants and climate change, and gardening with nature. He is an advanced thinker, writing and teaching extensively to make horticulture more relevant to the world in which we live.”

As a member of the selection committee for the GCA’s Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal (2006–10), speaker at garden club and GCA functions, and through his behind-the-scenes work to facilitate the transfer of the GCA’s 700-item rare book collection to NYBG, for decades Forrest has demonstrated his support of the work of the GCA. He was awarded the Katherine Haley Donahue Award by the GCA’s New York Committee in 2009 for enduring contributions to horticulture, conservation, education, and beauty in New York City.