Trees for a Changing Climate

Speaker: George Coombs

As trees face increasing threats from climate change and novel pests and diseases, it is essential to adapt our practices to protect and sustain our landscapes. Join the Mt. Cuba Center’s Director of Horticulture for an insightful discussion on strategies to safeguard their garden’s tree canopy. George Coombs will explain their strategic approach to choosing resilient species, including the models and thought processes behind it, their list of recommendations, and the methods that will be used to track tree resilience over the coming decades.

There will be an Optional Arboretum tour at 2:00 pm, given by Haverford College Arboretum horticulturists. Free. Meet at the lecture hall.

Speaker Biography: We are pleased to have George Coombs, Director of Horticulture at the Mt. Cuba Center, speak at our annual joint lecture with Haverford College and the Henry Foundation for Botanical Research. Coombs came to the Mt. Cuba Center in 2012 as the Trial Garden Assistant after 4 years in the nursery industry, bringing with him a rich experience in connecting consumers to high quality plants. In his work with Mt. Cuba Center’s Trial Garden as Assistant and later as Manager of Horticultural Research, he produced award-winning reports on native plant research and introduced four new Coreopsis cultivars – including Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’ – all while cultivating relationships within the nursery industry.

As Director of Horticulture, Coombs leads a team of more than 25 horticulturists who cultivate and improve formal and naturalistic gardens and plays a pivotal role in the implementation of Mt. Cuba Center’s long-range master plan. To date his efforts have focused on making Mt. Cuba’s gardens more accessible to a growing number of guests and ensuring the long-term resilience of the garden.

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