Episode 187: Dr. Richard T. Olsen of the U.S. National Arboretum

On the season finale of We Dig Plants, hosts Carmen Devito and Alice Marcus Krieg speak with Dr. Richard T. Olsen, director of the U.S. National Arboretum. Prior to this appointment, he was a Research Geneticist and Lead Scientist in the Floral and Nursery Plant Research Unit (FNPRU) at the USNA. He reinvigorated the USNA’s urban tree program and developed new woody ornamental breeding projects utilizing genetic tools such as ploidy manipulation and interspecific and intergeneric breeding strategies. He is a recognized international leader in the public garden arena, providing his scientific expertise and practical knowledge to multiple national and international arboreta, urban forestry groups, and professional associations.