The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum named a familiar face as its new director Thursday.

The Chanhassen arboretum's interim director, Peter Moe, will permanently fill the role left open by previous director Ed Schneider's departure last year. Moe was selected after a national search.

"I really am honored that I was accepted," he said Thursday. "I've worked at the arboretum with all four previous directors, so I have learned a lot from each of them."

Moe, who has a master's degree in agriculture from the University of Minnesota, has been with the arboretum since he was an undergraduate student gardener in 1973. He moved up the ladder to become a research plot technician, then a landscape maintenance supervisor. Moe was promoted to director of operations and research in 1991, where he managed the Horticultural Research Center.

During his time at the arboretum, Moe also served as an instructor for the U's Department of Horticultural Science.

As interim director, Moe has already overseen many changes at the arboretum. In September, the arboretum will open its new Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center. The $6.5 million center was funded through the arboretum's $60 million capital campaign, which has brought new projects to the arboretum including the sculpture garden.

"I am happy to have the opportunity to be the leader and make sure the arboretum stays on the right track," he said.

As director, Moe said he plans to maintain and strengthen the arboretum's plant collections and research. He also hopes to offer more distance education programs.

"Under his leadership, the arboretum collections have grown dramatically in size and quality, and the arboretum has been able to add forest, wetlands and farmland to showcase conservation and research for visitors," Brian Buhr, dean of the U's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, said in a news release.

"He truly is the heart of the Arb, and we're delighted that he will bring his experience and vision to the director's role."

Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707