Minnesota Arboretum names Peter Moe as interim director

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Arb) has found its interim director close to home.

Peter Moe, the Arb's longtime director of operations and research, will move into the top job starting in December, "to ensure a smooth leadership transition," the Arb announced in a news release.

Current director Ed Schneider starts a new job the following month as chief executive officer of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

Yearly attendance increased during Schneider's five years at the helm, to a record 400,000, and Moe said he is committed to continuing that trend.

"We're on a growth trajectory now, and we want to ensure we maintain that," Moe said.

His immediate challenges will include overseeing the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the Arb's history. "We're getting very close to finishing our capital campaign — we want to reach $60 million," he said.

Completing the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center, a $6.9 million new attraction that recently started construction, is another pressing priority, he said.

Moe has been "the common denominator" as Arb collections have grown, said Brian Buhr, dean of the U's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences in the release. He cited Moe's expertise in rare plant conservation and plant selection for the Arb's northern climate. "Along with collections growth, Pete has been at the core of land acquisitions at the Arboretum, adding forest, wetlands and farmland to showcase conservation and research for visitors," Buhr said.

The 1,200-acre facility in Chaska employs about 200 full- and part-time workers during peak season, and about 100 during the offseason, Moe said.

The search for a permanent director will begin early next year. And, yes, Moe is interested in the position.