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Executive Director Molly Barker to retire this fall

Fort Bragg, CA – May 12, 2025 – After more than eight years of inspiring leadership and a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades in public horticulture, Molly Barker, Executive Director of Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG) has announced her retirement, effective September 26, 2025. 

Molly’s love of plants and public landscapes was inspired by her grandfather, a landscape gardener. She moved to Northern California, where she earned her first degree in Plant Science from the College of the Redwoods in Eureka. 

Molly spent 17 years at the iconic Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, California, where she served in many roles in the Horticulture Department and as Director of Education. During her tenure, she developed a fall-blooming camellia—Camellia sasanqua ‘Peter Horeni’ named for a dedicated Filoli volunteer and certified by the American Camellia Society. She was also Executive Director at Casa del Herrero, a historic landscape in Santa Barbara.

In 2016, Molly returned to the redwoods and coastal landscapes of her early years—as Executive Director of Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Over the past eight-plus years, she has guided the 47-acre “Flowerland to the Sea” through a period of growth, renewal, and deepened community connection. She brought her extensive experience to MCBG, stewarding a place where rhododendrons, heaths, heathers, camellias, conifers, native pine forests and coastal prairies flourish side by side. Molly also strengthened the Gardens’ ties with the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), where she has been a highly engaged member for 32 years.

“We are deeply grateful for Molly’s leadership, dedication to staff and stewardship of the Gardens,” said Tim Gage, President of the MCBG Board of Directors. “We will miss her dearly, but we are optimistic about the future of the Gardens and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

MCBG has launched a search for a new Executive Director to guide the organization through its next chapter. The position details and application process are available on the MCBG website at www.gardenbythesea.org/about/employment. The Board of Directors is committed to identifying a dynamic leader who will build upon the strong foundation laid by Molly and advance the organization’s mission.

The Board invites qualified candidates to apply for this unique leadership opportunity and looks forward to ushering in the next chapter of growth and innovation at MCBG.

About MCBG

Nestled along the breathtaking Northern California coastline, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a nationally recognized nonprofit public garden. Our mission is to engage and enrich lives by conserving plants in harmony with our coastal ecosystems while preserving public access to the coast. We are home to diverse plant collections, stunning landscapes, and a passionate community of visitors, volunteers, and members.

www.gardenbythesea.org  |  707-964-4352  |  18220 North Highway 1 Fort Bragg, CA 95437