About our Staff
Our JLBG team consists of full-time staff, part-time staff, seasonal staff, and a great team of volunteers. Support staff, which includes administration and facilities, which aren’t included here, are shared equally with Plant Delights Nursery.
Our garden staff has the monumental task of taking care of the maintenance and installation of all plants in the public parts and peripheral areas of the botanic garden. While weeding and mulching may not seem glamorous, they are essential to keeping the plant collections both intact and attractive.
Meet our Staff
After completing his studies at Rutgers, Doug’s path here included stints at The Chatwood Estate, Montrose Gardens, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, and The American Camellia Society headquarters, not to mention running his own landscape design business. He was co-curator, along with Edith Eddleman, of the Perennial Border at the JC Raulston Arboretum for 20 years. Edith was its original designer in the late 1970’s, though Doug and Edith collaborated equally on its most recent redesign in 2000. Doug came to us from our sister institution, the JC Raulston Arboretum, where he wore many hats from presenting programs to Garden Manager.
Doug is responsible for most of the plant collections and planting decisions, advising garden maintenance staff, and heading up many of our educational efforts.
Dustin’s journey with horticulture and plants took root early, nurturing a lifelong passion for the growth and care of living things. He brings over a decade of experience in gardening and plant care. With a dedication to organic gardening and an eye for detail, Dustin’s skills are a natural fit within the diverse environment of JLBG. While managing a local urban farm, Dustin honed his expertise in all-natural gardening practices, which has provided the foundation for his meticulous attention to aesthetic detail and sustainability across the gardens of JLBG. In his current role, Dustin supervises a team of gardeners, oversees daily gardening tasks, and ensures best practices to enhance the garden.
Ben grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of Seattle, WA where he explored many plant communities in both gardens and wilderness. Before coming to the Raleigh area, Ben moved to the Mid-Atlantic to pursue a formal education in horticulture. He began his training at Longwood Gardens in their two-year Professional Horticulture Program, and soon after earned his Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Temple University in May 2025. He has worked with numerous horticulture institutions from coast to coast, developing a love for public gardens and the important research, education and conservation initiatives they provide.
Ben has the crucial job of making sure all garden plants are entered into our database, named, and labeled accurately. He also works on researching taxonomic changes and publishing new taxa from our collections.
Abigail Almonte is the Research and Outdoor Production Supervisor at JLBG, joining the team in early 2026. She recently relocated to North Carolina from Pennsylvania, where she served as Senior Horticulturist at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College and trained through the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens. Abi began her career in public health before transitioning fully into horticulture, bringing a perspective that highlights the connection between plants, people, and well-being. Abi has a broad appreciation for plants, especially flowers and trees, and is an ISA Certified Arborist as well as a horticulturist.
Abi and her team plant, maintain, cultivate, and record data from our field production and trials. She is particularly interested in supporting the development and improvement of new plant varieties and contributing meaningful insights to the field.
Garden Supervisor – Trevor Moss
Core Gardeners – Steve Guptill, Jared Olson, Sharon Quinn, Kyle May
Curator of the Seed Collection – Emily Johnson
Outdoor IPM and Plant Health Technician – AnnaLynn Buckner
Facilities Manager – Nathan Rahrig
Administrative Manager – Milo Bateman
Web Developer & IT – Robert Lawless
Marketing/Social Media Supervisor – Chris Hardison
Marketing/Graphic Artist/JLBG Website Designer – Lidia Churakova
