“Our whole job is to make it look like we were never here at all.”

– Sean Proietti, Senior Manager of Horticulture and Grounds.

A small crew of just four full-time horticulturists and hundreds of volunteers work year-round to preserve the historic gardens, iconic trees and grassy lawns that draw hundreds of thousands of people to Maymont year after year. They plant, prune, mow, mulch, rake and nurture the plant life across the 100-acre grounds, from the humble grasses to the prized national champion Darlington oak.

Thanks to the diligent efforts of Maymont horticulturists and volunteers, walking the rolling landscape at Maymont can seem like stepping through a portal to the early 20th century.

But a less visible part of preserving Maymont’s historic beauty involves protecting it from the threat of invasive species. These are the non-native plants that are often innocently planted at homes and offices — English ivy, Chinese privet, bamboo, for example — that spread so rapidly they can quickly outcompete and even strangle the native plants and built structures in a garden.

Invasive plant removal and maintenance is a constant, year-round battle for Maymont staff. Keeping these species in check takes much time and effort, but is crucial to preserving Maymont’s unique, historic character.

This fall through Giving Tuesday on December 3, we are asking supporters to help us raise $10,000 to preserve and protect this beloved 100 acres for everyone today and for generations to come.