WEST TISBURY, MA (July 17, 2025) — Timothy M. Boland plans to retire next year after more than 20 years as executive director of Polly Hill Arboretum (PHA), the 72-acre public garden in West Tisbury, the organization’s board announced today.
Mr. Boland began work at the Arboretum as its curator in 2002 and in 2004 became its executive director. During his stewardship, PHA evolved from the vision of acclaimed horticulturist and founder Polly Hill into an internationally recognized institution dedicated to plant conservation, education, and the preservation of its historic buildings and landscape.
Considered a botanical gem of Martha’s Vineyard, PHA was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. It includes 25 acres of maintained landscape and another 47 acres of woodlands with trails open to the public. Key infrastructure improvements during Boland’s tenure included a propagation greenhouse (2006), a landscape maintenance building (2009), an education and botany laboratory (2016), and, most recently, two staff houses (2023). Additionally, he oversaw the renovations of historic buildings, including the iconic Far Barn.
Under the direction of Mr. Boland, PHA achieved a Level 4 ArbNet accreditation for its exemplary tree science and collection management activities, placing it in the top ten percent of botanical gardens and arboreta internationally. He also spearheaded the Flora of Dukes County
project, which aims to document the unique plant life of Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.
“I have been fortunate to work with outstanding staff, board, and volunteers who have helped us grow in so many ways,” Mr. Boland said. “Polly Hill, our founder, and I had a shared goal: to retain the soul of the place. I believe we’ve done this. Thousands of visitors each year enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature and our incredibly diverse plant collections. This brings me endless joy.”
Selena Roman, chair of PHA’s board of directors, said a search for Mr. Boland’s successor is currently underway, and hopes the new executive director would be on the job by September 2026.
“Tim embodies the heart and soul of the arboretum and its mission,” she said. “His work, dedication, and spirit over the past two decades have brought the organization to unprecedented levels of recognition and accomplishment in the public garden world and the plant conservation community. The coming year is a time to celebrate him personally and professionally. His impact and mark on the organization will carry us well into the future.”
Mr. Boland earned his undergraduate degree in ornamental horticulture and master’s in botany and plant pathology, both from Michigan State University. Before arriving on the Vineyard, he was the curator of horticulture at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.
In addition to his role as executive director, Mr. Boland is a botanist and accomplished researcher specializing in oak trees. He serves on the board of the International Oak Society, where he helps guide global conservation efforts for oak species threatened with extinction. Earlier this year, Mr. Boland delivered the featured address to the International Dendrology Society in London, UK, on conserving America’s rarest trees.
Mr. Boland lives in West Tisbury with his wife, Laura Coit, who is head of circulation at the West Tisbury Free Public Library. They have two grown children and a granddaughter.
Photo credit Elizabeth Thomas
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