“Bob Byers is a big part of why I accepted the leadership position here in Fort Worth,” Newman said. “He brings valuable expertise and great insights gained from an impressive career in horticulture and botanic garden management.”
Byers has more than 26 years of public gardens experience serving continuously as Fort Worth Botanic Garden Director since 2015. In October 2020, when BRIT became the nonprofit managing the Garden, his title was changed to Assistant Director and Vice President of Horticulture.
Previous experience includes working as a landscape architect in Wisconsin, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas before a 21-year career as the Director of Operations and Associate Executive Director for Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Byers also taught design, planting design, plant materials, and agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Prior board service includes several plant societies, including the Old Garden Rose Committee of the American Rose Society. For the American Public Gardens Association, Byers has served as chair of the College and University Gardens and the Planning and Design Sections. Career publication and presentation topics range from plant conservation and climate change to home gardening and landscape design.
Byers earned a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Louisiana State University.
