Ellen Lake: Director of Conservation & Research
Hockessin, DE – Entomologist Dr. Ellen Lake has joined Mt. Cuba Center as Director of Conservation & Research. She will lead the Mid-Atlantic botanic garden’s conservation, research, and collections management programs, as well as oversee operations of the Trial Garden, greenhouse, and natural lands.
Dr. Lake brings a passion for protecting native plants and habitats to her new role. A nationally sought-after speaker, she has published 45 peer-reviewed papers on topics related to invasive and native plants and habitat management through biological controls. Additionally, she directed a team of researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Invasive Plant Research Laboratory.
Key initiatives Dr. Lake will oversee at Mt. Cuba include stewardship of over 1,000 acres of natural lands where scientific studies and reforestation projects are underway, as well as ongoing field botany assessments of rare and threatened plant species.
Dr. Lake has extensive experience in invasive plant management, which is inextricably linked to creating healthy habitats where native plants can thrive. She was first introduced to invasive plants while battling thickets of multiflora rose in southeastern Pennsylvania while working in a variety of roles for the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance.
Mt. Cuba Center, a botanic garden that spans more than 1,000 acres, highlights the beauty and value of native plants to inspire conservation. It features captivating blooms along garden pathways in formal and woodland settings, picturesque meadows and ponds with stunning vistas, and more than two miles of scenic trails throughout its natural lands. Mt. Cuba is recognized as a leader in native plant research and open space preservation, having protected more than 13,000 acres in the mid-Atlantic region. Learn more at www.mtcubacenter.org.
