From Washington To Biden: Mount Vernon Horticulturist Joins White House Preservation

MOUNT VERNON, VA — The horticultural director at Mount Vernon is expanding his work from the first president's home to the current president's home.

In mid-April, President Joe Biden announced appointees of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, including Mount Vernon native J. Dean Norton.

Norton has served as the horticulture director at George Washington's Mount Vernon and an employee of the estate since 1969. On the White House advisory committee, he and others will work on preserving the mansion. The committee is made up of members with experience in historic preservation, architecture and decorative arts.

"I have always considered it an extreme honor to be the current head gardener for George Washington, our nation’s first president," said Norton. "To now support the preservation of the home of our current president is pretty terrific. It is the ultimate and continuous alpha and omega situation."

Norton will be on the advisory committee's subcommittee for preserving the White House grounds. His expertise will help inform the committee on the care of historic trees, sensitivity to past plantings and landscape features, research on past horticultural events and what care is needed for the White House grounds.

Norton's work at Mount Vernon started in 1969. He obtained a degree in horticulture from Clemson University and became Mount Vernon's boxwood gardener. His promotion to horticulturist came in 1980, allowing him to apply the latest horticultural knowledge to the historic setting. Over half a century, Norton has researched 18th century gardens and gardening practices, leading a restoration of Mount Vernon's principal historic gardens and landscape. He celebrated 50 years at Mount Vernon in 2019.

For his work, Norton has earned conservation awards from the DAR and the Garden Club of America and the Garden Club of America’s prestigious Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor National Medal. He is an honorary member of the Garden Club of Virginia and the Garden Club of Providence and has an honorary doctorate from Washington College. He serves on the Clemson University Historic Prosperities Committee and on several historic property boards while providing lectures in the U.S. and abroad.

"Dean Norton represents the best of Mount Vernon and George Washington: character, service, and commitment," said Margaret Nichols, regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, which runs Mount Vernon. "The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is fortunate to have benefited from Dean’s expertise and spirit for more than five decades, and it is rewarding that he now has the opportunity to share his knowledge and talent in preserving the home and workplace of the President of the United States."