Pioneer Information
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Moudry graduated from Baltimore City College in 1943 before serving in World War II. Following his term of service, he used the G.I. Bill to enroll at the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in floraculture and ornamental horticulture in 1950. Upon graduating, Moudry worked as a laborer with the Baltimore Department of Parks and Recreation, growing tropical plants at the conservatory in Druid Hill Park. In 1958 he was appointed Baltimore’s first chief horticulturist, responsible for overseeing the management and cultivation of the city’s gardens, including those at Druid Hill Park, Cylburn Park, and Preston Gardens, as well as those fronting several municipal buildings. In this position Moudry spent much of his time at the Cylburn Arboretum, developing and managing its twenty gardens, including those first designed by the estate’s original owner, Jesse Tyson. Moudry also expanded Cylburn’s tree collection to encompass both exotic and domestic specimens, including ginko trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, and oaks. In 1965 he initiated a compost program on the estate, recycling natural refuse to fertilize the gardens. His position meant that he was frequently involved in civic engagements, including the 51st city-wide garden contest in 1963, and he routinely served on Cylburn’s Annual Market Day planning committee. After retiring in 1994, at the age of 69, Moudry returned to Cylburn as a volunteer and assisted with managing the grounds. He died in Baltimore at the age of 94.
