Summer Horticulture Internships Olbrich

Hiring Organization: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: Madison, WI
Application Due Date: February 13, 2023

Olbrich Botanical Gardens Horticulture Internship

Duration: 3-4 months, starting in mid-May to early June, ending in mid to late August

Hours: 30-40 hours/week Compensation: $15.00/hour Application Deadline: Feb. 13, 2023

Application Instructions: Submit a resume, along with completed application form and questionnaire – both can be found at www.olbrich.org/about/jobs.cfm

Contact: Samara Eisner, Horticulturist seisenr@cityofmadison.com or Jeff Epping, Director of Horticulture jepping@cityofmadison.com

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a unique Midwestern garden recognized for its intensive, creative and innovative horticultural gardens and displays. Olbrich, just 16-acres in size, packs in a myriad of inspiring and artistic gardens that are exceptionally maintained. Master planned by Madison’s Ken Saiki Design and Olbrich’s staff, the gardens are a reflection of local talent. The garden plantings, designed and implemented by the horticulture staff, utilize both native and non-native plants that thrive under environmentally sound maintenance practices. Olbrich’s sustainable gardening techniques embrace the earth and provide the needs of both flora and fauna to create gardens that reflect a passion for eco-friendly gardens. Olbrich’s internship offers enthusiastic students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the gardens and grow professionally alongside the horticulture staff and volunteers that nurture the gardens.

Interns work directly with the horticulture staff in the outdoor gardens and nursery to gain valuable practical work experience in botanical garden maintenance. Individuals will learn all aspects of environmentally responsible horticulture through sustainable gardening practices during the course of the gardening season and will be immersed in innovative and artistic garden designs and seasonal displays.The interns work in all of the outdoor display gardens including the Event, Gravel, Herb, Meadow, Perennial, Rain, Rock, Tower, Shade, Sunken, Thai and Wildflower gardens. Individuals work extensively with annual bed and container plantings, tropicals, aquatics, perennials, and woody plantings. Interns will also have an opportunity to work on annual displays with the horticulture staff on State Street, Madison’s downtown restaurant and shopping district.

Three paid all-day field trips to other innovative gardens and horticultural enterprises are included. Interns will experience Olbrich’s gardening guests during peak visitation times, by working approximately one weekend per month and one of the three summer holidays. Interns will have the opportunity to hone their managerial skills by working with and occasionally supervising garden volunteers.

Essential Functions:

Good knowledge of horticulture based on college or technical college course

Ability to understand and follow oral and written

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively to work as a team with the horticulture staff and

Ability to be tactful and courteous with garden

Ability to perform manual and semi-skilled tasks for extended periods of

Ability to multi-task and complete repetitive tasks in a quality manner.

Ability to work under adverse weather conditions, including rainy, sunny, hot and humid

Ability to safely use hand tools and small powered equipment typically used in routine garden maintenance, such as pruners, shovels, tillers, edgers and