Job Description

The position is all about nurturing, maintaining, and enhancing the beautiful living collections of our Botanical Garden. You’ll have the chance to care for and maintain specific zones of the Garden, helping to keep our landscape vibrant and inviting. Each day will bring new horticultural adventures, and you’ll be a key part of our team.

You’ll also assist the Garden Manager and Assistant Director to support our volunteer program and help. This role includes conducting tree maintenance and checking on their health, along with keeping an eye on pesticide and fertilizer needs for the garden. You will also assist in maintaining the koi pond and the stream in the garden.

You will be using and updating our Garden database (training will be provided), identifying plant species in the garden, propagating and maintaining plants from various global ecosystems. Be prepared to work on weekends and some campus holidays, as flexibility is part of the job. And of course, when needed, you'll assist with various projects or tasks, ensuring our Garden remains a thriving community space.

Horticultural Responsibilities: 

• Maintain and improve the health of plants in the living collection, including pruning, fertilization, and plant and animal pest management. 
• Assess tree health in collections. 
• Assist in an ongoing program for labeling new plantings, identifying and labeling current unlabeled species in the garden, and updating the Garden database.
• Meet weekly or as needed with the Garden Manager to set priorities on development and maintenance of the living collection. Open and close the garden as required.

Nursery Operations: 

• (Shade house, greenhouse, outdoor container stock, field plants, and aquatic tubs):
• Maintain structures related to nursery operations and general storage. 
• Propagate plants as needed determined by the Assistant Director and the Garden Manager. B3. 
• Maintain container stock of living materials by watering, fertilizing, and pest control.

Garden Operations / Maintenance: 

• Maintain the cleanliness of the stream by removing debris, monitoring pH and chemical levels, and adding fish-safe biological controls. 
• Monitor Koi and other aquatic animal life. 
• Maintain aquatic and bog plants and fertilize and propagate as needed 
• Additional pond maintenance as directed by the Garden Manager and the Assistant Director.

Education: 

• Degree Certificate/Degree in Horticulture or similar and/or the equivalent professional horticultural experience (required)
• General knowledge of basic botany, including plant structure, life cycles, and categories of vascular plants. 
• Working knowledge of basic botany and the ability to recognize by sight and scientific name many common plant species, especially those in assigned garden zones (Required)
• Strong working knowledge of proper cultural methods for non-native subtropical, tropical, temperate, Mediterranean, and California native plants, including planting, irrigation, identification, and inspection of plants for pests and diseases (Required)

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