Chicago Botanic Garden

General Info

Employment at the Chicago Botanic Garden

TITLE: Intern, Production Greenhouse and Nursery (one year; one position available) – FILLED

Are you looking for practical hands-on experience in horticulture? Would you like to improve your propagation skills? Would you like to gain experience and knowledge related to greenhouse and nursery operations through hands-on growing experience with the broad range of plants grown at a botanic garden plant production facility? If your answer is yes, a horticulture internship is for you.

PURPOSE: To gain experience and knowledge related to greenhouse and nursery operations, including plant propagation, through hands-on growing experience with the diverse group of plants grown at a botanic garden plant production facility.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

June through August – work in the nursery. Intern will be involved in all facets of nursery production. This includes potting, transplanting, pruning, fertilizing, spacing, setting up irrigation and delivering plants to garden areas. Plants of focus are specialty woody ornamentals, perennials, native plants and aquatics.

September through November – work in indoor floriculture. Intern will be involved with all aspects of the production of floriculture crops for indoor displays, education programs, sales and special events. Producing plants for the holiday exhibit and sale will be a primary focus. The intern will also assist with scheduling of floriculture crops.

December through February – work in plant propagation. Intern will be involved in plug production of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and native habitat plants grown from seed. Other methods of propagation will include cuttings, divisions, seed stratification and scarification. Depending on the demand, there may be opportunity for grafting and budding. Data entry, label making and accurate record keeping are important duties.

March through May – work in outdoor floriculture. Intern will be involved with the planning, growing (watering, pinching and spacing) and delivering of the spring, summer and fall annual display plants. Gain exposure to all facets of greenhouse operations including computerized greenhouse controls. Data entry, inventory control, labeling and accurate record keeping are important duties.

Education and interpretation are important facets of the day-to-day garden operations. The intern will work closely with the Production staff and gain practical knowledge in the growing of native and non-native taxa. They will also have the opportunity to get exposure to general Botanic Garden operations by attending Production staff meetings and biweekly intern meetings with guest speakers during the summer months and attend courses offered by the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

DEPARTMENT: Production

REPORTS TO: Manager of Plant Production, Plant Propagator, Indoor Floriculturist, Outdoor Floriculturist, and Nursery Supervisor

SUPERVISES: Volunteers

COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS: Nursery Grower, Greenhouse Grower, Laborers and Seasonals

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Candidate should be available to work twelve months beginning June and enrolled in a college horticulture program or a related field with an interest in greenhouse and nursery management. The ideal candidate will be flexible, able to work in a fast-paced environment and possess good communication and interpersonal skills. Candidates within a year of their graduation date will also be considered. Must have or be able to obtain an operator’s license for chemical applications. Must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs.