Horticulturist I - Outdoor

This position is responsible for the selection and addition of plant species into the Garden’s Living Collections for assigned areas to support plant conservation and build research capacity. The living collection includes herbaceous perennials, bulbs, shrubs, trees, and vines, and a critical component of this position is the expansion of assigned collections according to MBG policies and guidelines.

Requirements

• Works with Supervisor to target and develop plant collections and landscapes according to Garden policy and area descriptions
• Utilizes Index Seminum, the Garden’s Targeting Database, and other resources to select species and develop the garden’s collections
• Records relevant procedures in Living Collections Management System to support integrity of records for short term operations and long term institutional knowledge
• Performs plant record keeping at the highest level ensuring that all plants in the collection have accession labels at all times and all maintenance information regarding the collection is up to date at all times.
• Requests propagation of plants in the collections to ensure survival, paying particular attention to rare and threatened species and those of wild origin
• Plants and maintains displays in a manner that enables plant genetics and accessions data to be preserved and allows the public to easily distinguish plants when reading plant labels
• Completes landscape designs and oversees the layout and installation of plant material
• Participates in field work locally, nationally and internationally for plant collecting expeditions, as well as, horticulture capacity building
• Assigns, leads and directs the work of volunteers to deliver and complete projects
• Performs assigned tasks as needed in support of seasonal displays and annual flower shows
• Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately to supervisor
• Ensures that all tool storage areas and work areas are kept clean and tidy
• Performs snow removal on Garden grounds, when called upon, to maintain a safe environment for staff and visitors
• Behaves & communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others.