Assistant Horticulturist – Seasonal (March through October) at Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc. – Monkton, Maryland

Job purpose

The Assistant Horticulturist serves as a member of the specialized horticulture team and reports to the Director of Horticulture and Facilities, often receiving daily tasks from a Horticulture Section Coordinator. The overall purpose of this position is to create and maintain Ladew’s Gardens and Facilities providing visitors an opportunity to create memories and have a connection with nature. This position works collaboratively with other horticulture staff members, volunteers, and visitors on a daily basis. Ladew is known as one of the top gardens in the country and is recognized for excellence in horticultural display; maintaining and advancing this public garden’s standing in the industry is integral to this position.

Duties and responsibilities

Assist with the routine care for diverse plantings of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, grasses, and bulbs across Ladew’s twenty- two acres of formal gardens

• Perform seasonal garden tasks including hand watering and monitoring irrigation of plantings, especially during time of establishment and drought
• Perform seasonal landscape work including planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, bulb planting, dividing and transplanting, pond maintenance, leaf removal
• Assist Horticulture team by performing duties in a collaborative and engaging manner working with other members of the Ladew team including seasonal staff, interns and volunteers to meet departmental and organizational goals with the explicit intent of preserving Harvey Ladew’s overall design intent, interpretation, and vision of his gardens
• Perform weekly push mowing and detailed string trimming and edging utilizing equipment in a proper and safe manner
• General clean-up of garden beds and paths, clean-up of litter
• Stage equipment, supplies, and materials for daily horticulture operations
• Participate in snow and ice removal, as needed
• Maintain tools and equipment used in a safe and preserving manner to ensure tools and equipment are in the most appropriate form for use
• Participate in special events, as scheduled, and assist with preparation and setup/cleanup of these special events, as directed
• Support peers and staff in achieving overall institutional goals

Qualifications & Competencies:

• Experience with garden maintenance preferred OR participation in horticulture related program with demonstrated current knowledge
• Proven successful track record of operating in a collaborative manner in a team environment and ensuring that accountability for assigned tasks are completed

Competencies

• Horticultural general practices
• Collaboration
• Communication & Relationship Management
• Exemplary Customer service
• Ethical Conduct
• Technical Capacity

Working conditions

This job primarily operates in a public gardens environment that has both indoor and outdoor serving facilities for guests and is typically subject to a variety of weather conditions. This role routinely uses standard gardening and other related equipment as well as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This job also requires the employee to be within gardens, on the grounds of the property, and in areas that the public may not frequent.

Physical requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with others who talk and to hear others for safety instructions. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; kneel; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Additionally, this position may be required to lift approximately 40 or 50 lbs.

Direct reports

This position has no direct reports

EEO Statement

Ladew Topiary Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. We seek enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals to join our team and enhance our visitor experience.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.