#professional gardener program

Hi there! 

My name is Christine and I am Professional Gardener Student of the class of 2019. One of my roles during this program is leading our Vegetable Venture Project with my classmate Lana. All the produce we grow gets sold to the restaurant here at Longwood to help fund our study abroad trip next year. This project coincides with our fruit and veg culture class. It has been great to apply what we are learning directly into this endeavor! Even though our semester of classes is coming to an end, we will continue maintaining this plot we endearingly call 'Our Farm' into the autumn

Pictured: Trellis structures, combining aesthetics with functionality.

This adventure started back in January.  Lana and I eagerly awaited vegetable seed catalogues to arrive by mail.  After reading and rereading, we picked out 72 different crops to grow, focusing strongly on what the restaurant was most interested in, varieties that would do well in our area, and what sold best.  We divvied up the crops so everyone got a varied assortment.  From May up to this point, it's been a lot of field prep, direct sowing seeds, transplants (that we started in April) and WEEDING!!!!  We are now beginning to see the fruits of our labor with multiple lettuce and radish deliveries! It's important that we are growing everything organically in our 3,300 square foot garden, both for the consumers and for our own benefit of actively performing clean cultural practices.

Pictured: Raymond Carter and Alex Correia harvesting radishes.

Pictured: Alyssa Stevens, Lana Guardo, Alex Correia and Nate Townsend planting cucurbit crops.

Raising happy, healthy crops knowing you are feeding people is one of the most rewarding feelings I have experienced. I'm confident that I can speak for all my classmates when I say that we are ecstatic for this opportunity and look forward to seeing where the season will take us. I'm so proud of my team's accomplishments!

Pictured: Happy, healthy crops.

I finished my third week at RBGE in the glasshouses working with Gunnar Ovstebo in the Arid House. He showed me their collection while we weeded around the plants. We both geeked out over the new, arid bryophyte collection that he has begun to develop. On various plant collection expeditions he has picked up some specimens on his own accord and brought them back to RBGE. He's paired up with a student at Edinburgh named Hazel who is doing her masters project on cataloguing and identifying the liverwort and moss in the gardens to properly accession them to add them to the collection at RBGE. She toured me around and showed me a whole host of exotic and native mosses and liverworts that she has identified over the course of her work. I have always been fascinated with bryophytes and Hazel and Gunnar were happy to indulge my interest and questions. 

Liverworts in the fernery!

Liverworts in the Arid House!

I finished my week at RBGE and said goodbye as I packed my bags for Skye and set my sights for the rest of Scotland!

I met my boyfriend in Edinburgh and we planned to spend a couple of days in Glasgow. We visited Glasgow Botanic Gardens on our first day. We headed straight for the pop-up book sale that they had going on that day which gave us a sneak peek into the back houses of the garden. We took the long way around the garden, seeing all of the glasshouses and the arboretum which was in beautiful fall color. 

The following day we walked around the city seeing some highlights at Glasgow including The Mackintosh House and the Hunterian Art Museum. We visited the Necropolis and the Mackintosh Lighthouse.

A view from behind the tropical greenhouse on the way to the book sale!

The glasshouse was stunning and filled with tree ferns!

The Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery that overlooks the city of Glasgow.

We left for Skye with a rainy forecast for the week. We took the famous train from Harry Potter over the Viaduct bridge from Glasgow to Mallaig. Our only hold up was a night spent in Mallaig because they ferry to Skye was caught in the hurricane that was hitting the west coast of the island.

Upon our arrival we traveled to our first destination: the Fairy Glen. Curious grassy-topped rock outcroppings have been worn into dramatic patterns that we were free to explore. Visitors have turned areas hidden behind hills into a whimsical place to be. A labyrinth that is outlined in fallen stones and cairns dot the landscape. We made sure to grab a snack on the way back home at a restaurant on the water where I witnessed my first full rainbow in Scotland.

We also hiked the Quirang Walk which is a little over 4 miles into the Trotternish Ridge. The path was stoney from the high cliffs and muddy from the well-traveled peat. 

On the last day we visited Coral Beach just north of Dunvegan and the Neist Point Lighthouse. The beach isn't made of sand, though! It’s made of the skeletons of Red Coralline seaweed which is also known as Maërl! The lighthouse was surrounded by beautiful cliffs and sheep grazed land. 

Here I am walking the labyrinth sheltered by layers of hills.

Looking out over the Fairy Glen.

Standing on the trail at the Quirang.

Maërl!

View of the cliffs from the lighthouse.

The predicted rainy week turned out to be rather sunny and beautiful. We were not caught in any rain storms whatsoever! Unheard of here in Scotland! From Skye we headed back to Edinburgh and I packed up my bags to head to St. Andrews Botanic Garden for a week!

James and I in one of the estate houses.

Currently, in its second year, the Grower Mentor Project pairs senior professional gardener students with an experienced in-staff grower with the idea of shadowing and creating a mentoring experience. The purpose of the grower mentoring project is to understand the skills and education it takes to be a grower and to understand the requirements it takes for the crops to be grown for display at Longwood Gardens. In addition, the mentorship helps us get to know our grower on a more personal level over the twelve week semester. 

 At this point, I have been working with James Rockwell for two weeks and I was fortunate enough to have known James before this project. James was my housemate last year while he was a Triad fellow living on Red Lion Row. I know him quite well already, but here is some additional background information about James. He is originally from Stephens City, Virginia and has been a grower at Longwood since May of 2016. While relatively new to the Longwood Staff, James was originally a production intern in the summer of 2014 here. Before returning to Longwood as a TRIAD fellow he graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Horticulture. At Virginia Tech he was an undergraduate research assistant in the floriculture department. His advice for someone interested in being a grower “find a good outlet for practical experience and experimentation. Understanding the science behind plant production is essential, but to be a really great grower you should be able to look at a plant, its characteristics, and the family it is in and be able to form an idea of how to best care for it. That only comes from experience.” James grows crops at the Longwood estate houses growing many crops for the silver garden and mediterranean house, spring bedding crops, cut flowers, chrysanthemums, and lilies, growing 4500 pots!

One of the more unusual things he does is create various hanging baskets that are displayed throughout the year. Something recently he did was put together a cone shaped basket that contained lush arrangements of orchids and cascading English ivy. It’s something new for Longwood and was displayed  in the orangery for this year’s Orchid Extravaganza. Special care is needed for baskets because of their unique structure which require rotating and changing orientation to “fill” the basket in to look full. Supplemental lighting and cold treatments are often required. During the period that I will be working with James, we will be focusing on the lily bulbs, growing both asiatic and Oriental lily bulbs in succession from bulb planting to bud breaking. The lilies are displayed in various ares of the east and main conservatories from November to April. 

Since our mentoring began I have helped pot lily bulbs and have understood the importance of planting them deeply in pots and allowing stem roots to grow and anchoring in the developing plants, rather than assuming the general rule of planting a bulb one to two times its depth. While most of the plants in the center of the estate houses are growing straight as they receive equal amounts of sunlight from all sides, some of the ones at the end of the benches closest to the wall have grown with a bend which can be rectified with turning. Keeping the stems straight is both aesthetically pleasing and important to allow the bulbs to grow as closely as possible without blocking out necessary sunlight and maximizes space capacity which is always a limiting factor for crops. We spent the last week clipping in the lily stems to stakes which occur at about every 12 inches of growth to maintain a high level of standard for display. The scheduling and planting lily bulbs on in intervals allows the crop to be grown in successions for use in the conservatories when the plants have a display use of about two to three weeks. Timing is very important and holding bulbs in cold storage until they are needed is often done as necessary. Soon I will see some of his specialty crops and am hoping I will get to help work on a basket used for display. I’ve never had the opportunity to help create one and would love to see the mechanics behind them.  I have only been with James for two weeks and feel like I have already learned quite a lot and look forward to what I will gain from his insight and knowledge over the next few months. 

Clipping the lily stems to stakes. 

Getting lots of hands-on experience!

Cypripedium Kentuckiense

The Professional Gardener (PG) Program at Longwood Gardens is a two year formal education in horticulture offering students the opportunity to complete accredited class work in addition to twelve total work rotations throughout the garden.

As the PG student who was selected to complete two month long rotations in Longwood’s research division, I have been granted the opportunity to spend an extended period of time at the nursery working under John Lonsdale Ph.D. and with fellow student Stacee Snyder, a yearlong research intern.

My favorite project that I have had the chance to work on ties directly to Longwood’s major goals of conservation and land stewardship.  This commitment to sustainability is one of the outstanding factors that I believe sets my education at Longwood apart from other programs. As part of an effort to, “identify and protect key natural resources” as well as “emphasizing the use of native plants,” Longwood has begun trialing multiple species of native Cypripedium orchids.

John started the Cypripediums from seed nearly two years ago.  These seeds were sourced from known wild populations and were germinated in a controlled lab setting over the past two years. This January I took part in digging up the seedlings with the intention to replant in order to begin a trial using different soil mediums. Originally growing in a BioComp 5 mixture the seedlings were divided between crates into a control crate of BioComp 5, BioComp 5 mixed with 10% topsoil, and a standard research production mix assembled at Longwood. All crates were topped with a half inch of gravel. The orchid seedlings will continue to grow for another two years in these new crates. Hopefully around April the research team will see new top spring foliage growth.

This opportunity was so exciting and unique due to the fact that very few public gardens attempt to propagate this crop from seed. John’s knowledge about Cypripediums is derived from the decades spent growing his own home collection, and I feel lucky to have worked side-by-side learning from an experienced grower of difficult to germinate plants.

Within the next four to six years Longwood hopes to be able to put these Cypripediums on display throughout the gardens in multiple woodland areas.

Cypripedium Kentuckiense

Digging out Cypripedium reg alba

Replanting Cypripedium pubescens 

One of the major benefits of being a student at Longwood Gardens is access to the vast network of professionals within the horticulture industry. In order to facilitate new relationships and strengthen old ones, the Professional Gardnder Alumni Association, or PGAA, holds a biannual picnic for current and past professional gardener students.

The picnic takes place on The Row and includes a catered buffet, lawn games, a jukebox, and the traditional plant auction that supports the efforts of the PGAA. Money raised for the association will contribute to travel and academic grants the PGAA offers to current and past students.

Needless to say, the event was a success and many people left with unique and interesting plants. Perhaps you might join us in 2019?

The pre-picnic set-up.

Past and present PGs have the chance to meet and mingle.

A catered meal enjoyed by all!

Plant auction which benefits academic grants from the PGAA.

My name is Joshua Shepherd. I grew up in southern Idaho in the town of Buhl, near Twin Falls. From 1996 to 2013 I worked with a company in Buhl that specialized in wholesale floriculture. In 2013 I moved to New Jersey where I worked with a garden center, which introduced me to a new aspect of horticulture and clientele. In January 2017 I came onboard with Longwood Gardens as a student of Longwood Gardens’ Professional Gardener program class of 2018.

What is your favorite plant?

My favorite plant is my Hoya carnosa. This particular plant has been with me many years, flourishing through good times and neglect, as well as driving across the entire country. A trusty companion that deserves accolades for its tenacity to survive.

What is your favorite Garden? What is your favorite part of Longwood?

I find it difficult to pick one favorite garden. Each one is unique in its own way, providing an array of differing inspiration to every guest. Here at Longwood Gardens, my favorites depend on the time of year. I enjoy the Idea Garden as well as the Flower Garden Walk from spring to fall, and the conservatory during the winter.

What is the best part of being a student?

My favorite aspect of being a student is the socialization. One can learn much from text books, yet personal experience shared by others can teach just as many valuable lessons. With such a diverse group at Longwood the combined work and education experience is incalculable. Anything you want to know is just a conversation away.

What is your background in horticulture (or whatever field you are in)?

In high school I began working with a local wholesale nursery that grew indoor potted blooming plants. I worked through many departments during my time with them, and eventually ended up in sales and distribution. Working in each department helped me to understand the business as a whole, which helps one to appreciate the time, labor and passion involved in this industry.

Why did you want to come to Longwood and what do you think helped you get the position?

I became a supporter of Longwood during my first visit, which happens to be when I was introduced to the PG program. I knew then that I would be a student here. It was a match for my future plans, as well as a road to bolster my horticultural experience. I believe my optimistic viewpoint, as well as determination and confidence helped to bring me here.

What do you do at work? Highlight your favorite project or what you do day-to-day.

Being a student here brings an ever changing scene of work duties each week and month. So far I have shoveled dirt, planted seeds, worked in a lab, and chopped down boxwoods. One of my favorites so far, oddly enough, was removing literally tons of soil from several raised beds. It was a labor intensive task that required the commitment of mind and body to complete. Exploring the limits of one’s capabilities helps to empower one’s sense of self.

What are your future plans or what is your intended career path?

Piloting my way through the PG program is my main focus until December 2018. Regardless of where I end up, if I can help someone to see, build and appreciate beauty with horticulture, then all my efforts will have been worthwhile.

Myself in the student Veggie Venture garden at The Row.

On the Row: Fall Cutback

With graduation looming, senior PGs have started the bittersweet process of tearing out their personal gardens on the Row, while junior PGs are preparing their beds for winter. It’s a win-win situation as the junior class readily adopts crowns of plants to bolster their first-year gardens, many of which have been passed on from student to student through the years. We were fortunate this year to have our plots adjacent to one another. 

On the Weekend: Chanticleer

Professional Gardener students are given a wonderful opportunity to work alongside the horticulturists at Chanticleer Garden in nearby Wayne, Pennsylvania on weekends during Chanticleer’s open season. The mentorship, plant walks, skill building and camaraderie provided by the staff there is an invaluable asset to our program. The garden also employs many PG alumni and past Longwood Gardens interns. Once the private home of the Rosengarten family, today Chanticleer is a pleasure garden opened to the public in 1993, and one of more than 30 public gardens in the greater Philadelphia region.