Horticulture Internship – Summer 2025

Job Description

Botanica is seeking three motivated and passionate individuals to join our Horticulture Internship Program for the summer of 2025. This internship offers hands-on experience in horticulture, landscape maintenance, and public garden operations. Interns will work closely with our professional gardening team, gaining valuable knowledge and practical skills while contributing to the beauty and functionality of Botanica’s renowned gardens.

About Us

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, is a 20-acre botanical treasure dedicated to horticultural education and conservation. Since opening in 1987, it has grown from four gardens to over 30 themed spaces, showcasing 4,000+ plant species suited to the Kansas climate. Our gardens highlight both native and adaptive plants, featuring vibrant seasonal displays—from spring tulips to autumn chrysanthemums—alongside evaluation gardens that test new plant varieties.

As a public garden, Botanica serves as a living classroom, offering hands-on learning experiences for visitors of all ages. Interns gain valuable experience in plant care, garden design, and sustainable horticulture while working with diverse collections, including prairie wildflowers, formal landscapes, and water gardens. Botanica also engages the community through educational programming and major events.

With ever-evolving plant collections and immersive learning opportunities, Botanica provides a dynamic environment in a thriving public garden setting.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities
Interns will participate in a rotational program, shadowing experienced gardeners across different areas of Botanica.

Responsibilities include:
Daily Maintenance: Planting, pruning, watering, weeding, deadheading, and liquid feeding.

Turf and Pathway Care:
Mowing, edging, cleaning hard surfaces, and picking up litter.

Specialized Projects:
Maintaining aquatic plants, including water lilies, in pond areas.
Caring for chrysalides in the Butterfly House.
Contributing to plant records, inventory management, and educational signage.
Assisting with garden events and public workshops.
Developing and delivering a final presentation on internship experiences.

Garden Areas of Focus:
Shakespeare Garden, Aquatic Plant Collection, Sensory Garden, Butterfly House, Rose Collection, Wildflowers & Native Kansas Plants, and more.

Learning Opportunities
Exposure to a wide range of woody and herbaceous plant materials.
Insight into professional gardening practices and volunteer workforce collaboration.
Experience with landscape tools and techniques, pest/disease management, and water feature maintenance.
Development of public speaking and educational presentation skills.

Education and Experience

Education:
Open to students in horticulture, landscape architecture, biology (environmental focus), or related fields.

Knowledge & Skills:
Familiarity with horticultural tools and methods.
Basic understanding of plant care, pests, and diseases.
Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team.

Physical Ability:
Comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions.
Capable of using waders for pond maintenance tasks.

Additional Information

Location: Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Wichita, KS
Pay Rate: $12–$13/hour
Hours: Approximately 20 hours per week
Duration: 12 weeks, starting late May (flexible to accommodate academic schedules)

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their interest in horticulture and relevant experience to:
Savannah Herrman
Email: sherrman@botanica.org
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.