Horticulturist
Employment Type
Job (Full-time)Job Categories
Horticulture
Job Description
The Horticulturist will perform general landscaping and grounds maintenance. Consisting primarily of manual labor, this position will be under the direction of the Director of Horticulture and Facilities. The Horticulturist is expected to work independently and also with other staff members. Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday hours will be required. Work and area assignments may change during the season as needed by the Director of Horticulture and Facilities.
About Us
Bookworm is a botanic garden based on children’s literature with a mission to inspire the love of books and nature in the young and young at heart. Learn more about our founding and history. We are open May through October and house over 80 different garden spaces, each inspired by a children’s book. Bookworm Gardens opened in 2010 and since then we’ve been busy with beloved events for all ages, field trips, summer camps, Nature School, and so much more. We encourage our community to visit, explore, and become connected with the natural world.
Duties & Responsibilities
● General landscape maintenance including planting and transplanting, pruning trees and shrubs, watering, mulching, mowing, raking, digging, weeding, fertilizing, deadheading, and edging.
● General grounds maintenance such as picking up trash and compost, removing refuse, tidying up tool and equipment storage areas, cleaning paths, and sharpening and maintaining tools and equipment.
● Manage the greenhouse.
● Management and scheduling of volunteers
● Farm planning and management, including livestock
● Keep a gardener’s log
● Assist Director of Horticulture with projects as directed
● Maintenance and care of tropicals and other plants, especially over winter
● Annuals planning and planting
● Teach classes in collaboration with the Education Department
● Manage the Horticulture Technician
● Safely operate small equipment such as golf carts, leaf blowers, mowers, chainsaws, rototillers, and weed-eaters.
● Report any tool or equipment problems to the Director of Horticulture and Facilities.
● Keep tools, supplies, vehicles, and work areas clean and organized.
● Assist indoors with projects such as equipment maintenance, shop organization, and greenhouse work when weather prohibits outdoor work.
● Work safely without injury to self, others, property, or plants.
● Interact daily with staff, volunteers, and the public in a friendly and respectful manner.
● Assist the Garden and Facilities department with support for special events and other projects as needed.
Education and Experience
Educational and/or work experience in horticultural with in-depth knowledge of plant culture, maintenance, and identification.
· Ability to work alone or in groups, in all weather conditions.
· Flexibility to work some holidays and weekends as necessary.
· Valid WI state driver’s license.
· Ability to handle electric equipment, power tools.
· Must be a team-player, willing to collaborate on any and all tasks required for maintaining the highest standards of landscape management and operations.
Additional Information
Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The position requires the ability to stand, sit, reach,
stoop, kneel, lift and carry weight up to 50lbs. It also requires work in all outdoor weather conditions.
The position requires occasional extended work hours, including evenings and weekends. These
requirements are related to the fact that events at Bookworm Gardens incorporate an “all hands-on
deck” approach where staff works together to accomplish our revenue goals.
Application Instructions
Email completed cover letter and resume to info@bookwormgardens.org. Applications accepted on a
rolling basis and associates are hired as needed.
June 30, 2025
