The Arboretum at Laurel Hill Green Burial Areas Horticulture Internship

Job Description

The horticulture internships provide an interactive educational opportunity for those aspiring towards a career in public gardens, arboreta, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape design and/or horticultural maintenance to work and learn in a dynamic, unique, and professional workplace and acquire experience in both horticulture best practices and Living Collections management. From the start of the season, interns will work with Laurel Hill’s arboretum staff to create individual learning objectives for the season that will result in an effective and meaningful overall experience.

Laurel Hill has three unique Green Burial Areas that are stewarded using sustainable methodology and feature native forbs, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees:
• Nature’s Sanctuary at Laurel Hill West is stewarded as a native successional landscape and has received the prestigious SITES Gold-level certification
• Bala Green at Laurel Hill West features native perennial and annual plantings punctuated by small tree features and surrounded by a native tree and shrub border
• Valley View Green at Laurel Hill East features native grasses and forbs with a mixed native plant border.

The Green Burial Areas Intern will work closely with the Senior Horticulturist within the green burial areas on various aspects of horticulture and landscape stewardship.

About Us

Laurel Hill East and West Cemeteries are two historic landscapes that, combined, form a 265-acre Arboretum. The Arboretum at Laurel Hill features a living collection of over 6,000 specimen trees and shrubs representing over 1,000 species and cultivated varieties as well as multiple distinct garden areas. Laurel Hill is committed to landscape stewardship that embraces its historic context while using modern sustainable best practices. Laurel Hill has exciting opportunities for two summer internship positions, the Horticulture Intern, and the Green Burial Areas Intern.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Green Burial Areas Intern will work closely with the Senior Horticulturist within the green burial areas on various aspects of horticulture and landscape stewardship to include:
• Managing each landscape to support its growth, further its success and maximize the effective role it plays in a healthy ecosystem. Tasks include hand-weeding, herbivory protection, bioinoculant application, watering, leaf mulching, grooming, plant material editing, thinning and/or replanting, pruning of shrubs and trees, application of horticultural vinegar and assistance in observing overall garden and plant care needs.

• Support of the Green Burial process. Tasks include plant material cutbacks before burials; soil grading and leaf mulching after burials; and new native plantings, mulching, and watering previous active burial areas.

• Maintenance of pathways and fenced peripheral areas. Tasks include hand-weeding and horticultural vinegar application, raking the stone pathways to keep them even and free of debris, mowing and raking the grass pathways, keeping plant material pruned to keep pathways easily accessible, keeping edges along the peripheral fences clear of invasive weeds and vines, and training, pruning and regular care of the native vines featured on the fence.

• Maintaining a daily log of site conditions, tasks accomplished and garden observations.

• Serving as an ambassador for Laurel Hill in general by interacting with visitors and educating them about Laurel Hill’s green burial process and the ongoing stewardship of its areas.

This internship is focused on hands-on learning. Interns will work directly with arboretum staff to learn from their experience and expertise and will attend weekly staff meetings to learn about the ins and outs of arboretum management. In addition to learning about the many unique native plants and stewardship models of each green burial area, The Green Burial Areas Intern will also set individual learning objectives for their internship and complete an independent educational project guided by the Senior Horticulturist.

Education and Experience

Requirements include a valid driver’s license, a strong work ethic, the ability to work independently and as part of a team outdoors in various weather conditions, dependable transportation, the ability to lift 50 pounds, and a willingness to learn all aspects of horticulture, living collection management, and landscape stewardship. A bachelor’s degree in Arboriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Environmental Studies, or a related field, and/or equivalent work experience is preferred but not required.

Additional Information

The Horticulture Internships are seasonal, part-time positions paid at $15 an hour and requiring a commitment of 32 hours per week – exact start and end dates are flexible between May and October. Laurel Hill is an equal opportunity employer.

Application Instructions

To apply, send résumé and cover letter to Arboretum Director Aaron Greenberg at agreenberg@laurelhillphl.com.