How To Get A Job At A Botanical Garden Reddit

I just got a job in a greenhouse and I'm basically in heaven. It smells so good, and the customers are mostly cute old ladies who are just as happy to be there as I am.

r/gardening - I just got a job in a greenhouse and I'm basically in heaven. It smells so good, and the customers are mostly cute old ladies who are just as happy to be there as I am.

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I did that in 2006, quit my secretarial gig to pursue Horticulture at age 42, with no degree just self-taught. Started as retail seasonal, moved to wholesale seasonal then retail merchandising. In 2017 my dreams came true when I was hired as a full time, year round gardener at a botanical garden (with benefits and 401K!). It's never too late!!

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I'm graduating in greenhouse management soon and that's definitely my dream too!

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How hard was it to work your way up? I'm not very good with retail... people scare me, but plants don't.

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Yes! A year ago I quit my restaurant job to start at a landscaping company. I now run a garden maintenance truck, just finished the master pruner program in my city, and I'm preparing to take the CPH in October. Your story gives me hope that I can carve out my own path toward a real career in horticulture.

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Oh my gosh, thanks for the kindness, everyone! The Director of Horticulture, Head Gardener, and my three fellow gardeners are all 30 years old, so trying to keep up with them in my menopausal years has been the most rewarding challenge and I've gained a lot of muscle (and knowledge!) My job brings me so much joy, I will forever be grateful they took a chance on me!!!

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Thanks for this. I'll be doing similar at mid thirties. Military doesn't allow me to just quit. :D

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You are living my dream! Thank you for being a hopeful example to us older folks pining away in offices as middle age looms.

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I love you, you inspirational pollinator!

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That's my dream. I just finished my first semester as a plant science major, and while I loved the classes, school is just not my thing. This gives me so much hope, thank you!

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Good on you! Never too old to pursue dreams, as you have proved. Not that 42 was old....

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What garden are you working at? I live near sonnenburg gardens.
https://www.sonnenberg.org/ How do like just working one property? As a landscaper the variety apeals to me but I could see working just one as having it perks. Just as every job has perks it has it this sucks too. Whats the this sucks part of working at a botanical garden. Sounds like it could be a cool job. You must work with some A+ plant material.

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worked in a massive nursery (think 35 greenhouses) for a couple of years. my second best job ever. I did acquire a stalker girl though. She came in at least 3 times a week for almost 5 months and finally asked me for my number. We ended up dating and have been married for 22 years.

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Well that took a turn for the wholesome!

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Were you waiting in the bushes of love? ;)

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Passion and happiness for a job? Now that's a work attitude I can get behind.

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After working most of my life for a gas company, where I got a bad back injury lead me to have to leave, I got a job in a garden nursery, it was amazing, the money was awful, but I enjoyed every minute of working in the place. It definitely helps your mental health being around so many plants

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Man how'd you manage that?! Lucky 😭