Horticulturist II: Section Horticulturist

Job Description

Job Title: Horticulturist II: Section Horticulturist
Reports To: Display Horticulture Manager and Assistant Director of Horticulture
Department: Horticulture
Supervisory Responsibility: Occasional
FLSA: Exempt
Full Time Position: Salary, minimum 40 hours per week

Position Summary: Bellingrath Gardens & Home seeks a qualified individual to fill the position of Horticulturist II: Section Horticulturist. This position will be comprised of upkeep and curation of a selected area of the Bellingrath Gardens & Home campus. Specific responsibilities include cultivation of an array of seasonal display beds, shrubs, perennials, canopy trees, and containers, scouting these areas on a daily basis, and using all means (mechanical equipment, chemical inputs, hand-work) necessary to maintain appropriate levels of horticultural excellence associated with Bellingrath Gardens & Home. Various themed garden areas exist on the BGH campus, and the area assigned will follow, as closely as possible, the candidate’s specific interests.

A Section Horticulturist must demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: 1) excellence in “estate gardening” skills and thinking, related to plant knowledge, composition, editing/deadheading, shearing, and plant rejuvenation, 2) management of both soil fertility and plant nutrient content, aimed at optimizing plant performance, 3) soil management, both for native soils and for soilless mixes used in containers, regarding organic matter content, tilth, pH, CEC, and drainage, 4) weed and pest management utilizing both traditional and IPM methodology, and 5) basic operations, repair, and retrofitting of our irrigation system. The Section Horticulturist must excel in all means of communications: verbal, written, email, and directly with staff. The Section Horticulturist will occasionally delegate tasks to volunteers and interns, but must also be willing to lead by example through direct work with people under your supervision.

We seek knowledgeable and passionate “plant people” in our Horticulture team. With literally tens of thousands of beautiful plants growing at Bellingrath Gardens & Home, and with plans to add more to our horticultural displays and plant collections, the Horticulturist II: Section Horticulturist’s role will revolve around celebrating a passion for plants through the curation of a selected garden space that occurs at our beautiful and historic gardens located here along the Fowl River in southern Mobile County, Alabama.

About Us

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is the historic 65-acre estate and home of Walter D. Bellingrath and Bessie Morse Bellingrath, opened to the public in 1932. The Bellingrath-Morse Foundation was established by Mr. Bellingrath in 1949 on his 80th birthday to perpetuate the Gardens and Home as a “permanent and fitting memorial” to his wife’s “artistry and genius.” Today, visitors to Bellingrath Gardens and Home stroll through the vibrant and ever-changing estate garden and tour the historic home, built in 1935 and filled with the original furnishings and pieces collected by the two founders. Bellingrath is Alabama’s oldest public garden, remaining relevant today through its many varied programs, including its award-winning “Magic Christmas in Lights” holiday festival and the new Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival.

Duties & Responsibilities

Primary duties include:
● Conduct all facets of gardening in your assigned section. Duties include: cultivating the garden space with a sense of excellence and passion, planting and maintenance of annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees, deadheading and editing of plantings, weeding (including utilization of preventative weed management principles), hand and automated watering and fertigation, soil and soilless media management and fertilization, mulching, corrective and cutback pruning, performing necessary pest control, and leaf blowing and path maintenance.
● Coordinate all scheduled plantings with the Display Horticulture Manager so that all seasonal plantings are installed at the optimal times of both the greenhouse production schedule and the specific garden section’s needs to ensure top-north horticulture being showcased to our visitors and patrons

Secondary duties include:
● Work at Bellingrath’s three Plant Market sales events
● Coordinating future display designs for the assigned section with the Display Horticulture Manager and the Display Designer
● Small tree and shrub cut-backs or removals or replacements
● Rejuvenation of poorly performing plants, as warranted
● Basic irrigation installation and repair
● Landscape machinery operation
● Attending planning and coordination meetings
● Other tasks as assigned

Education and Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● 2- or 4-year degree in Horticulture, or equivalent experience
● A passion for plants and for horticultural excellence
● Proven work ethic
● Maturity in communicating and interacting with fellow staff
● Extensive knowledge of plants growable in south Alabama
● Ability to lift at least 35lbs
● Proven ability to work independently and also effectively and cohesively with other employees and volunteers
● Must have or acquire an AL private applicator permit within two months of start date
● Ability to work outdoors in climatic conditions typical to Mobile, Alabama
● Must have reliable transportation

Additional Information

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other legally protected basis under applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Bellingrath Gardens and Home makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Application Instructions

We are searching for an outstanding candidate to become our Horticulturist II: Section Horticulturist and be ready to help lead Bellingrath Gardens and Home forward to an exciting future. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter of interest, and at least two professional references to: employment@bellingrath.org