A New Job; Back to Building Public Gardens

I’m strengthening, building on my roots in  botanical garden work by taking on a new job (more about it at the end of the post.) Those roots started with inspiration at Clemson University.  Clemson Horticture wasn’t a huge leader in the field: we all knew NC State and UGA had more recognized programs.  But I didn’t really know what I wanted. I was not a very worldly young man. I’d never heard of a botanical garden. Clemson professors changed all that: a class in Italian garden history? An organic vegetable garden? An heirloom seed exchange?  Paper postings on a kiosk from a garden in Scotland recruiting American students?  Within 18 months I was transformed: working in the C.U. Herberium, teaching as an assistant in a design class, gardening at the State Botanical Garden, then  studying botany at the University of Zambia.

And understanding my calling: stewardship of the natural world through work in public gardens.

A cream colored, typed paper, stuck onto Dr. Mary Haque’s bulletin board was the inspiration. I read about jobs posted by the American Association of Botanical Gardens. It was a revelation that my skills from the farm could be refined and fit into a totally different world.  My horticulture degree may not have been from the best program, but it did what a public university should do by inspiring me, then offering skills, connections to a network and lot of amazing teachers who helped me get out into the world.

I spent 20 years establishing gardens in South Carolina and consulting on gardens further afield.  Four years ago, when I went out on my own, when I was no longer a full time employee of a public garden, I was really lost.  Sad, thrown off track and even considered other careers.  I had plenty to do as a public garden consultant and a farmer, but two things eluded me:  that non-profity feeling of working toward public good and being a part of a team.

I’ve addressed the first by consulting with the Florence Museum, a children’s home, public parks and even an agricultural school in Haiti.  All of these are projects that contribute to the health and welfare of lots of people.  I’m proud of them. The project in Haiti is volunteer work and definitely feels like establishing a long term vision. I’ve strengthened ties to Clemson working with their radio shows and supporting a very cool research project; both ways to share information.  The second is more challenging; interns and volunteers are my team.  I also work with a cadre of talented consultants like Hunter Desportes, a database builder; Betsy Kaemmerlen, a landscape architect; Jay Hubble and Andy Addams, both craftsmen, artisans at the top of their field. Then there’s family….wait this team feels big when I write this down….

But being a part of non-profit with a mission is different.  And exciting.  For the next few months, I’ll be interim director of grounds and gardens for Historic Columbia Foundation. It just feels right to me; there’s the “We can change the world” feeling I had 30 years ago in college.  I’m excited to have it again.  I’m a little anxious, too.

It’s 6 a.m. on my first day of work.  As I write this, I’m watching the clock.  In just 2 hours,  I get to step back into the public world for a while.  I’m going to meet a group of volunteers and a staff with a common mission:  stewardship of our natural resources, our history through gardens that were once nationally acclaimed private places and are, now, an emerging public garden.

One of the gardens at Historic Columbia Foundation; Seibels House.  Top photo from Historic Columbia Facebook Page.