This summer I worked at Rocky Dale Gardens in Bristol, Vermont doing a variety of jobs. Rocky Dale Gardens is a plant nursery that specializes in uncommon conifers, trees, shrubs, and perennials. The nursery also has two acres of display gardens that are kept to help inspire customers as well as ourselves. I had the wonderful opportunity to learn about the horticulture industry, proper plant care, design, and also about running small businesses from a wonderful staff.

Every day I would open the nursery and make sure everything was set for the day. I would water plants as needed, fertilize, weed, and my favorite- sell plants to customers. I really enjoyed working with customers to help plan and design their gardens by helping them find the right plants for their spaces and for their climate. It was very fun to help design peoples’ gardens because it felt like I was helping to bring a bit of beauty into the world.

On top of working with plants, I was also in charge of everything in the nursery that was not a plant. I was in charge of ordering what we call “dry goods” which are essentially all the tools, fertilizers, soils, gifts, statuary, pottery, and other garden supplies that we sell. I would contact buyers, order shipments, put them into our computerized inventory, and prepare them for sale.

I also learned some basics of running a small business such as coming up with a budget, which would include staffing, overhead such as advertising and maintenance, and inventory. Another task I was in charge of was advertising for Rocky Dale, which included newsletters, social media, and the flower baskets that adorned the lampposts on Main Street in Bristol as well as window boxes at a few local restaurants. I would write weekly newsletters that highlighted different plants each week, as well as helpful gardening tips, and later in the season, the sales we were having. I would take photos for the newsletter as well and also use those photos for social media such as Facebook and Instagram. In the nursery I would also set up displays of selected plants each week which would highlight plants and help customers see combinations of plants which they could plant in their own yard.

I really enjoyed spending my summer at Rocky Dale Gardens outside all day and surrounded by amazing plants. I learned much about the horticulture industry and how to properly care for and maintain plants, as well as the basics of small business management. Some tips I would give future interns are to intern in a field you enjoy and at a place that you will want to go to every day, this will ensure that you learn while having an amazing summer.