Working for a Greener District of Columbia
VOLUNTEERING AT THE U.S. BOTANIC GARDENS
Even tourists from around the world find their way to the U.S. Botanic Garden's stunningConservatory, but only lucky locals get to volunteer there - usually lovers of tropical plants - and they get to garden their hearts out all winter, too, don't forget.
Directly across Independence Avenue is a garden spot
that's usually missed altogether by tourists, the two-acre
Bartholdi Garden. This little jewel has been discovered by
nearby congressional staffers, however, who find it a
perfect respite from the sturm and drang of politics. It's also
home to an amazing assortment of plant collections, like
the alpine garden, the native plant garden, and so on, with
labels everywhere.
MEET SOME VOLUNTEERS
The center photo above shows several USBG volunteers
planting trees in the new National Garden on the mall,
adjacent to the Conservatory. Margaret Missiaen, a 10-year volunteer with USBG, has a certificate in horticulture from the USDA and is known as the Capitol Hill Tree Lady. D.C. Master Gardener Judy Hecht is shown holding the tree. Marie Warnock (in the white hat), a new volunteer who "loves being part of something larger," raves about the recent Summer Solstice Party for volunteers (with Morris Dancers!). Barbara Franklin started volunteering here 14 years ago because even after finishing her landscape design certificate, she felt she needed more training - especially about perennials - before she hung out her shingle. Volunteers describe Garden Supervisor Robert Pritchard as a great teacher and an artist at combining plants. And "Pritch," as he's known, especially encourages Master Gardeners especially to volunteer - he finds their training to be a great asset to the Botanic Gardens.
SKILLED HORT WORK
Top USBG horticulturist Virginia Harmon is often asked why no weeds can be found in the vast plantings of Bartholdi Park
(right). Her answer is to credit the garden's 21
weekly volunteers for its well-kept appearance.
Volunteers here work under her supervision but
don't require much training because they're
already experienced gardeners, people who
"know the basics and can hit the ground running
" It's no wonder they especially seek out Master
Gardeners.
Volunteers work in 2-to-6-person teams doing
weeding, deadheading, watering, lots of planting (including 12,000 tulips), and some pruning.
PUBLIC EDUCATION WORK
A second very different type of volunteer job is that of Public Programs Aide, for people who'd rather work directly with people than with plants. These volunteers help at the front desk with visitor services, man discovery carts, lead children's activities and provide guided tours of the Conservatory and the new National Garden. Tour guides or docents, as they're called, take a 10-week, 20-hour evening class for this job, during which they're taught biology, ecology, evolution and any other topics covered in the Conservatory's exhibits. And good news for the hands-on hort workers - the docent training is available to ALL VOLUNTEERS, not just the docents.
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING AT USBG:
-Excellent field training in basic gardening
-Specialized training available in tropicals, orchid care, taxonomy or leading children's garden activities
-Free participation in Smithsonian horticultural training held Wednesday mornings in the winter
-Field trips (e.g., the British Embassy Garden, the National Herbarium, Ginter Botanic Gardens, and the USBG Director's home garden)
-Summer and Winter Solstice Parties in the Conservatory for volunteers and their families, with entertainment
-Reduced or free admission to all public events (approximately 100 per year)
-A newsletter just for volunteers
-Sunday opportunities
-Winter opportunities
-Easy social opportunities, like lunching with other volunteers, staff, and a friendly bunch of Capitol Police
HOW TO VOLUNTEER:
Contact Mary Chor by email or 202/226-1047. A commitment of 100 hours per year is required and most volunteers work 4 hours per week. However, full-time workers who aren't available on weekdays are required to work a minimum of 2 mornings per month (8 to noon is typical). More information is available on the USBG website.
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