Descanso gardens is an urban retreat located 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Gardens is a place of year-round natural beauty, with internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums as a museum of living collections, Descanso Gardens welcomes more than 750,000 visitors annually. The principal collections include California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest collections of camellias in the Western Hemisphere; a rose garden with specimens from all corners of the globe; and significant presentations of lilacs, cherry trees and cycads. Descanso Gardens has been designated an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. The Gardens are operated by the Descanso Gardens Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in a public-private partnership with Los Angeles County. The annual budget of $15 million is funded by memberships, philanthropic gifts, fees and support from Los Angeles County.
In 2022 through a generous gift of the Borun family, the Ruth Borun Nursery and Propagation Center at Descanso Gardens was established as the first phase in a multiyear Master Plan. The nursery supports the Gardens primarily through three avenues; the conservation of rare and unique cultivars either generated through historic breeding at Descanso, or no longer found in the trade, expanding support of native habitat through the establishment of a diverse native plant propagation program and supporting seasonal ornamental planting for displays.
Internship DescriptionThe Ruth Borun Horticultural Intern will train in the propagation of the Gardens' camellia, lilac, rose, California natives and ornamental collections under the direction of the Director of Horticulture and Nursery Horticulturist. They will then spend a corresponding period with each section horticulturist. The Intern will work for a period of 8 months from October 1 to May 31, for six hours a day, five days a week. The Intern reports to the Director of Horticulture and Garden Operations and will work with a team to learn all areas of the horticulture operations at Descanso Gardens, contributing to the sustainability of our plant collections and gaining key experience in all facets of plant propagation.
Internship Time CommitmentThe Intern will be expected to work 30 hours per week for 34 weeks between October 31st, 2024 - May 1st, 2025.
Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assists the Nursery Horticulturist in maintaining the nursery and greenhouse through watering, fertilizing, grooming, transplanting, and weeding.
• Sources, acquires, and propagates plants to support and enhance the Gardens collections and displays under the direction of the Nursery Horticulturist
• Maintains and develops a propagation schedule
• Assists with establishing new labelling and databasing protocols in the Nursery
• Works with each section horticulturist (Camellias, Roses, Display, California Natives, Plant Records) to develop a thorough understanding of the collections plants in their landscape
• Assists with maintaining seed inventories
• Maintains and develops propagation infrastructure, irrigation and greenhouse facilities
• Assists section horticulturists in the development of seasonal displays and educational content
• Leads volunteer teams in nursery assignments
• Keeps daily work journal documenting projects and responsibilities throughout internship
• Intern must write a letter to the Borun family detailing their experience upon the completion of their internship

Qualifications & RequirementsQualified applicants will present a demonstrable interest in horticulture and the propagation of plants.
Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
Must be able to work under variable weather conditions including heat, cold and rain.
Compensation$17.50 per hour