About the role#
This internship offers hands-on experience in landscape maintenance and fine gardening. You will work alongside senior horticulturists to restore and create gardens within the Historic Area. This role provides training in plant identification, landscape construction, and the care of heirloom plant varieties.
What you'll do#
- Prepare, plant, and maintain seasonal beds of flowers, vegetables, and herbs.
- Cultivate soil, weed, edge beds, and handle necessary pruning or harvesting.
- Prune trees, shrubs, hedges, and espaliered fruit trees, including shearing topiary.
- Manage greenhouse and nursery tasks such as propagation, transplanting, fertilizing, and watering.
- Perform detailed garden work including dead-heading and raking.
- Operate and perform basic maintenance on power and hand-held landscape equipment.
- Collaborate with technicians to monitor insect and disease issues, manage irrigation systems, and learn arboricultural practices.
- Assist with emergency landscaping work during bad weather.
What you'll need#
- Completion of at least one year of college in horticulture, floriculture, landscaping, arboriculture, or a related field.
- Knowledge of landscape gardening and maintenance, with a desire to learn topiary and espalier techniques.
- Experience as a gardener's helper or groundskeeper is preferred.
- Ability to operate push mowers and power hedge shears safely.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- A valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
- Ability to provide a 5-year Motor Vehicle Record prior to starting.
- Ability to read instructions and complete reports.
Location & details#
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia, United States.
- Modality: On-site.
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
- This is a full-time, paid internship.
About Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution founded in 1926. Based in Williamsburg, Virginia, it operates the largest outdoor living history museum in the world. The organization manages a historic area, art museums, and a hospitality group that includes hotels and restaurants. It employs over 1,200 people to support its educational mission and visitor services.
How to get in at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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