Summer Internship

Heritage Museum and Gardens (HMG) in historic Sandwich, MA on Cape Cod offers summer internships for the period May through late August.  This is a great opportunity to gain botanical garden work experience. Students work directly for and with the Director of Horticulture and garden staff in the Garden undertaking various duties as required to maintain a public garden. 

Using the extensive and mature plant collections, students participate in weekly walks and are required to learn approximately 150 woody and herbaceous plants over the course of the summer.  In addition, students participate in informal lectures on subjects related to botanical/public garden operation, plant culture and landscape design.  Each week, on a rotating schedule students are required to document and write a “What’s in Bloom” column for the HMG website. 

Students will participate in several field trips to selected gardens of New England.

Interns are scheduled to work 40 hrs a week at an hourly rate of $18.  A small housing allowance is also granted for students not from Cape Cod or southeastern Massachusetts. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, dividing plants, propagation, planting, watering, volunteer management, plant documentation and other duties as assigned and necessary for the operation of a public garden.   All interns will be required to work at least one weekend during the summer.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Ability to work up to three months beginning sometime in May.  Be enrolled in a college horticulture program or related field with an interest in public garden maintenance.  Good communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills. 

Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to: Les Lutz, Director of Horticulture,  LLutz@HeritageMuseums.org

Physical Demands:

Some requirements for lifting, pushing, pulling items less than 50 lbs. Work outside in all types of weather. Some work on stepladders.

Location: Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, MA 02563

The Heritage Museums & Gardens property has a rich history.  In 1921 Charles Dexter purchased the property and began his work hybridizing rhododendrons and many of his spectacular collection are now mature and truly incredible.  In 1967 Josiah Lilly bought the property and developed the former estate into a public museum and garden.