Sustainability Plant Health Care Spring Intern 2027

Title:                                     Plant Healthcare Sustainability Spring Intern 2027
Classification:                         Spring Internship – Non-Exempt 
Department:                        Gardens & Grounds 
Reports To:                             Manager of Sustainability 
Compensation:                    $17.40/hour, plus housing
Schedule:                             Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 3:30pm, with occasional weekends and
                                                  evenings. In person, starts Feb/Mar -  ends Apr/May 2027.
 
About Lotusland:  
Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre non-profit botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,700 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education, and plant conservation.   
 
Mission Statement:  
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the distinctive botanical gardens of Madame Ganna Walska. Lotusland educates and inspires visitors with its collections, sustainable horticulture practices and plant conservation. 
 
Position Summary:   
Successful applicants will work with Lotusland’s Manager of Sustainability and grounds staff to implement and monitor sustainable management practices across a 37-acre botanical display garden featuring bromeliads, cacti and succulents, cycads, ferns, palms, water gardens, and turf areas. 
 
Interns will gain both theoretical and hands-on experience in all aspects of Lotusland’s horticultural program, preparing them to design and manage similar programs in urban horticultural settings without relying on toxic or environmentally degrading materials. Training includes ecological soil management using compost, compost tea, and mulch; soil fertility through natural nutrient cycling and organic fertilizers; and plant disease management using beneficial microorganisms. Interns will also work with insectaries that support balanced insect ecology and learn to monitor plant health indicators both in the field and in Lotusland’s lab. In addition to these responsibilities, the intern will be expected to design and complete an independent project exploring an aspect of the garden that interests them. This project will culminate in a short article for the garden newsletter and a presentation to staff.  

Key Responsibilities: 
Equipment Operation 

• Power equipment: string trimmer, hedge shears, blowers (gas & battery), compost tea sprayer. 
• Maintenance carts (requires valid driver’s license). 
• Hand tools: pole saw, hand saw, loppers, pruners, shears. 
• Orchard ladders, pullers bear weeders. 

• Proper pruning techniques for various plant types (deciduous fruit trees, citrus, palms, shrubs, cacti, ground covers). 
• Soil moisture monitoring and watering practices (wells, reservoirs, booster pumps, main lines). 
• Irrigation systems: hand watering, drip, sprinklers (rotary, rotor, spray, impact). 
• Awareness of garden hazards: plants, heat, animals. 
• Preparing gardens for tours and special events. 
• Pond and aquatic garden care. 
• Safety protocols are integrated into all training. 

• Plant mapping and accessioning. 
• Inventory and documentation of plant collections. 

• Plant propagation techniques. 
• Nursery and greenhouse maintenance. 

• Soil Science 

• Biological examination 

• Nutritional analysis 

• Physical tests of soil properties 

• Rodent Abatement 

• Vertebrae trapping 

• Applied Entomology 

• Insectary program 

• Review various common insect challenges 

• Renovating perimeter insectary areas 

• Organic Matter Programs 

• Mulching program observations 

• Composting system and compost application 

• Organic Fertilizers 

• Application methods 

• Discuss and record observations in the field 

• Review various types and reasons for choice selection 

• Applied micro-organisms 

• Mycorrhizae 

• Types, benefits, application methods 

• Bacteria 

• Types, benefits, application methods 

• Compost tea 

• Compost tea production method 

• Compost tea assay analysis  

• Compost tea application methods 

• Gain hands-on experience applying sustainable horticultural practices. 
• Build confidence by learning new skills and expanding your knowledge base. 
• Strengthening communication and teamwork abilities through collaborative work. 
• Learn directly from experienced professionals in a leading botanical institution. 
• Demonstrate initiative, reliability, and responsibility in a professional setting. 
• Apply classroom concepts in real-world scenarios, bridging academic and professional experiences. 
• Contribute meaningfully to the organization and achieve a sense of accomplishment. 

• Acquire valuable experience and achievements to enhance your resume or academic applications. 
• Gain a competitive edge in future job or school applications. 

• Applicant must be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an accredited, college-level horticultural program or internship. Intern must have his or her own transportation. Housing provided.