Biography
From the age of 4, I have been captivated by the world of plants. Growing up on the East Coast, I frequently visited public gardens with my grandparents and developed a passion for collecting plants early on. My initial interests revolved around carnivorous plants and orchids, and by middle school, I had amassed a substantial collection of both.
During high school, I started volunteering in the greenhouses at my local botanic garden and took on a leadership role as one of the presidents of my school’s horticulture club. After graduating, I gained practical horticultural experience by working at local nurseries, both in the field and in greenhouses.
I decided to pursue a major in horticulture at the University of Maryland, College Park, specializing in ornamental greenhouses. One of my professors encouraged me to run for president of the horticulture club, and upon being elected, I took responsibility for maintaining the club’s collections, propagating plants for our sales, and organizing meetings and events.
Much of the practical knowledge I gained about greenhouses before university directly translated to overseeing the club’s growing space, where I began receiving numerous compliments regarding the state of the plants under my care.
Early in my degree, one of my professors noted not only my practical greenhouse management experience but also my extensive knowledge of tropical plants. Despite not having completed my degree, he encouraged me to apply for a job at the United States Botanic Garden.
Shortly thereafter, I was hired at the USBG and took on responsibilities for a significant portion of the orchid collection, carnivorous plant collection, and Mediterranean climate collection. My eye for aesthetics and propagation experience enabled me to excel in public garden greenhouse displays. I played an integral role in the 2023 orchid show, redevelopment of the Mediterranean House, and installation of carnivorous plant displays. I completed my degree at UMD while simultaneously working at USBG.
Captivated by the natural beauty and Mediterranean climate of the West Coast, I now reside in San Francisco, where I work at the California Academy of Sciences as the Landscape Coordinator.
