What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer Horticulture Internship position at Cross Creek Nursery?
Job Title:
Cross Creek Summer Horticulture Internship
Position Overview
Are you a student who loves plants but is unsure which area of horticulture you want to explore? This internship is designed for you. At Cross Creek, you get to design your own summer by picking three or more learning routes that add up to 10-12 weeks. It is flexible, exploratory, and perfect for anyone who wants real experience in the green industry.
Cross Creek is a 50-year-old family-owned and led company with two retail nurseries, a florist, a landscape design division, and a full-service grounds management team. We grow much of what we sell at two regional farms. We are locally grown in Richmond, Virginia, with award-winning Independent Garden Center recognition and deep experience in horticulture.
You will work with real teams, learn from experts, and get hands-on training in multiple areas of the industry. Pick your adventure from the routes below.
Track A
Grounds Management and Landscape
- Week 1 and 2 Crew Work Rotation in Grounds Management
Learn company culture, safety training, jobsite etiquette, and tool use. Shadow multiple maintenance crews and practice pruning, mulching, weeding, fertilizing, plant identification, and daily truck and tool routines. - Week 3 Landscape Install Crew
Join installation crews and assist with plant placement, sod installation, soil prep, and layout. Learn the basics of hardscapes and site planning. - Week 4 Hardscape Introduction
Work with project managers on patios, retaining walls, steps and more. Learn safe equipment operation, site logistics, material staging, and lighting or irrigation basics.
Track B
Garden Center and Production Farms
- Week 1 and 2 Retail Garden Center
Help customers, restock plant material, create small displays, and learn merchandising, plant care, and sales skills. Identify top-selling plants and observe how ordering is affected by weather and customer demand. - Week 3 Hanover Farm
Learn propagation, potting, spacing, watering, and production cycles for perennials, annuals, and groundcovers. - Week 4 Nottoway Farm
Work with woody plant material. Assist with tagging, spacing, root pruning, loading, and seasonal preparation. Learn to identify more than twenty common shrubs and trees.
Track C
Landscape Design
- Week 1 and 2 Design Process and Software
Shadow designers during appointments. Learn SketchUp, AutoCAD, Dynascape and other design tools. Review client briefs and help develop early concepts. - Week 3 Begin Design Project
Start building a planting design with guidance. Select plants, create palettes, draft digital sketches, and consider cost, maintenance, and aesthetics. - Week 4 Complete Design Project
Finalize renderings, create a design narrative, prepare pricing, and practice presenting your project to a mentor or supervisor.
Track D
Project Manager Shadow and Dealer Choice
- Week 1 Shadow a Project Manager
Spend half the day shadowing and half the day working in the field or nursery. Attend site visits, crew huddles, walk throughs, and learn about staging, sequencing, quality checks, and communication. - Week 2 Dealer Choice
Choose any area you want to revisit or any skill you want more time with. Build the last part of your internship around what interests you most.
Performance Standards
- Maintain a positive, professional, and respectful attitude at all times.
- Be punctual, well-organized, and prepared for each day’s tasks.
- Represent the Cross Creek brand with pride and integrity.
- Bring your company-issued tablet/phone and notepad to all meetings and property visits.
- Communicate proactively regarding scheduling, time off, and project updates.
Required Skills & Experience
- Comfortable working outdoors in summer weather heat sun and occasional rain
- Able to lift 50 pounds
- Must be able to stand walk bend and move comfortably throughout the day
- Reliable transportation to and from job sites nurseries or farms
- Ability to work independently and also with a team
- Must be a current student enrolled in a college or accredited academic program.
Benefits
- Four 10-Hour Workdays Per Week (Enjoy 3-Day Weekends all summer!)
- Choose your own internship path and build a schedule that fits your interests
- Flexible with vacation plans and summer schedules because we know life happens