Horticulturist – Full-time

Bloedel Reserve seeks a dedicated full-time horticulturist to join the Horticulture & Design team.

About Us

Spanning 150 acres, Bloedel Reserve features an extraordinary series of gardens, landscapes, trails, second growth native forest, meadows, waterfalls, and ponds–all of which sustain abundant wildlife and provide visitors with a unique experience in nature. Cultivated gardens, horticultural features, and architectural highlights include:

• The Japanese Garden, which blends traditional schools of Japanese landscapes, including a dry sand and stone garden, stroll garden, and pond, with native Pacific Northwest elements. 
• The Rhododendron Glen, where thousands of perennials, bulbs, and wildflowers bloom among native and non-native rhododendrons collected from the Himalayas. 
• The Residence, which features a European style manicured landscape with a view across the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountain range.
• The Moss Garden, one of the largest of its kind in the world, originally planted by hand with over 275,000 plugs of Irish moss.
• Native woodlands, where a dense, second-growth Northwest evergreen forest dominates.
• Three buildings designed by renowned architects: The Residence (J. Lister Holmes), The Japanese Guest House (Paul Hayden Kirk), and the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Education Center (James Cutler)

Position Overview

The Horticulturist plays a pivotal role in maintaining the beauty and vitality of the gardens. Responsibilities include daily hands-on landscape maintenance, participation in landscape renovation and installation projects, and assistance with lawn care and irrigation. Key duties include:

• Mulching, weed management, planting, watering, lawn mowing, and debris removal.
• Application and documentation of fertilizer and pesticide applications under supervision.
• Operation of a wide range of hand tools and landscape power equipment.
• Optional involvement in public programs or volunteer team management.
• Effective cross-departmental coordination and communication.

Requirements

The ideal candidate possesses experience in garden maintenance, with a strong knowledge of native and exotic flora. Proficiency in operating small engine machines and garden hand tools is essential. Certification as a Professional Horticulturist is advantageous. Excellent time management, problem-solving abilities, and basic computer skills are required. The role demands collaborative teamwork and respectful interaction with diverse stakeholders.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

This role primarily involves outdoor work in varied weather conditions, requiring physical agility and endurance. Tasks include stooping, kneeling, balancing, climbing, lifting objects up to 50 lbs., and operating standard landscape maintenance equipment.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, dental, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverages are available.
• 401k participation.
• Three weeks of vacation, one sick day per month, and 13 personal holidays.

Diversity & Inclusion

Bloedel Reserve is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace. We believe that having staff, interns, and volunteers with diverse backgrounds enables the Reserve to better meet our mission and serve our communities. We recognize that opportunities in public horticulture have historically excluded and continue to disproportionately exclude Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ people. We strongly encourage individuals with these identities to apply.