This spring MEMBG was invited by the Southern California Horticultural Society to participate, with other area gardens, in an internship program. This is a wonderful opportunity for an individual interested in gaining valuable horticultural experience, and we searched to fill the position with the best candidate. Many applied, especially students from the UCLA Extension Horticulture Program and from among our own MEMBG volunteer gardeners. Applicants had to be interested in pursuing horticulture as a career, and each was required to compose a short essay about how the experience at MEMBG would benefit their professional goals. Candidate selection was difficult. We had many deserving applicants, but MEMBG could only accept one person. Finally, the educational opportunity was awarded to Gregor Mason from our garden volunteer staff.
Greg had been working with plants even prior to receiving his B.S. from UC Davis in Plant Science in 1987. After practicing tissue culture of plants in Davis, he returned to his home country, St. Lucia, to teach high school agricultural science. Later Greg became a technical researcher at the University of Florida in Gainesville while earning a master's degree in agriculture (horticulture). In Florida he also worked as a laboratory technician on eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly. Just before coming to us, Greg taught in the nearby Inglewood Unified School District, close enough to begin one of the highlights of his life-volunteering at the MEMBG. I am sure that Greg, who is married and has a little girl, could name other highlights that might compare, but certainly he loves the garden.
Since accepting the SCHS internship, Greg has been involved in planting out specimens of 35 newly acquired species of palms in all parts of the botanical garden. He has learned the fine art of hand watering special plants in a diverse collection of new materials.
Greg's enthusiasm, high energy, and quick smile have made him a pleasure to work with. I believe that he has learned much more than planting and watering. Greg has seemed to enjoy every minute of his two months as an intern, certainly as much as I have enjoyed being his tutor.
RAND PLEWAK, MEMBG Garden Manager