Interns receive expert advice and guidance from staff in pursuit of excellence in horticulture, environmental education, gardens management, and the study of epiphytes and forest canopies. Horticultural interns assist grounds and greenhouse crew in keeping plants healthy and aesthetically pleasing through regular maintenance. Training includes learning modern techniques of planting, pruning, and propagation techniques, fertilization, landscape design, and plant inventory. Interns learn to identify epiphytic plants and common cultural problems such as nutrient deficiencies. Much time is spent outdoors, and activities include routine maintenance such as mulching, weeding, potting, mounting, and grooming plants for display.
Interns enjoy the chance to work directly with rare and unusual plants.
Interns in the Education Department assist in promoting public understanding of botany and ecological concepts through programs that include workshops for local teachers, community classes, garden tours for school groups, distance education using closed-circuit television, educational exhibitions and summer camps. Interns gain experience in teaching, developing curriculum, writing educational materials, conducting educational tours, organizing presentations, and dealing with children. Please see application procedure and list of RC staff. Staff expertise and equipment at MSBG allow research interns to work in systematics, canopy ecology, and collections management. In systematics the interns may conduct research on the taxonomy of orchids, bromeliads, and native Florida species.