Teenage interns at Bloedel Reserve have become a summer staple around the gardens. Each year, a class of plant-loving students are given a legacy project to complete, and this year’s group — Austin Harper, Isaiah Miller and Gen Sawyer — had a real puzzle to solve.
They were charged with replanting the area around the former residence and had many factors to consider. The selected plants needed to be seen over the boxwood hedge, but not grow so tall that they would block the windows. The area also receives strong afternoon sun, and the plants needed to able to withstand the intense heat.
“We met several times to discuss and sketch the area,” Sawyer said. “In the end, we decided on a nice mix of warm colors with a wide-variety of textures.”
While other teens spent the summer lifeguarding or scooping ice cream, these three rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside the Reserve’s horticulture staff.
At first, the interns were nervous about making mistakes and working with the heavy machinery, but their moods quickly changed once they realized how friendly and helpful the staff were.
“The first day I helped to mow the lawn was nerve-wracking,” Sawyer said. “The lawn always looks so perfect and they had me mow the very visible center strip!”
Sawyer ended up handling the pressure well and enjoyed learning new skills.
A recent graduate of Bainbridge High, Sawyer is attending University of Washington to study environmental science or education. Miller is about to enter his senior year at Central Kitsap High School. And Harper, a recent graduate of Bainbridge High School, is heading to Whitman College where he will be a member of the cross country team.
“This was my first experience with working a 40-hour week, and sometimes it could be a real challenge,” Harper said.
Once, Harper had to remove the dead needles out of a white pine tree in the Japanese Garden, and he had to do the delicate work by hand.
“I learned that patience is an old technique in Japanese gardening,” he said.
This year’s internship program was made possible thanks to grants from the Juniper Foundation and Bainbridge Community Foundation, both of whom see the value in establishing a strong work ethic in teens.
Executive director Ed Moydell said he believes interns are imperative for the longevity of public gardens.
“Today’s interns are tomorrow’s directors of horticulture,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see them discovering, learning and creating in the gardens.”
Miller proved Moydell’s point. The intern was intrigued when he read about the internship in the reserve’s newsletter and decided to apply.
He found the hands-on internship rewarding and enjoyed the challenge of learning plant nuances.
“I thought it would be a good experience to see what a career in horticulture would be like, and now when I go to college, I’m thinking about studying horticulture,” Miller said.
Harper said his experience at the reserve has inspired him to create a garden in the future, and Sawyer said her internship gave her great life skills.
