When I received the phone call informing me that I was one of the ten students admitted into the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens, I was initially shocked. It felt surreal to be admitted into a program I had been following since high school, to have an opportunity to live and learn at one of the great gardens of the world for the next two years. Over the summer, that initial shock transformed into excitement and anticipation. I began dreaming of the experiences to be had, brainstorming planting ideas for my personal garden (for those unfamiliar with the program, students are given garden space on property to experiment with various planting ideas – my class will receive our gardens in April of 2025), and making a list of other gardens in the area to visit while at Longwood. Then, before I knew it, it was time to pack up and leave South Carolina, where I lived for most of the summer, for Pennsylvania.

I was given half of a day to unpack upon arrival, which was just enough time for me to lug my belongings out of the car and upstairs, where they were arranged in a pile bearing the likeness of a compost heap before rushing out to purchase groceries and any other necessities I might have forgotten. I also made my first (and much anticipated) trip to IKEA for a few odds and ends and attempted to decorate my charming but somewhat empty house. Did I stay up too late contemplating where to hang my Audubon Bird Clock only to have the hook give out and the glass cover shatter into a million pieces? Maybe. But, in the end, I went to sleep feeling satisfied that, come tomorrow evening, I could finish the job without sacrificing any much-needed rest.

Orientation week, or, should I say, weeks, flew by in the blink of an eye. Orientation was originally one week, but, upon realizing the sheer amount of information a student must learn about Longwood, a large organization with over 700 employees and many divisions, the teaching team restructured it as a two week program. Of course, there was the not-so-exciting but necessary online courses on a wide-variety of topics, ranging from safety to various protocols and procedures. Then there was the fun part, which consisted of a wide range of hands-on trainings and team-building activities.

Below are a few of the activities I have photos of:

Equipment training, which included a boom lift (above) and a scissor lift, was a fun experience. The instructors devised an obstacle course for us to navigate that required the use of every function commonly used on each vehicle. We also learned to drive other commonly-used garden vehicles such as garden carts and a 15 passenger van, which members of our class can drive on field trips.

I also learned how to drive a tractor and scoop mulch and compost, which I was told will come in handy when preparing my garden for planting next spring.

In addition to the various trainings, a few “fun” activities (as if driving all of that equipment was not fun enough!) were scheduled as well, including a trip to Chanticleer, one of my favorite gardens in the area.

Chanticleer was, as always, full of fascinating plant combinations and perfectly designed vistas. Our visit coincided with peak Surprise Lily (Lycoris squamigera) bloom time, which was a dazzling sight to behold. I also learned that Chanticleer offers free admission to Longwood employees and students, and plan to return in the near future.

My classmates and I also attended our first Longwood fountain show together, which was quite the spectacle!

One of my classmates is a Dahlia hobbyist and shared this stunning bloom with me, which now graces my dining room table. Despite sustaining a few injuries after slipping out of its cup during transport, it still looks amazing!

To summarize, orientation was an incredible time of acclimating to a new home, making a plethora of new friends (including my nine incredible classmates!), and preparing for what I fervently hope will be the best couple years yet. Up next: my first full week of work and classes, which I cannot wait to begin! Now to figure out what the heck I should do with that clock…