Meet our new interns for the 2023 season! This summer we are happy to have three Horticulture interns, a Floriculture intern, and Programs and Events intern. Say hello and introduce yourself if you see them around in the garden!
Laura Bettenhausen
Wyman Kitchen Garden Intern
Supported by the A. David and Rose Carlson Internship Fund, Jeffrey A. Wyman Memorial Internship Fund, and West Side Garden Club
Laura can be found most often in the kitchen garden where they will concentrate for the summer. They are taking care of the plants and working on setting up a system to donate the food harvested to places recommended by our community partners. Laura will be a junior in the fall, and they are studying Sociology and Environmental Studies. They love to find and eat edible weeds like wood sorrel and gain more plant knowledge.
Joshua Nisleit
Gabelman Rock Garden Intern
Supported by Robert Lenz
Josh can often be found with our Rock Head volunteers working to make our rock garden rock. He is also learning how to make new hypertufa pots for some of the plants in the rock garden. Josh will be a senior in the fall, and is studying Horticulture. He is happy to apply skills from his classes in a professional setting.
Connie Zhao
Horticulture Intern
Supported by the Burkhardt Internship Fund
Connie specializes her work in the garden in our event spaces like the English, Victorian, and New American garden. Besides watering, weeding, and planting, Connie is also working on a video project for the summer that highlights the work that happens in Allen Centennial Garden and what makes it a special place. She will be a sophomore in the fall and is studying Biology and enjoying learning more about plants in an up-close setting.
Katarina Sehgal
Floriculture and Programs Intern
Supported by the Gail Beck Internship Fund and the Badger Dahlia Society
Katarina works to grow and maintain flowering plants for use in upcoming workshops such as flower pounding, bouquet making, and natural dying. Katarina is also putting together a wooden palette with directions for natural dying and example color swatches for use for future events and by classes. She will graduate at the end of the summer and is majoring in Conservation Biology and Spanish. Katarina has past experience with flower pounding and environmental education and looks forward to learning more about caring for plants and natural dyeing techniques.
Pearl Pincus
Programs and Events Intern
Supported by Demeter and Friends of Allen Centennial Garden
Pearl is working on a variety of projects and events through the summer to educate and inspire people through the garden. A few projects she is working on this summer include creating new signs through the garden, science communication at the farmers market with labs from campus, Grandparents University, social media, and creating a self-guided activity booklet tour. Pearl will also be giving garden tours and helping with our new Garden Ambassadors program. She will be a sophomore in college and is having fun learning and practicing many aspects of environmental communication this summer.