08/01/1988 26640

HISTORICAL HORTICULTURALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional horticultural work in the science and art of preparing plants, trees, and shrubs for gardens, orchards and landscapes for historic sites and museums.

An employee in this class is responsible for performing research to determine the type of plants that grew at a period of time that may be historically significant for a site or museum. Work involves responsibility for recreating gardens and landscape to resemble historical periods through planting and care of flowers, grass, trees and shrubs to aid in the historical interpretation of the site.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Performs research to determine the flora, gardens, landscape, and use of plant material.

Replicates or reconstructs period planting, gardens, and landscapes which are historically accurate.

Reviews catalogues to determine availability of original historic or replicate plant materials and works with other museums or historic sites, arboreta, and gardens to affect plant locations, purchases, and exchanges.

Develops landscape and garden plans and provides interpretation.

Prepares beds, maintains landscape, arbors, gardens, orchards, small fruits, agronomic crops and pastures, shaped ornamentals, ornamental trees and shrubs as appropriate.

Tends and trims or prunes plantings as findings from historic research indicates.

Develops interpretation for all relevant audiences and demonstrates horticultural methods of the period being replicated and where a crop could be used in a craft demonstration or was used to produce a product, explains the use of plant and methods used to make the product.

Propagates plant material from seed, cutting or grafts.

May be required to use period tools, methods, and materials and wear period costumes.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of horticulture practices.

Knowledge and skill of methods of historic plant, garden, arbor and landscape research.

Skill in garden, arbor, orchard and landscape design and maintenance.

Ability to locate or duplicate period plant materials.

Ability to research and design period gardens, arbors and landscape to balance historical accuracy, aesthetics and practical adaptive reuse.

Ability to create period gardens, arbors and landscape.

Ability to develop a plant resource network.

Ability to develop interpretation of gardens, arbors and landscape, and the use of plant materials in the production of period products, the tools used, and the economic and social impact of the product or plant material.

Ability to train interpretive staff.

Ability to provide interpretation to visitors in groups or single units.

Ability to express ideas clearly to coworkers, contractors, and public orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: A Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture with one year experience working in horticulture.

                                                                                                                                                or

A Master's Degree in Horticulture;

                                                                                                                                                or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.