Working at Betty Ford Alpines Gardens presented a unique opportunity to work with and learn about alpine plants native to Colorado and across the world. Hands-on horticulture experience in the gardens, field trips to alpine areas, and working with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers created a one of a kind internship experience. As someone greatly interested in conservation, learning about and working directly with rare alpine plants in the garden’s collections and in partnership with Denver Botanic Garden’s efforts in the Global Genome Initiative allowed me to gain experience and knowledge in my field of interest. As I move forward into my career and graduate school, I am very appreciative to have been a part of an organization dedicated to understanding and promoting alpine plants and fragile mountain environments.
