2011 Garden Interns Alex Heilman, Germaine Persinger and Olivia Oberlie take five in the Fruit Garden.

Our 2011 college interns have much to say about their experiences
at the Garden!

I am left with nothing but positive things from my internship at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Not only did I learn garden maintenance and many plant names, I discovered my interest in watching the plants grow and change throughout the summer. I also learned about implementing design and which elements enrich the visitor’s experience of the garden. I am so grateful to have spent my summer outdoors working alongside a great group of people. No matter what I end up doing career-wise, I will use what I have learned from this internship for the rest of my life.

—Alex Heilman

Doing an internship at the Berkshire Botanical Garden gave me the opportunity to observe the importance of a public garden. Rotating in various areas of the garden each day was especially informative and showed me which aspects of gardening I enjoy the most. The people were great to work with because they were both patient and relaxed, contributing to the calm a garden should have. I’m grateful for the fulfilling experience.

—Germaine Persinger

My internship with Berkshire Botanical Garden was the complete summer package: I spent two months outside in one of the best places in Massachusetts.  My experience as an intern taught me many things. I learned about everything in the world of horticulture and landscape design from how to edge a curve with "tension" to the effects of touching wild parsnips. I learned more than I ever could online or from a book about gardening by being immersed in the subject at a really amazing place. My internship at BBG was a great way to spend a summer.

—Olivia Oberlie