Conservation Horticulturist
Melanie began her work at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens during the construction and planting phase in 2000. She got involved with the project through her work-term at the Horticultural College in Kentville and has never looked back. She was thrilled to be hired by Acadia University as the first employee of the Botanical Gardens in 2002. Working for the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens is a dream realized for Melanie as the Centre is the perfect meeting ground for her strongest passions: plants, people and the environment.
Melanie spent close to a decade working in the corporate world of Toronto before finally realizing that she could actually earn a living doing what she loves most – being outside, digging in the dirt and stopping to smell the flowers! Through her many different jobs ranging from futon sales person to working on Bay Street as an assistant stock broker, she has gained a wealth of knowledge that she is happy to utilize daily in her ever challenging and exciting role of Conservation Horticulturist at the Botanical Gardens.
Melanie is active in the local community both through her role at the Gardens and as a volunteer in her spare time. Melanie is the Nova Scotia coordinator for the national environmental monitoring program Plantwatch and is a guerilla gardener around the Town of Wolfville. If she’s not playing in the dirt, you can find Melanie riding her bicycle, hiking in the woods, walking with her dog and family on the beach or standing on her head in yoga class. Melanie holds a diploma in Landscape Horticulture and certificates in Applied Plant Conservation and Organic Soil Management. Melanie enjoys sharing her knowledge of native plants and conservation with local schools, garden clubs and naturalist groups.
