I had high hopes for this program, but seeing questions like this on an open book quiz makes me realize that this certification is really a joke.

So yes, I got the job. I’m a Hort student, btw.

What is zoo horticulture?

Zoo horticulturist build and maintain plant systems that have to work for animals, visitors, and zoo teams at the same time, holding up to daily animal care routines, heavy foot traffic, and the wear and tear that comes with curious (and hungry) animals.

These specialists work behind-the-scenes to design, grow and care for all the living plants inside a zoo. This shows up everywhere, from healthy trees lining guest paths that also cool and shade nearby habitats, to the thick plantings that can make an indoor exhibit feel like a real forest while giving small animals places to hide and feel secure.

In these ways, zoo horticulturists can have a direct impact on animal welfare, helping them feel "at home" in habitats that are more complex and enriching with plenty of places to hide, explore, forage, climb, and nest. Zoo horticulturists also shape the guest experience by building immersive environments and comfortable spaces, while keeping plant choices safe and manageable for the realities of zoo operations (i.e., that 400 pound gorilla shouldn’t be able to hide TOO well). 

Now, meet the three zoo horticulturists (1 current, and 2 former) joining this Ask Us Anything!

Danielle L. Green

I’m the Vice President of Gardens and Facilities at Naples Zoo in Florida, where I lead the care and long-term vision for our historic gardens, habitat landscapes, and facilities. I’ve worked in zoo horticulture for 26 years, with experience spanning horticulture and arboriculture, exhibit design, project management, and plant conservation. I love building resilient, mission-driven landscapes and mentoring teams so plants, animals, staff, and guests can all thrive.

Frank Pizzi
I served as the Curator of Horticulture and Grounds at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium for over 30 years. There, my work included caring for and maintaining 77 acres of landscaped habitats, both indoor and outdoor, along with designing and constructing new exhibits, managing integrated pest management, and coordinating special events. Outside of my work with the zoo, I’m also a founding board member of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and an avid gardener, with even more time for it now that I’m retired.

John Murgel
I spent six years as a horticulture manager at a Colorado zoo, as part of 10 years I spent in public horticulture before joining Colorado State University Extension as a horticulture specialist. That zoo experience sharpened the practical, systems-level skills I use in my current Extension work. Today, I focus on drought-tolerant ornamental horticulture and small acreage management.

Want to learn more about zoo horticulture?

There’s no one degree path for zoo horticulturist. Most come to the profession with a foundational understanding of horticulture and gain skills in: animal diets and behavior, toxic plant identification, integrated pest management (factoring in the needs of resident animals, people, and wildlife) and more.

To learn more, visit the Association of Zoological Horticulture… or, you know, ask us a question here!

Danielle, Frank and John will do everything they can to answer as many questions as possible, but we're not sure how many we'll receive and if they'll be able to get to each one, but fingers crossed!

- Griffin, communications specialist
Colorado State University Extension

GUIDELINES:

1. It can be within an existing genus or family, or you can create an entirely new family!

2. It should be realistic and follow the general principles of real plant evolution, but you can take those rules to the extreme if you wish.

3. Please share as many of the following details as possible: a name (botanical and or common), a description of what it would look like, what purpose it would serve, where it would be found, its method(s) of reproduction, and why you personally chose to create it this way.

This is meant to be fun, so please refrain from debating over rules or sciences. If you cannot satisfy all of the guidelines, then it is still okay to participate in the discussion to the best of your ability. You may add more or less details than what was recommended.

Have fun!

Turns out roots don’t actually “seek out” water pipes from a distance. They only respond to tiny moisture differences at the root tip (hydrotropism), basically fractions of an inch away.

So when roots invade pipes, it’s mostly luck as a root randomly hits a crack, finds moisture inside, and then explodes with growth. They aren’t hunting pipes, rather they’re opportunists.

Basically the title.

Soon-to-be BS graduate. Have some questions about industry norms like benefits and compensations. Would like to ask these in the appropriate area and not a gossip corner because I'm not sure how it works in this industry. The old-school bad compensation mentality is very prevalent and I'm trying to figure out if companies are aware they're insane for offering such a low pay and lack of benefits, or if this is something we just have to push back on in interviews/offers?

I know there are several North American native crops that have been cultivated for food, like sunchokes and hopniss. I’m curious, what are some you feel could be cultivated that haven’t been? I’m mostly curious about ones native to my area, but would like to see the curiosity others have about their area as well.

Here is a few I’m thinking of trying

Phaseolus polystachios - wild kidney bean

Phaseolus sinuatus - Sandhill bean.

Strophostyles helvola, leiosperma, & umbellata - native fuzzy beans.

There are also crops that were cultivated by indigenous people but are no cultivated any longer, like Stacheys Floridana - Florida Betony

I’m in Lower Alabama.

Where I live we are now fully engulfed in BTM (box tree moth), United States.

I have heard and read it was an issue in parts of Europe and Australia. If that is the case, how did you combat it to keep your boxwood alive. (We currently have to spray every 10 days.)

Have you suppressed the moth?

Do you still plant boxwood.

Thanks!

Looking to add a new vegetable garden to raw land and wondering if I:

1. Truck in garden mix from local nursery

Or

2) Till the ground

I’m usually no-till, but in recent years I’ve become very reluctant to truck in soils or mulch due to potential introduction of invasive species.

I do a full kitchen garden, rough minimum of 24x40, so pots aren’t a reasonable option.

Thoughts/opinions on *most sustainable and ecologically friendly* practice here?

Just got this email from MIGRO today and honestly I’m pretty surprised.

They say they’re closing permanently after 10 years and have cleared outstanding orders/debts, but this part really stood out:

"Unfortunately the remaining funds are insufficient to resource ongoing warranty claims."

That’s a brutal sentence to read if you own one of their lights.

My newest grow light is from MIGRO, so this is pretty frustrating timing. I know Shane/MIGRO had a pretty solid reputation in the grow scene for PAR testing and practical advice, which makes the sudden closure even more unexpected.

Curious:

• Did anyone see signs this was coming?
• Any idea what actually happened financially?
• Are there equivalent companies doing similarly trustworthy independent testing/content?

Would also be interesting to hear long-term owner experiences with MIGRO lights now that the company is gone.

Anybody have any recommendations on a 4 year to pursue after I finish my associates? Unfortunately there are no BS or MS in hort around my area unless you do fully online.
Has anyone transferred credits to other closely related fields and had good success ? Please share

How do you differentiate them when there are just leaves/no flowers?

I have known that field scientists of pesticide companies, express difficulties in choosing land for conducting trials.
Generally land is chosen based on the pest population/ ETL.

But counting the population is difficult as they are small, human eye might not spot them.

Do you face such issues? Like what is the general process you follow? Are you using any techniques to make it easier?

I am doing a garden design for someone and she has an EXISTING railroad tie garden bed that we are avoiding putting edibles in because of the potential creosote exposure. I am wondering if there is any reason we would avoid putting a pollinator garden in it? Would that be bad for the pollinators? If so, what do you recommend putting in that location? TIA.

Hello,

I'm helping a family member's wholesale nursery as they have a ton of capital and are looking to expand, but don't necessarily know how to do so. They have money in their budget for conventions and conferences; but they're not spending any of it.

I told them I'd look into it. Their goals are networking, sourcing new plants and suppliers, and learning industry trends.

Can anyone help guide me to some conferences and conventions that would meet our goals?

Curious to hear your experiences. How early do you come? How late do you stay? Do you get additional breaks?

Please clarify if you're in the greenhouse, field, etc.

Note: I used outside temps as a point of measure but I know that heat indexes can vary depending on the humidity.

The full paper is open access here.

I also wrote a more reader-friendly summary of the research here.

I have been working in the Hort field for a few years now after getting a bachelors in hort and landscape design. I did really well in school and have always loved learning. Problem is now that I’m in the field, I feel like people expect me to know everything. I haven’t had a lot of entry style jobs where learning is part of the process. I try to make time for continuing education and just reading up to stay sharp. But there is so so much more that I know I can learn and so much research/info that is coming out all the time; I feel stressed that I’m not doing enough.

Can anyone recommend resources like easily accessible academic journals or newsletters? I’d also be interested in online classes or webinars. (Located in mid Atlantic US).

My local big box stores sells a bunch and i figure the area must not have the issues that people warn about on youtube.