March is Women’s History Month. As women continue to make remarkable impacts around the world, we spoke to some of the remarkable women right here in the Garden’s horticulture division about their careers, ambitions, and advice.
Get to know the women of them by reading on!
MOBOT’s Horticulture Division
The Missouri Botanical Garden was created by Henry Shaw, a prominent St. Louis businessman who opened his garden to the public in 1859. Mr. Shaw intended his garden to be a center for education, scientific research, and horticultural display.
Today the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark with the mission “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.”
The Horticulture Division supports this mission through:
- Curating, managing and developing the living plant collections
- Propagation and production of plants for the living collections and displays
- Managing data and databases associated to the living collections
- Conducting conservation horticulture
- Conducting horticulture research, including trials and testing for propagation and cultivation protocol development
- Designing and maintaining the Gardens landscape and displays
- Providing horticulture information and outreach including demonstration gardens
- Ensure excellence in horticultural principles and practices
Meet the women in Horticulture
Emily Shelton, Landscape & Plant Collections Manager
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Emily Shelton
What’s your role at the Garden?
I support a team of Horticulturists in developing, designing and maintaining garden areas while building the plant collections to integrate conservation, research, education and display garden needs.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I’ve been fortunate to have worked across the country supporting botanical institutions throughout my career. Being part of a vast horticultural network of dedicated and passionate individuals and maintaining those relationships through the years has been a very special part of my career path.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Lady Bird Johnson has perennially been an inspiring figure. She was tirelessly dedicated to working for land conservation and the environment, helping pass more than 200 laws during the Johnson Administration in the 1960’s, a time when environmentalism was just beginning to gain public awareness. From the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Program to the co-founding of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, she believed in the power of healthy landscapes to transform lives.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Follow your dreams, do what you love and take the road less traveled. It really can make all the difference.
Mariel Tribby, Senior Horticulturist
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Mariel Tribby
What’s your role at the Garden?
I curate and cultivate dryland plant collections. I’m choosing and caring for plants outside in the rock gardens, renovating gardens to create better growing conditions and working to create plant displays to inspire and educate our visitors.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
One highlight is completely renovating the Heckman Rock Garden. I’ve also been able to travel in the U.S. and internationally to meet beautiful plants and knowledgeable people.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I met my mentor Joyce during my horticulture studies. She is dedicated to public horticulture, but has also adapted and changed roles within the field.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
As much as you can, try to explore your interests and travel to experience new perspectives.
Claire Krofft, Senior Horticulturist
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Claire Krofft
What’s your role at the Garden?
I am the horticulturist responsible for the Samuel and Heckman bulb gardens, as well as the Sachs Museum Landscape. I also help take care of the outdoor aquatics! I spend most of my time keeping these spaces beautiful and caring for the plants, but also play a role in requesting and occasionally collecting species for the Garden’s living collection.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Traveling to collect wild bulb species in Kyrgyzstan. I’m a huge bulb nerd, so seeing tulips, fritillarias, and alliums in their natural habitat was an incredible experience.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I think it’s a tie between Getrude Jekyll and Robin Wall Kimmerer. I love to read, and these authors remind me that what we do in the Garden is both an objective science and an art, and to never lose my sense of wonder about the natural world.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Embrace every side of yourself. Just like nature, women can be fierce and nurturing, cooperative and persistent, so don’t be afraid to do what you love and create a space for yourself and others.
Daria McKelvey, Home Gardening Information & Outreach Supervisor
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Daria McKelvey, Kristina DeYong, Cassidy Moody
What’s your role at the Garden?
I work in the Center for Home Gardening, assisting gardeners near and far with their questions regarding plant health care, identification, and pest/disease diagnosis. I also manage our Gardening Help website, take photos for the Plant Finder database, and give gardening talks to local organizations.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Having the opportunity to work at the Missouri Botanical Garden and getting to learn and experience so many unique and interesting plants. It’s also been a joy to work alongside wonderful and knowledgeable people, who are just as passionate and nerdy about plants as I am.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Without a doubt, it would have to be my mom. She supports me in all that I do, always has my back and I can to her for anything. I also admire her strength, perseverance, kindness, and the love she has for her family.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
In the words of Tracee Ellis Ross, “It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, I started to own, accept and love what I had.”
Caroline Hannah, Floral Display and Conservatories Horticulturist
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Caroline Hannah
What’s your role at the Garden?
I curate the What’s in Bloom display at the [Jack C. Taylor] Visitor Engagement desk, and help design and build both the Orchid Show and the Holiday Flower and Train Show. I also take care of our Mediterranean collection in the Emerson Conservatory.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Running my own business and meeting many different people. So much of my horticulture knowledge has been passed from generation to generation, from Grandmas and Aunts, to me, from my previous customers!
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Laura Deeter, my former professor at Ohio State, is probably my biggest and most favorite female inspiration. Despite being in a male dominated field, she has ran her own business, gotten her PhD, and is now the Director of the Chadwick Arboretum in Columbus. She has not let anything stop her!
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
If you can dream it, you can do it. Don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of your journey to success and fulfillment.
Beth Parker, Horticulturist
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Beth Parker
What’s your role at the Garden?
I am a Horticulturist that takes care of the Iris and Daylily gardens as well as the Knolls.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my career has been when I got to decide and collect wild seed for Colorado native plants.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Miss Piggy was an inspiration to me as a child because she said and did what she wanted while always dressing the way she wanted even when she wasn’t supposed to. She was loud and fun during a time when women were gaining more space and respect in areas that used to be held for men only. I also admired Princess Diana for her extreme kindness and love she showed to the whole world.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Always set your goals and go for it. If you run into obstacles, re-evaluate and keep going.
Thank so much for sharing your journeys and the inspiring words, ladies!
Stay tuned for more highlights from the women in horticulture during Women’s History Month.
Cover photo courtesy of Claire Cohen
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