Ayla Hendrickson – Glasshouse Intern

My name is Ayla Hendrickson, and I’m this summer’s indoor horticulture intern, which means I work in Reiman Gardens’ Hughes Conservatory and greenhouses. More often than not people raise their eyebrows when I tell them that I am going into my fourth year in architecture, seemingly confused with the connection between plants and buildings. Renowned architect Luis Barragan once wrote “I don’t divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one.”

This internship gives me the perfect opportunity to understand this relationship. By keeping plants alive and healthy, through watering, pruning, potting, etc, I can clearly see the art, beauty, and science that is shared between horticulture and architecture. Through this internship, not only have I learned a lot about plants and landscaping, I’ve also learned about the amount of coordination and teamwork it takes for organizations like Reiman Gardens to function.

As an architecture student, I’m lucky to say my path after school is clear, as I want to eventually get my architecture license. With many more years of study ahead of me, I’m proud to say my first internship was at Reiman Gardens! On your next visit, be sure to stop by Hughes Conservatory and admire what is on display.