This time of year, summer gardening enthusiasts are enjoying tending their plants, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. Jack Titchener, Senior Horticulture Intern for the Tulsa Garden Center, is no different. GDGC caught up with the horticulturist to find out more about his passion for plants and the opportunity to intern at the Linnaeus Teaching Garden.
What is the Linnaeus Teaching Garden?The Linnaeus Teaching Garden is a teaching garden located in Woodward Park, east of the Tulsa Garden Center mansion, encompassing two acres with thousands of cultivars of plants.
Why did you choose the Linnaeus Teaching Garden to intern?They offer a unique experience in which not only do you tend to the plants and all their needs, but meet with all the volunteers that help make the garden possible. If that was not incentive enough, I also get three credit hours toward my horticulture degree, and let’s not forget they also pay me as well! I am the fourth intern the garden has had and interestingly they have all been from OSU.
What got you interested in horticulture?I always helped my parents keep their plants alive by watering when I lived there, but I only really became interested in horticulture when my father in law gave me four Roma tomato plants. I must have harvested 75 tomatoes that year and I was hooked. My wife suggested that I should pursue this hobby and make it more serious and that’s when I found OSU offered degrees in horticulture.
What is your favorite plant?That is a hard question. I like many plants, but if I can only choose one it would be the tomato. I grew 13 different types last year, some in the ground, some in pots. This year even though I have been busy at the garden along with being thrilled yet exhausted with the birth of my son I have managed to keep five different types alive this year so far. I like taking care of plants you also have the pleasure of eating.
What makes the Linnaeus Teaching Garden special?The generosity of the public and the volunteers are what make this garden special. Sure there are bigger gardens out there, but this garden runs on no taxpayer money, just the generosity of its donors. Everything in the garden has been donated. The plants, the soil, the pavers, the greenhouse, pots the plants are in, the Koi in the pond, the lighting, even the benches and chairs. Everything is donated. Second, there are around 230 volunteers that make this garden run and are responsible for the immaculate shape the garden is in. It is a pleasure to work in such a giving environment and everyone that walks through those gates will feel the excitement the volunteers have for the garden.
The Linnaeus Teaching Garden is located in Woodward Park, east of the Tulsa Garden Center mansion, encompassing two acres with thousands of cultivars of plants. The Garden is open Tues-Sat, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays 1-4 p.m., Mother's Day until Labor Day. Story time in the garden will be Thursday, June 28th by the Carl Linnaeus statue. It starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 11 a.m. The book will be about butterflies. Tulsa Garden Center2435 S. Peoria Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74114
tulsagardencenter.com
