Our second horticulturist in this series, Erin McCormick. Assistant Horticulturist at Mt. Cuba Center.
WinH: How did you get into horticulture?
EM: I remember taking a career assessment test in high school that told me I should be a landscaper or a psychologist. My Dad was a golf course superintendent, and he needed help taking care of the flowerbeds up around the clubhouse, so I thought I would give it a try. I have been working in horticulture in one facet or another ever since. Sometimes those career tests work.
WinH: What inspires you in horticulture?
EM: I am inspired by the beauty and the challenges. When you are working with the natural world there are aspects that are ever changing. Being able to recognize patterns and come up with solutions to the challenges that they bring is what gets me out of bed in the morning. I really enjoy being able to see natural systems play out in real time on a day to day basis.
How it all began, the OG = Original Gardener
WinH: Any advice for Women in Horticulture?
EM: When I started out I was in a very male dominated industry where I was told that I couldn’t do the same work as a man. There are still sections of this industry that are very male dominated even though I feel like more and more women are entering the field every day. My advice would be, don’t be intimidated. Have confidence in your abilities. If someone tells you that you can’t do something, show them that you can, and continue to keep showing them. Persevere.
Thank you, Erin for sharing your story and your photos!
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