This summer, UMass BSLA student Jack Patterson worked at Land & Garden Preserve, a non-profit organization that manages 1400 acres of historic natural lands on Mount Desert Island, abutting Acadia National Park. Jack specifically worked on McAlpin Farm, a greenhouse and outdoor nursery complex that grows and stores the annuals and perennials for the public gardens, natural lands, and native plants for Acadia.
"Arriving in early June I had the chance to see the evolution of McAlpin, from the germination and propagation stage, to taking stock of inventory and up-potting, to seed-starting for the winter. Working in the garden and actually planting what we grew at the farm truly opened my eyes to the process and intricate level of care that goes into growing for landscapes," says Jack.
While on the island, Jack also had the chance to work part-time at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, an iconic English border-style Zen garden, designed by Beatrix Farrand.
Photos by Jack Patterson
