Steele waters beds in front of the National Cathedral.
Image Credit: Erin Hyman
Although a typical landscape architect designs gardens, parks and residential spaces, Alyssa Steele spent much of her summer pulling weeds. Steele, a second-year Ornamental Horticulture major at the Institute of Applied Agriculture, is simultaneously pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture at UMD.
Steele wishes to have a career in designing public gardens, and the garden of her choice was for internship was the National Cathedral Garden in Northwest D.C. Ken Ingram, Steele’s advisor described her site, “The National Cathedral is as close to heaven as I will ever get. The cathedral dominates the Washington skyline, but few people realize the grounds are equally spectacular, especially the Bishop's Garden."
Throughout the summer, Steele learned many skills that will help her for the rest of her career; most important being plant and pest identification. A common theme Steele has heard is that most landscape architects lack a large plant pallet and the knowledge of what maintenance is required for landscapes they design. Steele believes her experience weeding, watering, and fertilizing gardens over the summer give her a greater appreciation of general maintenance tasks needed for any landscape.
Not only did Steele get to maintain gardens, but she helped completely redo beds in the St. Alban’s Athletic Field area. This was no easy feat to accomplish as the renovation included removing the old plants, leveling the beds, planting new plants and finally mulching the beds.
Steele got more experience than just on the ground. Steele took her skills pulling weeds to a new height as weeds will grow in any garden, even ones on roofs of buildings. The St. Alban’s School proudly features a Sedum green roof, from which Steele pulled many weeds.
Overall, Steele enjoyed her time at the National Cathedral Garden. Steele reflected on the experience, “I am grateful I had the opportunity to work at such a beautiful place where I was able to acquire a wide range of knowledge as to what it takes to maintain a public garden.”
