Helping gardens and interns grow

When Andrew Adams walks through the 15 acres of the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens (UDBG), the Latin binomials unpretentiously roll off his tongue.

As UDBG's nursery and collections manager, a command of the scientific vocabulary is required. Taxonomy, the formal method of classifying plants, is essential in the botanical world. Distinguishing plants by their scientific names rather than their common names is crucial for precise identification, understanding a plant's characteristics and determining its native origins.

It's a practice Adams picked up along the way, beginning in 2016 when he first served as a UDBG intern. The internship ended, but Adams kept going - growing and learning what he calls "another language."

"My favorite species to pronounce is Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana," said Adams of one spring-flowering plant on the college grounds. "It's a rare shrub in the witch hazel family that is native to the Himalayas."

There, the formality ends. As those who meet him can attest, Adams, a UD Class of 2017 alumnus, is anything but haughty; rather, he is an engaging guide to visitors and students alike.

Adams' UDBG internship was a key in steering his academic path from chemical engineering to plant science. He worked part time at UDBG throughout his senior year. In 2018, he stepped onto the grounds as UDBG's first full-time employee and established a career that has branched and blossomed in tandem with the botanicals.

"Andrew's involvement in the ongoing success of UDBG truly cannot be overstated," said Lauren Kope, UDBG director. "His role has always been remarkably multifaceted. Not only has he cared for our plant collections and nursery, but he has also served as a curator and educator, while remaining a steady advocate for the UD Botanic Gardens and those who learn here."

UDBG is a living museum that includes 11 specialty gardens. Adams is currently undergoing a thorough inventory of some 3,000 species and cultivars. Knowing each plant's history, health and overall purpose in the spaces is as much a passion project as it is a job description. Later this year, when UDBG adds another acre through the much-anticipated Townsend East Lawn and Garden, Adams will curate the new plantings.

In November, Adams' former title as horticulture manager was reworked to reflect his botanical expertise and responsibilities.

"This new role allows him to focus more intentionally on plant curation, propagation and relationships with nursery professionals," Kope said. "Student education and mentorship will remain an important part of his work."

Outdoor classroom

Having walked the intern walk, Adams is a natural at inspiring students. Typically, he hires five from a pool of more than 30 applicants.

Unlike industry internships that require a horticulture background, Adams doesn't mind starting from scratch and looks for curiosity and a positive attitude in the applicants - a quality he calls "gumption."

"I can teach the rest," he said.