Collington’s new horticulturist, Megan Bryant, is making the natural world a better place not just for our community, but for the entire planet.
A Lifelong Passion for Wildlife and Conservation
A landscaper at another company at the time, Megan learned of an open position for a horticulturist at Collington when she was designing a rain garden and meditation garden for the campus.
“I loved the community, its vision, its residents and staff, and I thought what a perfect fit this could be!,” said Megan, who began her career in documentary filmmaking and wildlife photography after obtaining a degree in media production.
“My mind is half artist, half scientist, so I have always been trying to marry the two parts of myself into one career.”
At Collington, she found her sweet spot when she came aboard in May of this year.
A Horticulturist at Work
Explaining that a horticulturist can mean many things depending on the property and can be either very specific or very broad, Megan has happily fallen into the latter category at Collington.
“I manage many, many things,” she said, “and I am so thankful for our wonderful crews who work throughout the seasons.”
Megan’s duties include:
Partnering with Residents
The above list is far from complete, however, as Megan teams with many dedicated residents in planning and caring for Collington’s gorgeous gardens and generous grounds.
“We operate through various ecologically conscious residential committees at Collington,” she said.
Thanks in part to residents’ creativity, self-initiative and hands in the dirt, Collington is home to two community vegetable gardens, various raised garden beds, a small greenhouse for propagating plants of all kinds, and communal landscape spaces boasting large trees, shrubs and perennials.
The Arbor Gardens provides residents in memory support with relaxing sensory experiences, while the Serenity Garden near Collington’s interfaith chapel offers a peaceful opportunity for contemplation, relaxation and meditation.
What’s more, “Each cottage, first floor apartment and villa has its own garden space that can be transformed with the resident’s unique vision. These gardens are wonderful, full of personality and provide a great space for residents who had large garden spaces in their prior homes,” remarked Megan.
According to Collington Chief Operating Officer Megan Barbour (not to be confused with Megan Bryant), “At Collington, community gardening is more than just a hobby. It’s a way of life that offers residents opportunities for lifelong learning and sharing, the cultivation of friendships and a heart-healthy pastime.”
Plans for the Arboretum
The entire Collington campus is a Level I Accredited Arboretum, for which Megan and residents have many goals.
“We want to focus on expanding our current collections to include new tree species and new varieties of existing species.” Residents themselves have identified trees succumbing to drought, disease or browsing deer, assessing which can and cannot thrive.
The arboretum’s focus is also moving heavily toward education, with plans to expand its reach to local schools, youth groups, churches and even an on-campus resource center.
“We want people to learn more about trees, their botanical and historical features and to display our arboretum that residents have spent an enormous amount of time cultivating,” Megan said.
Achieving Level II accreditation for the arboretum is also a goal, once the Collington horticultural department is expanded, said Megan.
Fall Foliage Walk
In November, Megan will lead a fall foliage walk through the Collington arboretum walking paths and other areas boasting glorious autumn hues.
“My role will be to determine what routes will provide the most striking array of fall colors and to guide the tour, educating residents, staff and potential future residents about the diversity and importance of the trees we have on campus.”
Pivoting Our Planet in the Right Direction
“Jobs in the ‘green’ industry are more important than ever before,” asserts Megan, stressing that it is crucial for anyone working in horticulture, agriculture or environmental sciences to “help mitigate the damage that has been done and push to use sustainable practices as we move toward a terrifying and unknown future.”
But there is hope.
“There are incredible resources and technologies emerging across the globe in terms of sustainability; there is no reason that we can’t pivot in the right direction for our planet.”
Speaking specifically of horticulture, said Megan, “Traditional methods of gardening, designing and installing landscapes are falling out of fashion in favor of environmentally conscious, ecologically driven methods. I think that shift is imperative in an industry with so much power over the public perception of what a garden or landscape is ‘meant to be.’”
What We Can Do
Among several dos and don’ts Megan suggests for anyone cultivating a garden or plant life, the key is to plant native plants as much as possible, avoid invasive species, and avoid using fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides at all costs.
“Form your own relationship with nature; be curious and discover how the natural world speaks to you. And, please, if you have the space and the resources, plant a tree!”