Why is it important to include native plants?
Native plants support native wildlife. We’ve seen coyotes eating berries, monarch butterflies feeding on flower nectar, and so many birds singing around the gardens.
What are some of your favorite plants at the stadium?
I’m a big fan of agaves—spiky-leafed plants that thrive in hot, dry climates. Each agave sends up one giant stalk that’s full of starch, like a potato. These plants were a food source for Native peoples in Mexico. At the stadium, we have an agave island with 22 different species.
Around the top deck of the stadium, we’ve planted about 30 species of sage. The leaves of these fragrant, fast-growing shrubs are often used in cooking. Our sage plants are all closely related and produce flowers at around the same time. So the different species might someday crossbreed, creating a unique hybrid. If you combine two plant varieties and grow something new, you get to name it! How cool would that be?
What do you find most rewarding about landscaping and horticulture?
It’s a living experiment, and it’s a constant learning experience. Plants will instill a humbleness in you, as well as an appreciation for beauty. There are so many different job routes in the landscape industry, and it’s fun! If you like plants and being outdoors, it’s definitely something for you.