Garden Guide – Seasonal Training Wildflowers

Garden Guides are volunteers that are interested in plants, gardening, and sharing their passion for both to the public. Individuals may come with some plant knowledge or gardening experience, but guides also use skills such as customer service and teaching. Those interested in volunteering as a Garden Guide will receive seasonal training on what is in bloom, the layout of the MetroParks to be toured, and where visitors can see various plants in bloom.

This session starts the season with our early bloomers, our native spring wildflowers, and the ephemeral nature of them makes this training time-sensitive. It is important to learn what plants will be blooming and when, some of their growing requirements, and their impact on nature. Spring ephemerals are here for a short time, and helping visitors find and appreciate their beauty during the early spring season is the focus of this training.

Tours are not about sharing everything we know but about the discoveries people can see, how they may impact the environment and their gardens at home, as well as,  the MetroParks where visitors can explore and see the possibilities of plants of interest. Garden Guide Training will begin at Cox Arboretum MetroPark and focus on the wildflower garden area.

Volunteers will learn how to best support the staff lead during guided programs, how we welcome and greet visitors to the various gardens or natural areas and share information regarding good horticulture practices and garden design. Many of the guided spring tours take place at Cox Arboretum, and this session will address specifics to the Arboretum and how to lead tours of the wildflower area.

Additional resources specific to being a garden guide, the when and where of blooming spring ephemerals, planting diagrams of the garden, and plant growing details will be available to new and returning Garden Guides. An example of a walking tour is part of the learning experience, so come prepared to walk, take notes, and ask questions so you will be able to join the staff in sharing the excitement of what is blooming in the gardens for this short window in the season.

We feel training and learning is an ongoing process, and that new volunteers are welcome to join our team without a lot of content knowledge.  This training, and additional sessions,  will be available to enhance a volunteer's skills and knowledge throughout the year. 

Additional Notes

• This is training for a Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity. Learn more about our types of service here.  
• Standing, walking, bending over, reaching will be part of this training.
• Wildflower Handout can be used as a reference guide for plant information.
• Ohio Division of Natural Resources Spring Wildflower guide is another good resource.
• OVID UPDATES: Please review Five Rivers MetroParks latest COVID-19 Updates.  

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.  

The Staff Lead and Content expert, Betty Hoevel, will be doing the training for new and returning garden guides.