My Experience as a Tuleyome Horticulture Intern

Ellen Jenkins • July 2, 2026

From left to right, Horticulture Interns Ellen Jenkins, Rithika Warrier, and Diego Barraza Hernandez, with Education Associate Geoff Benn, who coordinates the internship program.


From September to June, I worked as a Horticultural Intern at Tuleyome. Each week at the Woodland Regional Park Preserve, I would meet with my mentor Teri Barry. Over the course of the year, we worked together identifying, documenting, and analyzing the preserve's growth. Through this opportunity, I gained experience in hands-on restoration efforts, familiarity with plant taxonomy and classification, and community outreach.



Stalked Popcornflowers at Woodland Regional Park Preserve. Photo by Ellen Jenkins.


A key project I worked on was documenting an emerging population of Brittlescale, also known as Atriplex depressa. Teri taught me about the conditions the plant thrives in, how to identify areas that may provide suitable habitat, and when we are most likely to see it growing. Over the next few months, we checked on the area regularly, documenting surrounding vegetation and changes to the conditions. Through this project, I learned from Teri and other UC Davis botanists brought in by her to collaborate with us. I gained a deeper understanding of the process of formally recording native plant species, documenting their distribution, and understanding how these efforts contribute to large-scale conservation initiatives.


Miniature lupine at Woodland Regional Park Preserve. Photo by Ellen Jenkins.


One of my other favorite projects was volunteering at Tuleyome’s annual “Spring Thing” event. During the event, community members from across Woodland came together to share the site's history, highlight its importance, and showcase the ongoing stewardship and restoration efforts taking place there and beyond. I had the opportunity to meet many returning volunteers and local community members and learn from their knowledge and experiences.

 

This internship alongside Teri's mentorship guided me to my current position as an intern at the UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity as an assistant curator. These experiences gave me the confidence to apply for my new position and reinforced my enthusiasm for pursuing work in environmental science and management.




Common mouse tail at Woodland Regional Park Preserve. Photo by Ellen Jenkins.


The knowledge and skills I gained throughout the year shaped my professional goals and enriched my academic journey. I look forward to building on these experiences as I continue to volunteer at Tuleyome and advance my career in plant science and natural resource management.



The Tuleyome Horticultural Internship Program pairs local college students with volunteer mentors at Woodland Regional Park Preserve. Our 2025-2026 mentors were Jennifer Hogan and Teri Berry, who worked with interns on projects relating to managing invasive weeds and monitoring populations of native plants. Tuleyome is hiring a new class of Horticulture Interns for Fall 2026! Click for information on the program and how to apply.

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By Geoff Benn • October 7, 2026
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Policy Corner: California Fights Back on Endangered Species Protections

By Shai Demus • October 7, 2026
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