I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I have been given in this experience over January - May 2024. 

Here’s a brief summary of what I was able to experience and learn:

Starting at Golden, I was involved in sticking, unboxing, QC reports, 10-day, computer entries, and  jimmy tagging. I was determined to get my sticking times lower to match the board, fascinated by seeing all the cultivars stuck while unboxing, and seeing the conditions that make a good environment for young plants. 

At Brighton I was involved in - 

• Transplanting - moving with a crew that became familiar faces and using an oyster fork. 

• Potting Line - it was neat to see all that went into an order. I had the opportunity to alphabetize the Tag room, reducing the time I spent pulling tags by over half! There was another group of friendly faces around the greenhouse.

• In Seeding - the crew was understanding as I’d gesture about using a tray cover or not on new cultivars coming down the line. 

• In the Warehouse I valued my experience of learning inventory and codes. 

• In Coalition I learned about the organization that goes into loading carts and boxes, verifying trays and then maintaining organization for orders going onto a truck. 

• In Growing, it was enjoyable seeing finished products progress as well as the Geraniums. It was rewarding having Sundays to water and check things over alone, observing and learning spraying, drenches, and different practices to control growth of plants. 

The InColor rotation was very rewarding getting the opportunity to manage and upkeep the store in Gypsum. The first week in Denver helped show the expectation of what our InColor Associates do and then I transferred to Gypsum on rollout day to be the individual managing the space, and I heard nothing but compliments from the Costco Management in Gypsum for the cleanliness and upkeep. The floor cleaner laughed every time as I ran to grab a broom to get the fallen petals and leaves before she’d polish the floor, it might not have been prioritized by staff in previous years. The greeters were friendly, and helping customers with plant questions made the days fly by. 

This experience has been insightful on what it takes to be a goldstar producer and a greenhouse that’s the source of many plants across the country, as well as the different departments and programs that run within. It was always challenging getting comfortable in an area and after 7 weeks starting a new rotation program. It was valuable to experience the overview of the intricacies of a rooting and germination in a greenhouse and what being a plant vendor in a warehouse vestibule looks like.