Employee Appreciation: Jessica Horenstein

By Alexa Sinatra

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiative, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our employees. There is a wide array of departments at Phipps, each playing an integral role in creating a wonderful experience for our guests. In this series of profiles, we meet some of our employees and get a glimpse into what they do to make Phipps possible.

Outdoor Display Manager Jessica Horenstein has been with Phipps for just about 8 years! Phipps reputation as the epicenter of horticulture and sustainability drew Jess to making it her place of work. She also loved the fact that it was such a historical institution that provides guests with respite from the daily grind of their lives.

A typical day for Jess starts by meeting with her team to see what needs to be done and where. Based on weather conditions and staffing, she will decide which activities are best to do before guests arrive. Things like watering a garden bed or weed whacking in a public area are better to get out of the way early in the morning. After those tasks are completed, the group meets again to choose their given tasks for the remainder of the day from things like watering, mowing, weed whacking, mulching, staking and deadheading.

When asked her favorite part about her job, she says, “getting to work with incredible co-workers, spending time with them and getting to be creative together. I also love tending to the dahlia garden and the bog garden.” Outside of work, Jess has a strong yoga and meditation practice to help her relax outside of her work schedule that can sometimes be chaotic. She also enjoys hiking, camping and mountain biking.

Jess says, “My favorite times here are usually just getting to laugh and have fun after we’ve worked really hard on a project.” Specifically, she recalls feeling so proud of the Monet garden Welcome Center display during the 2022 summer flower show, “Monet in Bloom”. She continuously felt excited and inspired to work on that display during the entire duration of the summer show. We look forward to watching Jess continue to mantain our beautiful outdoor spaces!