Rotary Botanical Gardens Welcomes New Horticulture Management Team

Rotary Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce two exciting additions to the team: Julie Mellenthin as Horticulture Manager and Andrea Geske as Public Horticulturist. Together, they bring decades of hands-on experience and a shared enthusiasm for connecting people with plants and beautiful outdoor spaces.

Julie Mellenthin, Horticulture Manager

Meet Julie Mellenthin, Horticulture Manager

Julie is a Wisconsin native who grew up on 18 acres of forests and wetlands in Cottage Grove. Her love of horticulture took root during extensive travels in her early twenties, when visits to the gardens of Paris and green spaces across 11 countries inspired a lifelong commitment to the field -- and a personal mission to help strengthen horticulture throughout Wisconsin.

She went on to study Natural Resources and Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has spent the past 23 years building experience across a range of horticultural settings. Her background includes internships at Allen Centennial Gardens, the D.C. Smith Greenhouse, and Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Most recently, Julie served as Horticulture Manager for Agrace, a nonprofit hospice care organization with locations in Fitchburg and Janesville. There, she built a comprehensive horticulture program from the ground up, overseeing 18 acres of gardens and grounds and managing a team that included horticulture assistants, seasonal staff, volunteers, and outside specialists.

Julie is passionate about collaborative work and creating outdoor spaces that are welcoming and enriching for everyone who visits.

Andrea Geske, Assistant Horticulture Manager and Public Horticulturist

Meet Andrea Geske, Public Horticulturist

Andrea brings more than a decade of experience designing gardens and container planters throughout Wisconsin, including work with the largest hosta farm in the United States. As Public Horticulturist, she will work throughout the Gardens and lead Rotary Botanical Gardens' popular "What's in Bloom" Tours, helping visitors explore seasonal highlights and develop a deeper appreciation for the plants around them.

Andrea's interests include plant care, garden design, plant hybridization, and community education -- a combination that makes her a wonderful fit for this visitor-facing role.

A Strong Season Ahead

We are thrilled to have Julie and Andrea growing with us this season. Their experience, creativity, and commitment to horticultural excellence will be a tremendous asset to the Gardens and to the community we serve.