Erin Presley

Erin is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a free public garden on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.  Growing up on her parents’ hobby farm in rural central Wisconsin gave her a real taste for growing plants and pulling weeds from a young age. After earning her horticulture degree, eight years of working for a family-owned landscaping firm showed her exactly what techniques and plants work—or don’t work—in the vagaries of the Midwestern climate.  For the last five years, she has cared for the Herb, Wildflower, and Pond Gardens at Olbrich where she can be spotted doing everything from wading in the pond to handing out heirloom tomato slices to passing visitors.