Sarah Cleveland

Current junior pursuing a bachelors in Public Horticulture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Experience in both landscape design and interior landscape design. Head of two projects at the University of Tennessee redesigning the UT Moss Garden and overseeing the remodel of a Japanese Balcony Garden. Knowledgeable about the propagation and laboratory cultivation of mosses. Experience with indoor plant design and maintenance in a professional setting. Eight years of hands-on plant care, managing a personal collection of over 100 interior plants.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, UT Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Dept., Knoxville, TN   09/2022 - 05/2023

• Cultivate and oversee moss specimens in various developmental stages.
• Prepare agar plates, harvest and sterilize capsules and spores from mature moss specimens, and plate onto Petri dishes.
• Work with a wide array of chemicals and laboratory equipment while maintaining a sterile and organized laboratory environment.

Indoor Plant Consultant, UT Gardens, Knoxville, TN   09/2022 - Present

• Curate comfortable and welcoming interior landscapes that complement and elevate the current interior design.
• Conduct weekly maintenance and upkeep for the interior plants by ensuring all plants receive adequate water, humidity, and light conditions based on their species-specific requirements.
• Weekly pest management while maintaining a sterile environment to limit pathogens and pests spreading to other plants.
• Fostered a respectful and communicative relationship with Baker Center staff by listening to concerns and adjusting design elements based on desired aesthetics.

Moss Garden Head of Design, UT Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Dept., Knoxville, TN   08/2023 - Present

• Redesign the UT Moss Garden to emphasize species variety and the diverse growing conditions of mosses while creating a visually appealing display.
• Organize a new irrigation plan and work alongside an irrigation team to create an environment that can fulfill the water and humidity preferences of a variety of species.
• Assess pH levels and amend soil to maintain a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. and adjust topography to represent lower and higher-elevation mosses while still considering visual aesthetics and their individual environmental needs.
• Identified 30+ mosses propagated mosses and liverworts from local woods using compound and dissecting microscopes.
• Research the environmental conditions and growth requirements of each moss collected to formulate a plan on how to create the most suitable habitat.
• Add mossy rocks and logs to emphasize different habitat preferences and increase the visual appeal of the garden.

Japanese Balcony Garden Head of Design, Baker Center & UT Gardens, Knoxville, TN   11/2023 - Present

• Redesign and elevate the Japanese Balcony Garden at the Baker Center to create a serene setting that evokes feelings of tranquillity, wonder, and peace to provide the Baker Center with both a place to host events and a designated area where the staff can relax and enjoy nature.
• Complete extensive research on plant care, environmental requirements, and the cultural significance of plants native to the southeastern US and eastern Asia. Source desired plants from local nurseries.
• Curate a selection of pots, water features, and other decor to replicate Japanese Garden aesthetics while staying within the set budget and weight limit of the balcony. Use forward-thinking when making plant and pot selections to ensure future interns can maintain the garden adequately.

UT Gardens, Knoxville, TN   

09/2023 - 11/2023

• 20 hours
• Maintained a designated area of the gardens known as the Friendship Plaza., Welcomed visitors and promptly answered their questions to create an educational and welcoming environment., Completed common garden maintenance such as weeding, pruning, and leaf blowing while gaining experience with tools like clippers, sheers, and shovels.