Day in the Life of the Opryland Gardeners - John Dunn

FOX 17 News – By: John Dunn

If you have ever visited the Gaylord-Opryland Hotel and Resort, you’ve probably been amaze by the beautiful gardens in the Conservatory.

Those plants don’t take care of themselves. They require a team of about 50 people, all with green thumbs.

We spend a Day in the Life of the Opryland Gardeners.

In the heart of Middle Tennessee you can find a tropical paradise.

Eight and a half acres of gardens spread across the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Hollis Malone is the manager of horticulture here.

"The architects idea was to make it a real comfortable people space," says Malone.

It’s a job he’s held since 1982.

Every day he spends time walking through the gardens.

"We planted these croatans a couple of weeks ago, and you can tell some of the colors are kind of a fall look," says Malone.

The Conservatory is where you’ll find many of the hotel’s 50,000 plants.

"This orchid has been with us a long time, huge, but we like it because of its size," says Malone.

A staff of horticulturists start their day at six in the morning, and spend hours carefully tending these plants.

"It's a joy taking care of it. I love coming to work everyday," says horticulturist Gwen Gwaltney.

Gwen Gwaltney is one of the four green thumbs assigned to the Conservatory. She says her job is very rewarding.


"Just being able to take care of these beautiful plants and watch them grow, and with your nurturing, they just, they're happy, I mean you can just see that their happy and take off," says Gwaltney.

"You know people love the gardens, they like what we do, so we get lots of compliments all the time," says Gwaltney.

The Conservatory is just one of Opryland’s three atriums, all of them under glass.

Hollis Malone will also spend time visiting Cascades, where you’ll find a giant waterfall.

And Delta Island, inspired by the city of New Orleans, the four and a half acre garden is the hotel’s largest.

"This garden has got the best light, of any of the gardens," says Malone.

It’s hard to be critical in a place so beautiful, but it’s Hollis’ job to keep it looking perfect.

"Kathy have you seen this walking light that has fallen over," says Malone.

And the inside of the hotel is only part of the job. Outside, horticulturists are decorating plants and hanging lights for Christmas.

"I mean they're really pretty whenever they're done," says Jessica Witmer.

Jessica Witmer may have the most tedious job. High above the ground she’s wrapping each branch of a Ball Cyprus tree.

Nine months out of every year, the staff is working with Christmas decorations.

"On our three months of our time off, while we're planting, I like that too, but I count down the days till we start doing lights again," says Witmer.

Opryland’s gardeners have a variety of responsibilities.

There is a significant greenhouse operation.

"These will be planted in the main beds coming into the entrance," says Malone.

It’s a lot of work for what amounts to an amazing display.

Opryland’s gardeners love their plants, the rest of us can enjoy the view.

Opryland will turn on all two million Christmas lights when it kicks off its Holiday season November 13th.

This is the 25th year for the Country Christmas celebration.
Day in the Life of the Opryland Gardeners - John Dunn