Dream job blossoms in Brucemore’s gardens

CEDAR RAPIDS - When asked what his dream job would be, a twenty-something David Morton would have said 'working on a private estate as a gardener.”

Now 53, Morton is living his dream as the head gardener at the Brucemore historical estate in Cedar Rapids, where he cares for nearly 26 acres that include a formal garden, greenhouse, orchard and prairie.

The California native went to school to be an actor, but after graduating from San Diego State and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, he wasn't finding much paid acting work and was growing tired of bartending to make ends meet. So he decided to pursue a career in horticulture.

Morton started as a salesman for his brother's nursery in Orange County, Calif., and his career 'blossomed from there,” he said.

In 1994, after his brother moved to Kansas, Morton accepted a job with Smith & Hawken as a regional buyer for the growing garden and lifestyle brand. He climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming its catalog and web buyer as the online sales trend began to take off.

Then, Morton took a risk. He left his cushy corporate gig for garden.com - a startup. People were making a lot of money from successful internet start-ups then and he was 'wooed,” he said. Then, the dot-com bubble burst. Morton was laid off.

'It just kind of fell apart,” he said. 'That's when I decided I liked being outdoors more than a corporate job.”

When he moved to Iowa in 2003, Morton returned to work in nurseries - first at Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, then at Suburban Landscape in North Liberty. In 2004, he landed his first acting gig in Iowa at Riverside Theatre, which was the first time in years he'd been paid for acting, he said.

In 2005, an assistant gardener position opened at Brucemore.

'The pay was dismal, but something said go for it, so I did,” Morton said.

By the end of his first year he was promoted to full time and eventually to head gardener, the position he still holds. As head gardener, Morton maintains the gardens, plans programming, leads tours and manages a small grounds crew.

When not in the garden, Morton is likely spending time with his dogs - a corgi and a cattle dog - or acting at a local theater, whether that's Theatre Cedar Rapids, Giving Tree Theater, Riverside or Brucemore's outdoor stage.

Looking back on his 11 years with Brucemore and his career going forward, Morton said he feels 'really spoiled.”

'It's the perfect job for me,” he said. 'I could probably make more money but I like being outside, it keeps me grounded. ... The garden has a lot to teach you about life - how fragile and beautiful it can be.

'The earth is a precious thing and caring for it really is a privilege. Being at a historic site just adds to that,” he continued. 'This is a cultural center for Cedar Rapids and is very well respected within the community. Carrying on that legacy is important. ... My mission is to keep people aware and appreciating it all year-round. Not many places are designed like this. I want it to be here forever.”

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Brucemore will not have a spring plant sale or the garden art show this year, due to a shortage of staff and funding. Head gardener David Morton said the estate re-evaluates its programming every season to determine where to allocate funds. This year devotes attention to structures in need of restoration and maintenance.

Summer Garden and Landscape Walk

-- When: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. June 3

-- Where: Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE.

-- Cost: $10 advance admission for Brucemore members and students, $15 for non-members, or $20 day of tickets if available. Space is limited.

-- Details: Tour the historic gardens and grounds with Brucemore's head gardener. Tours begin at the visitor center. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour.

The Classics at Brucemore presents Lysistrata

-- When: 7:30 to 10 p.m. July 13-15 and 20-22

-- Where: Peggy Boyle Whitworth Amphitheater near the Pond, 2160 Linden Drive, SE.

-- Cost: $15 advance member or student tickets, $20 advance non-members, $25 day of.

-- Details: Grab a blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic and escape into the world of classic theater. The Classics at Brucemore presents Aristophanes' classic comedy about the battle of the sexes on the stage and natural amphitheater near the pond on the estate.

l Comments: (319) 398-8364; elizabeth.zabel@thegazette.com