Trident student picked for French garden internship
May 14, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – John W. “Tripp” Odom III, a second-year horticulture science student at Trident Technical College, has been selected for a garden internship in France sponsored by Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and the French Heritage Society.
Odom will intern at Chateau de Brécy near Bayeux in June, Jardin Botanique de Vauville near Cherbourg in July and Château de la Bourdaisière near Tours in August.
“I am going into this with an open mind to absorb as much information as possible and broaden my understanding of garden design,” Odom said. “There will be something to learn from each of the gardens.”
This will not be Odom’s first overseas educational experience. As a high school student, he was a Rotary International exchange student to Brazil.
“Studying in Brazil holds a special place in my heart and has given me a desire to travel and learn about other countries and cultures,” said Odom, who speaks French, Portuguese and Spanish.
“I have always been fascinated and in awe of the wonderful things France has to offer,” he said. “The people. The language. The architecture. The music. The arts and the amazing food. But I especially love their gardens. I love the formal designs that are symmetrical and have perfect balance. I also admire the romance gardens where everything is lush and overflowing.”
Tom Johnson, Magnolia’s executive director, said, “Each year we are excited to see a young person who loves gardens leave for France to experience the joy of gardens and garden design. Tripp’s understanding of gardening embodies what sets Magnolia’s romantic style of garden apart from a formal garden. At Magnolia we attempt to cooperate with nature instead of trying to control nature.”
The internship is open to American college students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year horticulture or landscape architecture program. Magnolia sponsors the internship with the French Heritage Society.
Odom is the second Trident Tech student selected for the internship. Katherine Reeves White was the first in 2011followed by Caroline Broder, University of Georgia, 2012, Dana Reynolds, North Carolina State University, 2013, and Ruth Morgan, Alamance Community College in Graham, N.C., 2014.
