More than a green thumb

For the past 35 years, Leonard “Len” Malonis has applied his skills, creativity, and humor — infused with sports analogies — to his work as a Master Gardener. In all seasons and weather, he and his team maintain and enhance the beauty of the School of Medicine’s campus with emerald-green lawns, vibrant blooms, and neatly trimmed shrubs.

How would you describe your current responsibilities?

I manage a small team of gardeners and groundskeepers. We are responsible for maintaining the grounds and landscaped areas of the School of Medicine’s campus, including all the green spaces along Cedar Street, Sterling Hall of Medicine (the Rose Garden), Harkness Memorial Hall, the Laboratory for Epidemiology and Public Health, the Yale Physician’s Building, and Amistad Park. We also help at the Yale Athletic fields. We primarily maintain the health and vigor of the lawns, plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, flowers, and pots. We offer input on design or replacement, and we work closely with landscape architects on larger projects for more sustainable landscaping designs. In winter, we keep the sidewalks and paths clear of snow and ice.

Have you always wanted to be in this field?

After high school, I did a few college semesters and considered civil engineering. I discovered I had a creative side, and I started working as a mechanic in a small motorcycle shop. Through the shop, I met a landscaper. I realized while talking with him that I could own my own business. I started landscaping on the side until my clientele grew enough to support a small staff. Landscaping was perfect because it brought me to a place where I could use my creativity. Now, as a Yale Master Gardener, I’m at the top of my game in this field.

Talk about your early career and training. What brought you to Yale?

As my lawn care business grew, I expanded into design, landscape construction, and installing irrigation systems. I also got licensed to apply herbicides and pesticides. Before applying for the groundskeeper position at Yale, I considered becoming a color separator/scanner in the printing preparation field. When I was offered the job, I spoke to other grounds staff at Yale and realized many had been there for 10 and 20 years. There was security and opportunities to grow and learn here.

Thirty-five years later, I’m still happy to come to work every day. I have the best team; we work hard but have fun, and I have great supervisors. Using a sports analogy, coming here “was a good call.”

What advice would you give someone looking to get into this profession?

Individuals interested in the landscaping field must like being outdoors in all types of weather and have a general interest in landscaping, lawncare, or landscape design. This includes understanding how to cultivate and grow things, planning, maintenance, pest management, and having knowledge of the many varieties of plants, ornamental trees, and flowers, and the environmental factors affecting their growth. Future landscapers should take the opportunity to learn about the hundreds of common regional plants, weeds, and invasives and their proper care or prevention and be able to identify, diagnose, and treat various plant and turf problems. Also, they can get licensed in horticulture, irrigation, and responsible use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

What would you say to someone who wants to work at Yale?

Being at Yale gave me an education I would not have gotten operating a private business. Here, I’m able to experiment, find efficiencies, and develop a better quality of landscaping. Our whole team provides input; everyone is heard if they have ideas. The university is a fantastic training ground for someone wanting to take it to the next level. We have so much variety in our green spaces: the Yale Golf Course, college courtyards, tons of gardens, and lots of urban landscaping.

What is your favorite time of the year? Why?

I love all seasons; each has its own special feature — the change of colors in fall; the smells of plants in spring. Whenever I smell honeysuckles, it makes me think of graduation season. In summer, I love the warm temperatures. Winter is a quiet time used to plan for spring. We coordinate a hayride in Amistad Park with the Phyllis Bodel Childcare Center in the fall. We give the kids pumpkins, set up a photo area with a scarecrow, mums, and hay bales, and drive the kids around the park in a tractor. It’s great fun for the kids and us. We love doing it for the community.

Do you have any gardening tips to share?

I live in Killingworth on a wooded five acres. There is a lot of animal activity; whatever the deer don’t eat, the woodchucks finish up while the voles dig up my bulbs. I use natural garlic-based spray repellants and mechanical motion detection sprinklers — especially around my vegetable garden. For varmint-proof plants, try boxwoods and ferns. My favorite perennial is coreopsis. Recently, I started making wooden flowers and using some synthetic flowers in areas where nothing will grow. I’ve themed these gardens “no water needed” for use in any environment.