The International Peace Garden has two new employees in Meredith Swanson and Joe Malaterre.

Swanson is a Sunken Garden Horticulturist and Malaterre facilities manager.

Malaterre takes over for long-time employee Keith Burton who retired in 2019. The horticulture position has been vacant since early 2019.

Growing up in a small Minnesota farming community, Swanson is no stranger to the rural plains. With a master’s in horticulture from North Dakota State University with an emphasis on ornamental plant improvement and experimental design, Swanson is uniquely prepared to take over the trees, shrubs, evergreens and perennials of the Sunken Garden. Swanson will be responsible for not only the general care and maintenance of Sunken Garden, but also working directly with director of horticulture, Johannes Olwage, to execute and expand on short- and long-term plans for horticulture development in the Sunken Garden and ancillary areas like the edible pollinator garden.

Malaterre was born and raised in the Turtle Mountains and took the reins of the facilities position in early March. As facilities manager, Malaterre is in charge of maintaining the vast IPG infrastructure, including more than 150-plus buildings/facilities, mechanicals and other related projects.