Meet Sage McClain | Plant records manager, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Sage McClain has always viewed plants as part of a much bigger ecological story. Growing up on a farm, she developed an early fascination with the natural world. That curiosity eventually led her to horticulture and, eventually, to plant records.

Today, as Plant Records Manager at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Sage helps turn collection data into a resource for both the people caring for the gardens and those exploring them. From supporting gardeners with inventory reports to expanding Cheekwood’s Garden Explorer with photographs, maps, and more, she is always looking for new ways to connect people with the living collections.

In this Community Spotlight, Sage shares how art and ecology shaped her path into horticulture and what working with plants has taught her about the importance of balance.

When did you know you wanted a career in horticulture?

I grew up on a farm in a family that valued both the environment and creativity, so I was always outside drawing things I saw in the natural world around me—flowers, toads, beetles. Looking back, I think I always saw gardening as a form of art. It wasn’t until my second year of university that I realized I could combine those two passions and pursue horticulture as a career. I’m fortunate that I had the opportunity to work in various horticultural fields from a research greenhouse in Maine to conservation horticulture in the wetlands of Texas before discovering plant records. These experiences gave me a broader understanding of the many facets of horticulture and how plant records support every aspect of a botanical garden from research to conservation to education. 

What plant, place, or experience first sparked your interest in plants?

I’ve always been fascinated by host plants and their relationship with caterpillars. I remember how exciting it was to learn that if I found milkweed, pipevine, or sassafras, I could come back later in the season and spot tiny caterpillars feeding on it. That sense of discovery really stuck with me. Even now, when I learn a new plant, one of my first questions is “What ecological role does it play?” And to this day, I still get excited when I see Asclepias.

Which IrisBG report or feature do you find most useful?

The inventory reports by garden location are probably the feature I use the most. They’re helpful for managing the living collections and for supporting the gardeners who work in those spaces. I just enjoy finding new ways to explore and use the data!

What’s a recent project you’re especially proud of?

We’ve been putting in a lot of work on our Garden Explorer page with photographs, mapping, and updating taxon information. This feature is so important for our visitors to be able to access our living collections and explore the gardens in-depth. I’ve even started a “theme” so visitors can search by host plants! 

What lesson has horticulture taught you that applies beyond the garden?

Horticulture has taught me that balance is essential. A healthy garden needs diversity, and a healthy ecosystem can’t have too much of one thing. If you want butterflies, you have to accept a few chewed leaves. If you want songbirds, you have to leave the seedheads and embrace a little messiness. I think that idea of balance applies just as much to life as it does to gardening. 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Stay curious! Horticulture is a lifelong learning experience, and you’ll never know everything but that’s one of the best parts! Every day there’s something new to discover whether it’s a botanical name, plant-insect relationship, or a fresh way of looking at a landscape.