Allison Pillar is the grower for indoor floriculture in the Plant Production department. She produces high-quality plants for display in the Greenhouses, Krehbiel Gallery, Garden View Café, and Orchid Show. She also produces plants that are used in Garden programs such as classes, field trips, horticultural therapy, and Camp CBG. Pillar has been with the Garden since 2017, when she started as an intern in Plant Production. She has since worked as a seasonal and assistant grower within the department before being promoted to her current position in 2020. Her interest in nature and plants led her to graduate from Macalester College with a bachelor’s degree in biology, where she also worked on the school’s grounds crew. A lifelong Chicagoan, she sees the immense value in connecting with plants and having access to green space.