I have a BS in Landscape Horticulture Design and Production. I've worked at three different family owned retail plant nurseries since graduating college, and have been at my current location for three years now.
I started my current position running the flower department of the nursery, buying in plants, making displays, unloading trucks, and keeping all of the annual beds planted (we have 15 different garden areas I was in charge of). I am located in Florida, so the job is year round, though customer flow is still pretty seasonal. I didn't really like being in charge of ordering plants, keeping track of customer needs, and also trying to head projects with people who could be my parents or grandparents. The woman I replaced had moved to production across the street and when she couldn't make money over there, she was brought back over to retail to run her department again, and I changed positions.
Last spring I was moved to our information booth, where I answer the phone, e-mail, and walk in customers. I feel like I use my degree more in this position, but it is a pretty unusual one for a nursery to have. I tell people what is going wrong with their plants, whether it is disease, bugs, nutrients, or lack of water. I also provide information on how best to grow different things and write up informational signs and handouts on our plants. I play 'what's that plant' a lot as well, where people bring in clippings off of their neighbor's hedge, or describe something to me and hope I know what it is (my favorite so far was "It is green and has big leaves").
I plan out and give a majority of the seminars offered for free at our nursery, where 10-60 people gather around to learn about vegetable gardening, foodscaping, pallet gardens, etc. We also offer field-trips to local schools and tours to garden clubs, and I lead those as well. I get a little bored sitting in our information booth all day, so I still keep up with maintaining three of the gardens in the nursery (all three edible gardens). I plan on staying with this job until after I get my family started, since I am the sole breadwinner in my household and it is a very sedentary job, which will allow for pregnancy.
I do get a lot of say in what projects I want to do and what actually happens at the Nursery, since we are such a small operation (I think we are at 25ish employees right now), and it is nice to think that what I say really does have an impact on business decisions and what happens day to day.
I make $14.25 an hour, along with bonuses of up to $100 if we are having a good month. My degree did get me into this position pretty easily, and I really enjoy everyone that I work with. It is a pretty narrow field though, and unless you get a little lucky with open positions like I did, or plan on starting your own business, I'm really not sure the degree is worth it unless you plan on going on for a Master's or PhD.
I am looking in to getting further certifications, like becoming a certified arborist, commercial spray applicator, and joining FNGLA to build my resume up for when I do eventually start looking for something else. Where I am at in Florida I could definitely make more money doing landscaping work on my own, but I am most interested in becoming an extension agent (many positions prefer a Master's degree) or a position at a botanical garden.
If I had it to do over again, I probably would have gotten a minor in Business, and also brushed up a bit more on Spanish.