KAYLYN FLEDDERMANN

Horticulturalist

As Horticulturist at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, Kaylyn oversees several important garden spaces: Angels Rest, the Garden of Angels, the Judy Watters Iris Collection, and the future Gatehouse gardens.

She stepped into this role after working with a residential landscape company that emphasized native plants and sustainable gardening. Currently, she is completing an Associate’s Degree in Horticulture at St. Louis Community College. Her diverse background—from natural and native landscapes to formal ornamental gardens—equips her well for the variety of settings at Bellefontaine.

What drives her is the purposeful combination of nature and service: caring for the landscape means helping local wildlife thrive while creating peaceful spaces where people can pause, reflect, and find solace.

Being a native of St. Louis, she feels a deep connection with Bellefontaine’s historic significance and evolving living collection. Her horticultural work aligns directly with the cemetery’s mission to preserve history, culture, and nature for future generations. One project that has resonated with her is creating and maintaining the children’s gardens—spaces where families can grieve, remember, and find quiet amid the environment.

Outside of work, she enjoys hand-drawn landscape designs for friends and family and is passionate about native-plant conservation, believing that even small wild pockets have big ecological value. One of her favorite features on the grounds is the “Lady in the Glass Box” monument—a unique landmark she stops to appreciate.

Looking ahead, she aims in the short term to bring more blooms and greenery to the children’s gardens. Long term, she hopes to fully identify and label every species in the Judy Watters Iris Collection and create a dedicated iris bed for public enjoyment. She envisions the future of Bellefontaine as a thriving ecosystem that honors both heritage and nature—integrated with public education and experience.

For her, the most rewarding part of working in a cemetery and arboretum setting is the opportunity to learn something new every single day.