Christine George
Garden Care Coordinator, Marketing Strategist and Garden Mentor
Christine grew up near the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border tending large vegetable, herb, and cut flower gardens alongside berry patches, fruit trees, and the family’s livestock. That early hands-on experience shaped everything since, including her work at Sweetgum since 2017, where she oversees field operations, crew training and development, and client services. She holds a Massachusetts Pesticide Applicator’s License and is completing the UMass Extension Pollinator Steward Certification Program.
Christine is the team’s lead resource on challenging plants like roses, hydrangeas, and dahlias, and on the invasive species that threaten the gardens and habitats we care for. She develops the field training materials that keep Sweetgum’s crew working from sound horticultural practice. Her seasonal container designs are known for strong textural composition and a careful eye for color.
Her favorite advice for a new gardener: “The best way to tend a garden is to take a few minutes every day just walking around and observing.”
When she’s not in the field, you’ll find her hiking, cooking, volunteering, or deep in the natural history of whatever pollinator caught her attention that week.
Peter Buscemi
Irrigation and Shop Manager
Peter began gardening at a young age, planting annuals and picking vegetables in his parents’ and grandparents’ gardens. During summer breaks from college, he worked at a local nursery and landscaping company, and would often bring home his favorite perennials to add to his
family’s yard. While employed as a research and teaching assistant, Peter lived as a caretaker for two years on a Brookline estate where he tended the grounds and interior plantings.
After graduate school, Peter spent over ten years as a geologist for an environmental consulting firm. He worked on the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater at sites throughout the East Coast until becoming a stay-at-home dad of twins. He took their double stroller everywhere, often accompanied by the family border collie who was completely devoted to the twins (and any type of ball or Frisbee).
When Peter began working at Sweetgum Horticulture, he quickly took over many important tasks like repairing drip lines, programming irrigation clocks and installing barriers to protect our clients’ valuable plantings from rabbits. After he let it slip that he was an Eagle Scout, Catherine found “special projects” for him to test his skills, like building a greenhouse to harden off vegetable and herb plants. A big fan of dad jokes and puns, he says that after many years of working with contaminated soils, it's a relief to work with “clean dirt” again.
During his time off, Peter finds something to do outdoors in every season with his family: hiking, looking for rocks at the beach, and building impressive structures in the snow. He’s even been known to let the kids use him as a sled down the hill at Elm Bank! He looks forward to introducing his wife and twins to the national parks and attractions that he loved as a child, as well as traveling to new domestic and international destinations ... and bringing back some cool rocks.
Becca Acome
Certified Pollinator Steward and Garden Lead
Becca's love for gardening began in childhood, tending to her parents’ vegetables and flowers. Over the years, she has nurtured everything from porch herb gardens to a community plot in Boston. More recently, she has embraced native plants in her suburban yard, focusing on creating a thriving, sustainable ecosystem. Her role at Sweetgum marks her first professional gardening experience, and she’s excited to bring her passion for plants and nature to the team.
Outside of gardening, Becca enjoys spending time with her family and pets. She is deeply interested in environmental and social sustainability and is always looking for ways to reduce her ecological footprint. She is thrilled to be joining the Sweetgum gardening team and looks forward to contributing to beautiful, healthy landscapes!
Laura Viale
Office Administrator and Gardener
Laura Viale brings over 20 years of experience in customer service and small business operations. She supports the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the business running smoothly, from client communication to administrative organization. Laura shares a deep appreciation for plants and a love of gardening. Her passion for learning about sustainable gardening practices aligns closely with Sweetgum’s mission, and she is thrilled to contribute to a team that values ecological integrity, beauty, and community. Laura is excited to support the important work happening at Sweetgum Horticulture, so much so that she decided to join our Garden Care crew on the days that she is not in the office.
