B rian Houck is the chief horticulturalist at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. His role is to provide garden services and ecological restoration in an urban environment quite unique for most of us gardening in cities. Brian's sincerity and technical skill is compelling. Please enjoy this short interview we have had the honor of getting with Brian. Brian Houck (on right) with volunteers. Metropolitan Gardening: Zoo horticulture often might go unnoticed -but I've always appreciated care and thought surrounding animal enclosures at zoos. Brian Houck: Thank you for this observation. Zoo horticulture does play a significant role in the support for animal well-being and exhibit support. Our charge is to create, re-create and maintain the intended landscape design goals. Views into exhibits are critical to the zoo experience, with the landscape in particular enhancing the immersive feeling for the guest. By immersive, I mean the blending of elements within exhibits and publ