Internship with an Impact
Texas A&M Landscape Architecture student returns for a second summer with Hogue Landscape Services—and sees his design come to life.
Each summer, Hogue Landscape Services welcomes interns from Texas A&M to gain hands-on experience in the landscape industry. When Daniel returned for his second summer, it wasn’t just about building skills—it was about continuing his professional journey. Working closely with operations manager Jodi and a longtime client, he helped transform a shared vision into a beautifully designed, livable outdoor space. The end result was a stunning landscape that captured the client’s dreams and showcased the craftsmanship and care that defines Hogue’s work.
Every summer, Hogue welcomes a group of interns from Texas A&M’s Landscape Architecture program, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the field they’re pursuing. It's a chance to step outside the classroom and into the day-to-day life of a working landscape firm. So it was especially exciting to welcome back Daniel, a fourth-year student in the Landscape Architecture program, for his second summer internship with Hogue Landscape Services.
Daniel quickly became a valued part of the team during Summer 2024, from day one, the Hogue team accepted him like a friend. He described his first experience with Hogue by saying he “was welcomed by everyone, as they offered support, encouragement, and the opportunity to dive deep into the landscape industry,” recalling the experience be both educational and genuinely enjoyable.
During his first week, VP of operations, Jodi Joseph invited Daniel to visit the Smith property, who she had been collaborating with a client on. At the time, the home’s foundation had just been set, but the vision for the landscape was already in full swing. Jodi and Mrs. Smith had spent over a year trading Pinterest boards, travel photos, and design ideas from around the world.
Seeing potential in Daniel, Jodi asked if he’d be willing to take on a key role in helping bring the vision to life. Daniel was eager to take on the challenge.
Together, they began assembling the design; working with contractors, reviewing the survey plat, and refining the overall concept. Daniel accompanied Jodi and Mrs. Smith on nursery visits to hand-select trees and anchor plants, all while helping shape a front yard that was both simple and striking, full of unique elements and thoughtful details.
Jodi recalls that one of the most difficult—and fun—parts of the process was perfecting the layout and scale of the concrete pavers. Daniel’s original design included around 30 pavers, but the tight spacing made it look like a giant set of piano keys. It gave everyone a good laugh, and Jodi would jokingly call out, “Bigger and wider!” as Daniel ran back to revise the drawings. Jodi saw the moment as an opportunity to push Daniel to think differently and strive for precision.
“One of my very favorite parts of this job is being able to start with nothing but dirt and see a project through to the end, be able to stand back and look at it with pride and say, “ WOW…we did that!”
“He worked hard on each and every detail of the custom steps and very unique plant palette. I just could not wait to take him to see how it all came together. We went on the very first day he was back with us for his second summer internship. It will be a hard one to beat, but he is already off and running so it won’t be long!!” -Jodi Joseph
Eventually, summer came to an end. The project had barely broken ground, and Daniel returned to school. Jodi continued developing the plan he started, and slowly, the Smith home began to take shape.
Months later, at Texas A&M’s Landscape Architecture Career Fair, our team reconnected with Daniel. His excitement to return made the decision easy—we brought him back for another summer. And Jodi had the perfect welcome-back surprise waiting.
On Daniel’s first day back in the office, Jodi took him to the completed Smith home to see the design come to life. For Daniel, seeing something he had once imagined on paper now built for someone else’s enjoyment was a powerful and inspiring moment. “I had spent all this time manifesting what was going to be made, I couldn't believe it was physically there when I saw it”, Daniel recalls from seeing the project for the first time. It was the perfect example of the passion, creativity, and commitment Hogue values in every member of our team.
Jodi felt proud to mentor him through the process and walk him through a completed project. While a few elements had changed along the way, the core of Daniel’s work remained intact—and for the first time, he was able to experience a project from start to finish. It reignited his passion for the field and his dream of becoming a licensed landscape architect.
The Smith project became a cornerstone of Daniel’s internship—a hands-on opportunity to showcase his creativity, grow his technical knowledge, and contribute to a meaningful, lasting project. It stands as a proud milestone in his early career, and we’re thrilled to have him back on the team.
At Hogue, we aim to give interns a full view of what it means to work in the landscape industry—from the first client call to the final walkthrough. Not every project can be completed in a single summer, which is why having a student return for a second year is such a meaningful full-circle moment for us all.
To be able to work with Daniel on this project and pass along that feeling is awesome!