Student Garden, field trips, plant walks, second-year internship, and the American Gardening Lecture Series allow students to further experience the diversity of the horticultural field.
The Student Garden
The student garden allows first-year students to practice what they have learned in the classroom and work on rotations. It is an opportunity for students to use their newly acquired skills in a creative manner. Students work cooperatively as a team to design, install, maintain, and dismantle a show garden that measures six feet by 80 feet. The garden is accessible and is frequented by the public. Students are responsible for day-to-day maintenance of the site and grades are based on success of display and ability to work as a team.
Field Trips
During the first year, students participate in monthly field trips to public gardens, private gardens, nursery and ecological areas. Field trips encourage students to explore horticultural opportunities, meet practitioners in the field, and learn how horticultural sites function. Trips take place during the week. Food expenses on trips area not covered in tuition.
Plant Walks and the Plant ID Final
Plant walks are designed to help students learn to identify plants based on morphological similarities and differences in preparation for the Plant final. Twenty-five plant walks and 20 cumulative quizzes are scheduled during the spring-summer-fall quarters of the first year to review plants listed in the Required Plant List manual (more than 1,000 plants). The 20 quizzes make up 30% of the Plant Final. Plant families, genus, and specific epithet are stressed. The Plant Final is an all-day exam to determine if students can identify plants on the Required Plant List. Scheduled on the last Friday in October, students are asked to identify plants from specimens and/or samples. Students must attain 70% or higher on the Plant Final to pass the exam.
Second-Year Internship
The internship is designed to allow students to expand their horticultural skills and to work on their professional development skills. Second-year students commence their six-month internships in April and end them in October (total of 1,040 hours). Students are responsible for identifying a areas and businesses/institutions that they would like to explore. They must secure approval from the Director prior to starting an internship. The Director regularly checks on the student through on-site evaluations. Upon completion of the internship, students, students submit a 10-minute presentation on their internship experience. Grades are given for the on-site evaluation, paper, and presentation.
American Gardening Lecture Series
Held on the third Thursday in January, February, and March, the American Gardening Lecture Series showcases experts in the field. Topics include diverse disciplines from “Plant Explorations in Asia” to “Growing Native Plants for Shore Restoration.” These lectures further expand students’ knowledge of their chosen field.
