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The open house this weekend was so impressive! The Benson Building was transformed into a bridal open house including designs from the Competitive Design class (HORT 436), Interpretive Design class (HORT 437), Ag Sales and Merchandising class (AGBUS 232), as well as the Wedding Flowers classes (HORT 338). 
The Tour started off showing the sympathy and arrangement pieces that were arranged by the Competitive Design classes in a workshop the day before. Their pieces were judged by 6 AIFD guest designers. 
It then led to pieces done by the Interpretive design classes and tables displaying bouquets from the Wedding Flowers Workshop A led up to a free corsage bar, allowing guests to make their own corsage or bouttonniere. 
The AIFD guest designers could be seen during the show designing pieces in the Head House. Their bouquets were put on display in a fashion show after the open house. They also taught guests how to make some of their pieces. 
The Ag Sales and Merchandising class decorated in the breezeway and greenhouses with different themes such as 'Simple Elegance' and 'Asian Fusion'. Lady bugs were also being sold so guests could participate in releasing them in the greenhouses or take them home to release in their own gardens. The tropical greenhouse was turned into a beach scene and the desert greenhouse turned into a garden with the theme of 'April Showers Bring May Flowers'. 
After the greenhouses, guests were guided to the actual bridal open houses. This year the theme was 'I Stand All Amazed' with the rooms representing scenes in nature. There were 4 rooms including the themes of the desert, the jungle, the mountains, and the sunset. The tour continued on with bouquets on display from Wedding Flowers Workshop B as well as designs done by Wedding Flowers C. 
Everyone involved in the show did such an amazing job. All who were in attendance appreciated the hard work and was amazed at what our department was able to do. To see pictures of the event, visit the Floral and Bridal Open House 2011 tab.
 
 
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As most of you know, there are always exciting things happening around the Horticulture Department. From plant culture to flower center, propagation to cut flower class, something is always going on. 

This week in the green house, you'll find experiments from Brother Dewey's Plant Culture (HORT 201) class. Students are testing the affects of light on plant growth. Covering the plants with different colors of cellophane allows the students to see what color of light most affects plant growth. 
Brother Toll's Landscaping with Fruit and Vegetable (HORT 470) class had fun learning about different kinds of peppers. They had a day dedicated to learning to cook with them.
In Brother Toll's Nursery Management (HORT 455) class, students learned how to graft tomatoes. 
Horticulture is the best major for people who like hands-on learning and application. Having fun while learning is the best way to go and we definitely know how to make that happen in our department!
 
 
It has been much cooler for much longer this year which means that our growing season is even shorter.  The grounds crew needed help getting all the flowers planted in the Thomas E. Ricks gardens this year so a couple horticulture classes pitched in and helped to plant. The gardens look so great and colorful every year.  It is definitely a hot spot on campus for all types of people: students, faculty and community members.  These photos are of Bro. Nelson's Pest Control class (HORT 412).
 
 
The Interiorscaping class (HORT 325) learns not only interior plant identification, care and design, but also how to commercially decorate Christmas trees.  This explains the festive trees throughout the Benson building. 

Locations of the trees:
Outside the Fishbowl
In the back of room 160
Room 232
Room 269
Outside room 281
 
Landscape Design 12/16/2009
 
Bro. Nelson wanted to recognize three of the best front yard landscape models of the Fall 2009 semester.  These models below were created in conjunction with a plan view front yard design and were created in HORT 230, Introduction to Landscape Design.  The three students showcased are Marcanna Gohr, Nate Jardine, and Ryan Searle.  Congrats guys!

Marcanna Gohr

Nate Jardine

Ryan Searle

 
 
The HORT 334 (Greenhouse Operations) class conducted a research project on aquaponics and then they created their own aquaponics system.  Aquaponics is defined as “the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment” [by Portable Farms http://www.portablefarms.com/howto_start.htm].  Below you can see the plants and the group involved.  All they need to do now is add fish to the habitat beneath the roots in the water.  Looks great guys!
 
 
The Horticulture Department competed against the Ag Department in a friendly competition last Thursday.  It was located in Benson 219. Students had researched and prepared videos and presentations for their Plant Science classes in both the Hort and Ag departments. The best of the best were asked to participate in the competition. 

The topics presented ranged all over the green industries including:
AG - Are Bananas going Extinct? (3rd Place)
AG - Sugar Cane vs. Sugar Beets (2nd Place)
HORT - Sick Building Syndrome (1st Place)
HORT - Floral Scent Loss
AG - How to Improve Floral Scent

It was a fun night to learn more about the plants we have studied. The pizza was provided by Domino’s and the fun was provided by us! Thanks and great job guys!

 
 
 
Christmas Tree Lane is up and running in the MC right next to the Crossroads. Our department received first place this year on our tree!! Great job guys!  The theme each tree is following this year is "Christmas in Who-burg." Those trees will be up until the 14th of this month. You can also see trees the Interiorscaping class has decorated around the Benson and also in the Kimball and Hinckley buildings. Each of them has a winter/Christmas theme to follow. Here are a few pictures of the trees around campus.