Rip Tompkin visited campus and demonstrated how to properly fell a tree. This spring and summer, David Hokanson completed his internship in Florida with Walt Disney. Of the experience, David said that it was one of the best and most fun opportunities he’s had. He was able to work with a huge range of plant material, hone his I.D. skills, and design and create a themed garden. To see more visit the blog. If you think you’re done with plant I.D. when you pass the I.D. classes here, think again! A big part of his internship experience was learning and working with new plants. All the interns had to take an I.D. test, and David got 100%. One of the highlights of his time with Disney was the chance to design and create a themed garden. David’s Star Wars theme design was selected as the favorite! Another perk of working for Disney was getting to tour the area on their dime. The group of interns visited Bok Tower Gardens, SeaWorld, Gaylord Palms, Leu Gardens, Clearwater Beach, and Airboat tours. When reflecting on what he learned during his internship, Hokanson said that a landscape should always tell a story. He learned that color is important and that it is vital to bring new ideas and new plants into the world of Disney. He was also taught that it is important to have fun and that the landscaped he created should help others to have fun. Last week the Evergreen I.D. class (HORT 321) with Bro. Toll and Bro. Hansen travelled to the Pacific Northwest to explore the horticulture industry there while enjoying seeing and identifying plant material that just doesn't grow here in Rexburg. Some the stops this year included:
One of our horticulture students has been able to be involved in two unique experiences this semester. Ryan McBride was named a Student Ambassador for the NALP (formerly PLANET) as well as the Irrigation Association. This last week McBride went to Louisville, KY to help set up and run a NALP conference, and in November he’ll be at an irrigation conference and attend various classes. Both conferences will give him the chance to rub shoulders and network with top notch industry professionals. Ryan said that these are neat opportunities that he’s excited about. In order to become an ambassador you need a recommendation [from a professor] and then need to complete the application process. Selected applicants receive the title of Ambassador and get to travel to and attend various industry conferences for free. October 16, 2015 was the annual President’s Club dinner here in Rexburg. This event is say ‘thank you’ to those who offer monetary contributions to the school. The donors get a chance to visit campus and meet with university president. For most any banquet type event on campus, the Flower Center has the opportunity to provide floral arrangements and this was no different. We put together 50 of these elegant bowl designs on Thursday evening for the dinner on Friday. Being able to provide this service gives our students more experience and hands on learning. The Plant Shop is running a "Study Buddy" promo right now. Plants increase productivity, reduce stress, and increase memory retention. Sounds like a great item to have on your desk as you work on school tasks! Visit the Plant Shop in the greenhouse (BEN 275) Monday-Friday 8am-5pm or stop by one of the booths in the MC on Fridays. Check out their Facebook page here! Tara Vent is a Horticulture student here at BYU-Idaho, but she’s also dually enrolled in a horticulture therapy certificate program offered at Colorado State through the AHTA. At the end of this year she’ll have completed the AHTA program and when she graduates from BYU-Idaho she’ll have her B.S. in Horticulture in addition to a certificate in horticultural therapy. Now that's cool!
How does she take classes in Rexburg and at CSU? The program requires you to take quarterly trips to Colorado, or whatever satellite location of your choosing. You have assignments to complete before your trip and then after. Seems doable, right? Tara got started in this therapy program due to one of her professors mentioning it in class. She went home and looked more into it and decided to enroll. Tara has a love of plants in addition to a desire to make people feel better, so it’s been a perfect fit for her. She loves working with patients and getting them to do something that they normally wouldn’t have the motivation to do in a standard physical/occupational therapy session. “There’s a purpose behind each task,” she says, “and you, and more importantly, the patient can see a visual improvement instead of simply completing an exercise.” Eventually she’ll pursue becoming a professionally registered horticulture therapist. The apples are few weeks ahead of schedule in our orchard this year. The only apples left are the ones that are hard to reach at the top of the trees. Use the ladders located at the apple shed to climb up and pick what's left. For $0.50/lb you won't find a better deal. We have a free tasting policy. We encourage you to walk around and taste the varieties you're interested in. Then when you find THE ONE that you love you can load up. There are ladders and buckets and a scale when you're finished picking at the shed on the northeast corner of the orchard. Have fun! Our Come Alive Outside 2015 was a success! Thank you to all who helped-- your time and efforts are much appreciated. |
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