With spring just around the corner, NC State will be in full bloom. One way students can celebrate the start of the season as well as learn about a new subject is to join Horticulture Club. In essence, horticulture is a combination of the study and aesthetics of plants. Horticulture is both a science and an art that revolves around producing, designing and selling plants like fruits, vegetables or flowers.
Madison Tesh, a fourth-year studying horticultural science and president of the Horticulture Club, described the field in more detail.
“The textbook definition is… the science of plants, but also the art of knowing their different uses and how they can make the landscape prettier, happier,” Tesh said. “A lot of it is knowing can a soil support this plant, where are plants native to and all their different uses.”
The club is a welcoming environment for students to indulge in their love of plants. Tesh continued to describe different aspects of the group.
“Horticulture Club is a place for students who may not be majoring in horticulture, but have an interest in it,” Tesh said. “We have a lot of engineers who are involved. It’s just a club that unites plant lovers and [those who] want to get more interested in it.”
Morgan Miller, a third-year studying horticultural science and vice president of the club, elaborated on the structure of the club.
“Horticulture Club is a gathering of people who really like plants,” Miller said. “We have people from different backgrounds that come and meet up because they like plants.”
A typical meeting for the club will involve a run down of upcoming events, food, and guest speakers or activities.The most recent speaker at the club was a conservation ecologist, according to Miller.
“We have a lot of speakers come in who are from the industry,” Tesh said. “We’ve had speakers to talk about tree care, to talk about plant conservation. We’ve talked about landscaping jobs; so, it’s a huge realm of plants and what you can do what them.”
In addition to club meetings, Horticulture Club is also involved in various campus activities throughout the year.
“I know we have the Earth Day sale coming up, so we’ll be selling succulents and things like that,” Miller said. “They let us come back with the Valentine’s Day this year, and we actually sold out of our roses… We actually partner will Pi Alpha Xi, which is the… honors and grad students in horticulture fraternity… they have a spring sale and a fall sale [of plants].”
Ultimately, the club fosters an environment for students to come together and share a passion for plants with like-minded individuals.
“I think what makes our club unique is that it’s practically a family,” Miller said. “I think the people are really close-knit. It’s not just about plants; it’s bringing people together.”
Tesh continued on the importance of the club and the welcoming environment it provides.
“It’s something that’s open to everyone,” Tesh said. “It’s something that we see everyday… and I think that’s what makes it so unique. It’s a place where everyone’s welcome. It doesn’t matter what major you are in or how old you are. Anyone can be a part of the club.”
Tesh had one final take-home message about the club and learning about plants in general.
“It’s not rocket science to grow plants,” Tesh said. “So many people think ‘I don’t want a plant because I can’t take care of it,’ but…it’s a very simple thing to learn. I think that’s one thing that Horticulture Club wants NC State to know, is that you don’t have to be afraid of plants.”
The next meeting of Horticulture Club will be March 25 at 6:30 p.m. in room 125 in Kilgore Hall.
