Horticulture program says thanks for Greenhouse sale success

The CState Landscape Horticulture program and the Horticulture Club extend thanks to everyone in the College community who supported the annual Greenhouse Plant & Flower Sale. The 2021 sale emptied the benches (as seen above) and raised nearly $13,000!

Greenhouse Manager Kelly Wanstrath said the “big trend” at this year’s sale was interior plants. Word spread quickly through social media about the variety, size, and health of Cincinnati State plants, and attracted new customers.

“We had many new faces from throughout the tristate come to visit the Greenhouse this year,” Kelly said. “They were amazed, and they will be coming back!”

Funds raised from the sale will help students participate in the 2022 National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) at North Carolina State University.

• The NCLC gives Horticulture students opportunities to apply their skills in fun, team-building competitive events while interacting with students from all over the country, and meeting with industry leaders.

Kelly said fundraising from the sale also supported a collaboration with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s native plant program.

• Cincinnati State selected plants from the Zoo’s eco-farm to include in the sale. Half of the proceeds for sales of these plants is returned to the Zoo, while the other half supports the Horticulture Club.

The annual sale also benefits the community beyond the Cincinnati State campus.

• The Horticulture program donated about 200 plants to Happen Inc., a community organization in Northside with a program that employs teens in horticulture jobs.
   
• The young people in the Happen Inc. program grow vegetables that are donated to Churches Active In Northside, which provides a food bank for those in need. The Happen Inc. students also plant and maintain streetside floral pots, and sell plants and cut flower bouquets.

Kelly thanked Horticulture students Hanna Fritz and Joani Means for many hours of volunteer effort over the past few months to help to make the sale possible.

“The campus Greenhouse is a hands-on lab that gives Horticulture students experience that expands their education and career options,” Kelly said.

Most plants available at the sale are the results from classes including Horticulture Botany, Interior Plants, Herbaceous Plants, and Greenhouse Management.

Student horticultural work also contributes to the floral landscaping of Clifton Campus.

The next Horticulture fundraiser will be the annual poinsettia sale, which will begin in late November or early December– so watch for more information in about six months!

(Photo provided by Kelly Wanstrath)