See the Oct. 11 Cornell Chronicle article, New garden designed by freshmen symbolizes Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 100 years by Cornell Chronicle intern Grady Brimley for more information.
Thirteen first-year plant science majors designed and on October 7 planted a garden outside of Fernow Hall to help celebrate 100 years of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).
Their theme features “red flowers, including roses, phlox and daylilies, in the center, with arms reaching out to the rest of the plants to symbolize how Cornell reaches out to communities through CCE. In the background will be flowers of soft whites, greens and yellows. The students used a variety of plants materials, including small shrubs, perennials and bulbs.”
Marvin Pritts, Department of Horticulture chair, “explained how the new seminar for freshman plant science majors, Horticulture 1110 — Collaboration, Leadership and Career Skills in the Plant Sciences, helps build unity among the plant science majors, who are spread out in five departments.
“‘Students often work on group projects but perhaps have fewer chances to engage in the challenges of genuine collaboration,’ said Marcia Eames-Sheavly, who co-teaches the seminar with Pritts. ‘In this case, the design arose out of two class sessions. Students learned the value of listening to one another, and we believe that the resulting design really highlights an understanding of not just plants, but also, the power of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s reach into communities.’
“Hands-on learning is an important aspect of the seminar, said Pritts. ‘The kids learn how to place an order, [they learn] about garden design and about plants.'”
The plants were a gift from Mark Sellew ’78, Prides Corner Farm in Lebanon, Conn., who like his son, Ben Sellew ’13, was a plant science major at Cornell.
More information on the Plant Sciences major.
