Horticulture program plants roots at Palo Alto
By Rosa Mendoza
Pulse Staff Reporter

The word Horticulture is derived from two Latin words: “hortus,” meaning “garden” and “cultura” meaning “cultivation.” Not only is Horticulture necessary for the Earth and its environment, but it is also a thriving career.

Palo Alto’s Horticulture program offers a certificate after the completion of Introduction to Agriculture, Horticulture and Agronomy.

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Kirk Williams, Chairman of Agribusiness and head of the Horticulture Program, said there are 30 students enrolled in the Horticulture program this semester.

Students are offered three classes of hands on-experience to get their certification. Williams made it clear that he loves the hands-on aspect, and he enjoys helping to make the campus look more appealing through the work he and his students do throughout the campus, like the planting in front of the new Counseling Center, in front of the Student Center patio and in front of the GE Building.
His students concentrate on the ornamental portion of Horticulture, but Williams thinks every aspect is just as important. Williams said that Horticulture is very important to the environment because the plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide.

He and his students can be found around campus either pruning or planting to make the campus look better as a part of their hands-on experience of the program. 		Clipart image

Heather Mosier, a Horticulture major, and Melissa Fohn, an Agri-Business major who decided to change her major to Horticulture after taking the classes, both are pleased with Palo Alto’s program.
Mosier said that the reason she is majoring in Horticulture is because she hates to be stuck inside and loves to work outside. She hopes to be a landscaper and own her own business one day.
Both agree that they love to emphasize their work in the ornamental part of Horticulture, but they said that every aspect is as important.

“The psychological and environmental parts are the most important,” said Mosier. “People have gotten away from the plant life and need to appreciate it more.”

After researching some job titles and salaries on the Internet and also talking with the people at the Career Center at Palo Alto, it is evident that Horticulture is a thriving career option. The following salaries were listed on www.career.yahoo.com/salaries: Landscape Architect ranges from $37,776 to $51,609; Lawn Service Manager ranges from $22,269 to $33,571; and Groundskeeper ranges from $21,144 to $28,738.

For more information on the Horticulture program, contact Kirk Williams at 210-921-5128 or by e-mail at kwilliam@accd.edu

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