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Thursday, March 28, 2024
NEWS  |  CAMPUS

UF CALS displays locally renowned poinsettias at inauguration event

<p>From left to right, UF president’s wife Linda Moskeland Fuchs and 31-year-old UF agriculture and life sciences major Allison Bechtloff talk about the Environmental Horticulture Club while 22-year-old UF plant sciences junior Carly Anderson and UF President Kent Fuchs discuss the variety of poinsettias available at the greenhouse.</p>

From left to right, UF president’s wife Linda Moskeland Fuchs and 31-year-old UF agriculture and life sciences major Allison Bechtloff talk about the Environmental Horticulture Club while 22-year-old UF plant sciences junior Carly Anderson and UF President Kent Fuchs discuss the variety of poinsettias available at the greenhouse.

In one of the last greenhouses behind Fifield Hall on Hull Road there are 6,000 poinsettias.

On Monday, about 30 people came by the greenhouse to view these poinsettias during a showcase hosted by the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the UF Environmental Horticulture Club. The greenhouse tour, which precedes the club’s poinsettia sale Dec. 10 and 11, was also an event during UF President Kent Fuchs’ inauguration week.

While Fuchs and his wife, Linda, attended the event, they did not order any poinsettias. However, Quincy Kolp, the Environmental Horticulture Club president, said Linda told the club she would order some next week.

The showcase serves as an opportunity for people to look at the approximately 150 varieties of poinsettias. Kolp said the club has been growing the plants since July. The sale is the largest student-run poinsettia sale in the country.

"We have put a lot of effort into growing these plants," Kolp said.

The 21-year-old UF plant science junior said the club raised more than $75,000 last year, and the money raised this year will go toward funding the club’s trip to Ireland. The poinsettias cost between $10 and $40, depending on the variety.

"This is an invitation for people to have a behind-the-scenes look at what’s being done to prepare for next week’s plant sale," said James Barrett, a professor emeritus and the faculty adviser for the club.

Kolp said poinsettias not sold next week will be donated to local nursing homes and the Ronald McDonald House.

From left to right, UF president’s wife Linda Moskeland Fuchs and 31-year-old UF agriculture and life sciences major Allison Bechtloff talk about the Environmental Horticulture Club while 22-year-old UF plant sciences junior Carly Anderson and UF President Kent Fuchs discuss the variety of poinsettias available at the greenhouse.

Poinsettia plants sit in rows at the 19th annual poinsettia show and sale event during the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Greenhouse tour on Nov. 30, 2015. The student club has produced over 5,000 plants with 155 different styles and colors to choose from in about a 16,000 sq.ft. space.

George Grant (left), a 22-year-old UF environmental horticulture graduate student, talks about the effort put into growing the plants with UF President Kent Fuchs during the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Greenhouse tour on Nov. 30, 2015.

Marc Wissel, a 19-year-old UF plant science sophomore, shares information regarding the upcoming poinsettia plant sale at the Environmental Horticulture club's greenhouse on Nov. 30, 2015. "We encourage club members to work at the greenhouse through our annual international trip," said Wissel. "Our left over income from the plant sale will help pay for it." The club plans to go to Ireland.

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Linda Moskeland Fuchs, UF president Kent Fuch's wife and art historian, writes down notes on specific plant species she would like to purchase during the club's official upcoming plant sale.

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