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Horticulture Interviews

Horticulture Info Sheet

Horticulture Students

"I was pleased that the horticulture program allowed me to take just the courses relative to my certification program, Natural Areas Management, and to obtain a certificate quickly. As my final project for my Natural Areas Management class, I wrote an EPA grant proposal which was approved for a $25,000 grant for the Wildwood Park District to improve the water quality of Valley Lake." -Joan Healy

"The horticulture faculty have advanced degrees, they're enthusiastic and they have practical experience." -Deborah Moody

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Rory Klick
Horticulture Chair

Why is horticulture one of the most interesting career fields to enter today?

Right now I think horticulture is re-emerging because we have major environmental issues that are going to be addressed through plant science. Hot issues include water quality treatment and removing toxic wastes from soils using plants (phytoremediation), alternative energy from biodiesels or even hydrogen produced by algae (for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles), eco-friendly building practices like green roofs and living walls, and—of course—a complete shift in the way we produce our global food as the world's population increases over 37% in the next 40 years.

Read more of Rory's Interview.

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Mea Andersen
Horticulture Department Staff Member

How did you first get interested in horticulture?

My parents always had a large garden growing up and all of us had to help out weeding and picking vegetables. I loved my Mom's flowers the best. I just always loved plants.

What has kept you interested in horticulture?

I love working with plants and the way they react to the way I take care of them. They talk to me. They make a difference.

Read more of Mea's Interview.

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Deatra Sams
Horticulturalist

From a facilities perspective, why is CLC a great place to pursue an education in horticulture?

CLC has a well-equipped horticulture facility building located on the Grayslake campus which includes 4 teaching classrooms, a floral cooler and a two range greenhouse attached. The surrounding landscape contains an arboretum and a large collection of shrubs, perennials and annuals for study/identification purposes. A wide variety of horticultural interests can be pursued at CLC.

And finally, with reverence for Barbara Walters who first broached this difficult but critical question for people in the green community, if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be, and why?

I would be a Fagus sylvatica 'Roseo-marginata' commonly known as the Tri-color European Beech Tree. It is a large tree (60'x 45') with smooth gray bark, low horizontal branching and beautiful pink/green/white leaves. It has been reported to exhibit more color when given less pampering. I can relate to this tree because when life presents a bit of struggle it often makes us more colorful.

Read more of Deatra's Interview.

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Mark Zampardo
Emeritus Horticulture Faculty Member

Why is this a good time for people to consider taking classes or earning degrees in horticulture?

Horticulture has become more specialized. Workers need the technical skills to design and construct a landscape. Workers need certifications to handle pesticides or to climb and prune trees. CLC teaches those skills.

What kind of changes have you seen in the horticulture industry in the past five years?

Lake County has changed from a rural county with and agriculture base to a suburban county with service oriented horticulture. In Lake County the industry has changed from nursery production and golf course construction to landscape maintenance, design and construction.

Read more of Mark's Interview.

 
 
 
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