International Horticulture Class

Every Monday during the spring semester of 2008, nine students and two professors came together to learn about horticulture and culture in China. We discussed current events, ate authentic Chinese food, learned Chinese, and learned about Chinese culture and horticulture. Some of professors from the horticulture department went to China and they came to our class to talk about their experiences. We learned about chrysanthemums, potatoes, turfgrass, soil, and Chinese gardens. For the culture aspect, we read articles and books about Chinese food, education, history, and traditions. Near the end of the semester, each student researched and did a presentation on a cultural topic and a horticultural topic. The cultural topics ranged from bicycles in China to Chinese mythology to Chinese clothing. The horticultural topics ranged from ginger to potatoes to rice.