2019 ASHS Annual Conference

A logic model was developed by Horticultural Science faculty at the University of Minnesota to articulate the new Center for Winter Hardy Landscape Plants. The Center brings together resources from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (MLA), the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Horticultural Science, grant partners, and university donors. The Center will provide undergraduate scholarships of up to $2,500 per year for students who complete internships and 25% graduate fellowships for two years for graduate research occurring at the MLA. This new experiential program will compliment the MLA student internship program that has attracted 70 students over 10 years. An additional 1-credit undergraduate class is now offered in Spring semester for undergraduate students in Plant Science or related majors that are selected for the program. This class addresses horticultural issues at the MLA. Students meet MLA staff and work to solve current issues, create new projects and make recommendations for sustainable horticultural practices. In the summer, undergraduate students then complete an internship at the MLA that combines a 40-hr/week-work experience rotating with Landscape Gardeners along with a weekly discussion class. Student interns work on a horticultural or plant breeding project suggested by faculty or MLA staff and present their findings at the end of the summer in an all-staff meeting. Students also learn first hand about career opportunities at a public garden and are encouraged to network with the Arboretum staff. The Center leveraged current resources from scholarships to attract new students into horticultural science, increase visibility for donor’s gifts, and strengthen our scholarly work in landscape horticulture and plant breeding. Anticipated outcomes are increased student knowledge of landscape plants and arboreta issues, shared knowledge among partners, increased student involvement in landscape horticulture, and stronger connections between the Arboretum and the department.