By Nicole Schmidt
Nestled away in the plant and animal sciences section of the registration catalog, floral design is a class focused on learning everyday flower-designing skills as well as other flower-related topics.
'We teach useful flower-arranging for throughout your life,'' said Melodi Johnson, a teaching assistant for the class.
Some of the useful arrangements learned in the class include boutonnieres and corsages, hospital designs, seasonal arrangements and artificial-flower arrangements
'You can learn how to incorporate your garden flowers into your home,' Johnson said.
Taught by Norah Hunter, the floral design class also includes knowledge about flower care techniques, color schemes, and how different cultures use flowers.
Lecture takes place twice a week and students attend a hands-on lab once a week. Lectures focus mostly on book knowledge about flowers while the lab gives students an opportunity to try out their designing skills.
The class does not require any prerequisites and has a $90 lab fee to pay for flowers used in the weekly arrangements.
'You''d be surprised how much creativity you have in yourself,' said Roel Ventura, a senior majoring in horticulture, who is enrolled in the class.
Ventura, one of five boys enrolled in the 100-person class, said he enjoys taking floral design.
'Because I''m a horticulture major, it''s part of my field,' Ventura said. 'Flowers are plants, and I study plants so I feel OK about taking the class.'
Ventura said his favorite part of the class was being able to give away the arrangements he makes each week in lab.
'It makes you feel good as a person to give away something you''ve made,' Ventura said.
The three-credit class does not count for general education credit, but Hunter is working with school offices to have it count in the future.