McKinley High School students recently sold various flower arrangements and plants during the holiday season as part of the school's horticulture program. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley spoke to a couple of the students who were inside the school's hallway trying to entice buyers.
McKinley freshman Pharez Lackerson and senior Daqwan Stewart asked if they could be on the radio as they sat at a table surrounded by beautiful floral arrangements.
"We grow all this. We sell it to the public." remarked Lackerson.
Lackerson explained how students grow all the flowers and plants, who are enrolled in the horticulture program at the school. Before the school's holiday break, Lackerson and Stewart were working to sell the items on displayed. They featured fresh cut flowers of roses, mums and evergreens. Students also created small terrariums.
"We just want to sell some plants for parent." said Stewart. "To make a parent happy," said Lackerson.
"Yeah to make our parents happy or others happy," Stewart noted.
As Steward and Lackerson were working to sell the arrangements they said they both felt inspired and thought of ways to maybe sell flowers in the future to benefit others.
"I wanted to like sell some plants to sick people to raise awareness for cancer and stuff because I don't want nobody to be sick and sad. I want them to be happy and make sure they enjoy their life again," Lackerson remarked.
"Right, right – plants like help us – help us survive and we help it survived, like give it water and take care of it," Stewart responded.
The horticulture program has three areas of study for students; Greenhouse Operations, Landscaping and Floriculture. Students learn about soil and flowers, growing and maintaining.
The school usually accepts between 24 and 48-students each year into the program to prepare for future careers that cloud include florist, landscape planner or even a golf course ground keeper.