Happy Holidays!

The school will be closed from December 24- January 3rd.  See you Monday the 4th for the start of Winter quarter.  Have a very merry Christmas, or whichever holiday you choose to celebrate, and a happy and safe New Year!

Poinsettia: The Holiday Flower

Have you ever wondered why Poinsettias are used only during the holidays? Where did they even come from?

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to Mexico where the Aztecs used it as dye and to control fevers. In this ideal habitat poinsettia will grow to be a 10’ tall flowering shrub! It was brought into the States by the US Ambassador to Mexico John Poinsett in 1828 and is currently the number one selling potted plant in America.
Shockingly, despite 8 decades of popular thought, the poinsettia is NOT poisonous!!
The colorful red, white or pink parts are not actually flowers, they’re bracts-modified leaves! They surround the tiny yellow center which is the actual flower.
The story behind why Poinsettias are used so frequently near Christmas is that when Christ was born, 2 children were walking to Bethlehem to see Him. They had no gifts to bring so gathered up green leafy weeds to have something to offer. They humbly laid them at Jesus’ or Mary’s (there are 2 versions) feet where they sprang into beautiful red flowers- poinsettias.

Jessica Logan, Horticulture Technician - Chattahoochee Technical College

Want to volunteer for PLANET Student Career Days?

Follow this link to sign up to volunteer for the 2010 Student Career Days competition, April 8-11.
http://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/index.html?lmenu=planet&content=planet

Book of the Month

December's book of the month is our own Rex Bishop's "A Field Guide to Woody Landscape Plants of the South, Second Edition."  This book is a fantastic reference and quick ID guide complete with full-page color photos and a full page of information for each plant.  Excellent for homeowner and landscaper alike, this book is available in our bookstore and library.

GGIA Scholarship Deadline is December 18th

This is free money!  It'll be a $250 (minimum) check written TO YOU, not the school!  I've got a stack of applications, come get one!

Winter Quarter Deadlines

Registration: 6pm Tuesday December 15th.
Fee Payment: noon Friday December 18th.
*if you miss this deadline you will be dropped from your classes and you may not be able to get back in if it is full!

Welcome!

We've got a blog now!  It'll stay updated with school deadlines and happenings, job listings, scholarship opportunities and such... maybe even gardening tips for the weekend!