This is an exciting time to belong to the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. We are a diverse group of individuals that all do, as one undergraduate called it, "plant stuff." Whether that includes tending to plants in a greenhouse, creating an in-depth design of a coastal community, standing at the front of a room to teach about integrated pest management, pulling soil cores for analysis, or processing orders for lab equipment and supplies, we all do "plant stuff". Though individually, you may not feel that your plant stuff has impact, I want to remind you that the green industry is the economic engine of Connecticut, and all plant products combined represent 72% of the state’s ag economy. What you do is significant and I argue that our department is the number one most important within the entire university.
To show you, we have assembled a collection of stories and highlights in this semester’s issue of our department newsletter. This includes stories from our past that have recently re-emerged, like our 100-year old orange tree, the history and future of the PSLA orchards, and the previously abandoned observatory rejuvenated at the research farm. You will also see that we are growing our department with several new hires, and have had many newsworthy events and awards among our students, faculty, and staff. I think all of you will find something to relate to in this issue. If you have a story to share, please let us know! We would be happy to feature it in a future issue.
Sincerely,
Sydney Everhart
USDA Updates Hardiness Zone Map
In November, the USDA updated the Hardness Zone map for the first time since 2012. Here in Connecticut, this caused a shift in zones across the state.
Fall Ice Cream Social – September 14th, 2023
PSLA Seminar Series
Thank you to all who participated in our fall seminar series!
Keep an eye out for seminar dates and topics for Spring 2024.
Hosts:
Sohyun Park, Haiying Tao, Huanzhong Wang & Julia Smachylo
Speakers:
Dr. Anuja Bharadwaj, Donald Parizek, Quan Zeng, Melissa Naranjo Barrientos, Sonia Sobrino Ralston, Dr. Karolina Heyduk, Dr. Mark Brand, Dr. Baikun Li, Dr. Mayra Rodriguez Gonzalez, Samantha Solano & Dr. Raquel Rocha
UConn Beekeeping Club
Fall Activities:
- This semester the club has gone on weekly hive visits to provide care to 2 hives at Spring Valley Student Farm. They also spent time at the hives learning about pest management, hive care, and how to be a successful beekeeper throughout the seasons.
- Meetings on campus were education-focused on hive structure and native bees, as well as club bonding activities - movie nights and screenprinting club t-shirts!
Spring 2024:
- Hive openings will occur in the spring, dates TBD due to weather dependency but keep an eye on our instagram @uconnbeekeepingclub for updates! We will be opening our current 2 hives and integrating 4 new hives onto the farm!
The club would like to give a shoutout to Jessica Larkin-Wells for her continued support for Beekeeping Club at Spring Valley Student Farm!
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) UConn Student Chapter
ASLA Conference
Dr. Sohyun Park and Jill Desimini attended the 2023 ASLA Conference in Minneapolis in late October where Sohyun was recognized for her National Competitive Research Grant and participated on the jury panel for Professional Awards in the Research Category. Jill met with other program administrators and they both attended the LABash Block Party where they met program alumni and CTASLA friends Moises Andrani, Bill Kenny, Cynthia Reynolds, Ellen Fallon-Senechal, Rachel Meier and Tom Tavella. The group chatted and ate cake with Scott Bishop, Naomi Sachs, Melody Stein, Davi Parente Schoen and many other landscape architecture colleagues, friends, and students, including some fellow huskies from the University of Washington.
Turf Club
EcoGarden Club
Cannabis Club
PSLA Department Hosts FFA Nursery Landscape & Floriculture Career Development Events
On November 17th, over 300 Students from all over the state were on the UConn Campus participating in Career Development Events for the Connecticut FFA. Of those students, 96 high school students came together to compete in various events in Nursery Landscape & Floriculture. Dr. Nick Goltz coordinated the needs of the CT FFA for these two sections. Students competed in general knowledge events, practical exercises, and team based activities against other chapters for a chance to compete at the national level!
Special Thanks to:
- Laurel Humphrey who helped to curate, print and organize test material for students
- Nick Pettit, Shelley Durocher, Madison Sajkowicz, Travis Clark, Drew Hoagland, Hayden Amtower who assisted with setup and preparation of materials in the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena
- Heather Zidack, who processed flowers for the event
- Prides Corner who donated live plant material for students to identify as an element of their competition
New Faces In The Department 
Faculty & Staff
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 Heather ZidackEducational Assistant I |
Postdocs
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Graduate Students
| Student Name | Program | Advisor |
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| Julie-Ann Adorno | MS | Haiying Tao |
| Cleopatra Babor | MS | Yi Li |
| Victoria Burton | MS | Mark Brand |
| Brian Garzon | MS | Mariana Alfonso |
| Amelia Martin | MS | Sydney Everhart |
| Michelle Mcdonald | MS | Jessica Lubell |
| Monique Michaud | MS | Huijie Gan |
| Abdalla Mohammed | PhD | Sydney Everhart |
| Flavia Pereria de Souza | Visiting PhD | Haiying Tao |
| Abigail Ward | MS | Haiying Tao |
The Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture has been doing research to understand the perceptions and feelings of our students, staff, and faculty in regards to the naming of our Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems Major.
The PSLA Winter Celebration
Come in your ugliest sweater and bring a chilli to compete in the Chilli Cockoff and a wrapped gift for the Yankee Swap gift exchange!
Other potluck dishes, drinks, dessertsare also welcome!
Date: December 14th, 2023Time: 12:30 - 2:30 PM
Location: LA Studio Room - Young 101
| December 26th – January 12th | Winter Term |
| January 9th | CT Vegetable and Small Fruit Conference |
| January 16th | Spring Semester begins |
| January 24th & 25th | CNLA Winter Symposium |
| February 22nd - 25th | Connecticut Flower and Garden Show |
| March 3rd - March 6th | LA Program Review |
| March 10th – March 16th | Spring Recess |
| March 18th | Registration for Fall 2024 Begins |
| April 26th | Last day of Spring Semester Courses |
| April 29th – May 4th | Final Exams |
| May 4th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | CAHNR/RHSA Commencement Ceremony |
| May 8th 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Faculty Retreat |
Students, Faculty & Staff:
If you have anything that you would like to see shared in our next newsletter, feedback is welcome! Please email photos, news articles, recognitions and other relevant information to psla@uconn.edu
Clubs:
Be on the lookout for a spring semester survey! Or, send photos and event descriptions as they come to psla@uconn.edu
Faculty:
Do you have some exciting labs or hands on activities coming up in your courses over the next semester? We'd love to get some pictures of them for you! Please contact heather.zidack@uconn.edu or jason.sheldon@uconn.edu to let us know about upcoming photo opportunities!
Alumni:
Thank you for your continued support of our programs in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture. We want to know what you're up to, too! Send us information about career milestones, awards and recognitions and updates as well! Contact us at psla@uconn.edu
