J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College has been fortunate to partner with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden since fall 2011 to offer students enrolled in HRT 195, Christmas Décor for the Home, an opportunity to help decorate part of the botanical garden for their annual Gardenfest. The class, which meets at the garden, is taught by adjunct professor David Pippin. Lectures and demonstrations center around Christmas decorations for the home. Students also have the opportunity to create some decorations for their home, including a mantle arrangement, a spray for a door as well as an evergreen wreath. Students also complete a design proposal for a fictitious client showing how they would decorate the client’s home for Christmas.
This year’s class of 14 students was divided into three groups to decorate the entrance to the Robins Visitors Center, the entrance to the Education Library Complex and the dining room in historic Bloemendaal House. All groups met with garden staff to share their plans and ideas for decorations. Upon approval, students worked each week to complete the necessary decorations which complemented this year’s theme, “East Meets West,” focusing on the flora and arts of Japan.
