Displaying flowers in attractive arrangements may seem like a daunting task for some, but Kathy Shumac, a Penn State professor in the plant science department, thinks anyone can do it.
Meet HORT 352: Flower Arranging a course designed to teach students the art and science of flower design and is no exception to the fun. The two-credit class is taught by Professor Kathy Shumac twice a week for three hours.
Through this course, students learn the basic styles of arrangements, commonly used florist tools, and techniques for caring for all types of flowers.
Originally hailing from Erie, Pa., Shumac initially became interested in horticulture by spending time in her family garden.
“I come from a very large family, six sisters and seven brothers, and being one of the youngest, I learned to be fairly self-sufficient,” Shumac said. “We never had a lot of money, so we would keep ourselves busy. I spent a lot of time in the garden. It was quiet. I didn’t have too many older siblings telling me what to do, and I was free to do whatever I pleased.”