Blog 1: Summer Mentorship Component

L: Specific hour log and description

        Contact: Ivonne Escobedo -ivonne.escobedo@arboretum.org

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   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtaPOOFsY5NbdHlMa2hMZXd0cWxuVmdHSVdsVDdNMXc#gid=0

L: What questions were raised because of the 10 hour experience? List them.

•  When it comes to different plants, how can I be sure I am watering or planting them correctly?
•       When and why does temperature come into play with plant life?
•        When it comes to certain plants, does the sun actually do more harm than good?
•       What is the average life span of a plant?

I: What is the most important thing you have gained from this experience? Why?

The most important thing I have gained from this experience was when I had the ability to water and care for the plants. This is the most important thing because the workers allowed me to learn from doing. They showed me the right way to water each plant and how to correctly plant them. I really had fun working with the plants and seeing how each plant needed different needs. I look forward to working with more exotic and more rare types of plant in the future.

A: How did what you did help choose a topic? Please explain.

The topic I am considering for my senior project is horticulture, or the art of garden cultivation and management. I surprised myself when I finally chose horticulture because I never really liked the outdoors or any type of nature to be honest. But, when I watered or cared for plants I found it very relaxing a soothing and found myself enjoying it. Completing my 10 hours at the arboretum really helped me chose this topic because it working there showed me that nature can be beautiful instead of messy and dirty, which is how I saw it before. Working there is really great because it gives me access to different types of plants located all around the world. Even though I haven’t had a chance to work with those types of plants yet, I know I will be able to soon because of the more experience I get every time I go and volunteer at the arboretum.