WPB's Mounts Botanical Garden Awards $2K in Horticulture Scholarships to 3 PBSC Students

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sept. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County

Awards $2,000 in Scholarships to Three Horticulture

Students at Palm Beach State College:

+ Christine Spencer of Tequesta

+ Kyle Seidenstrucker of West Palm Beach

+ Bryan Wackes of Lake Worth

(West Palm Beach, FL – September 11, 2014)  The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden recently awarded $2,000 in scholarships to three Palm Beach State College students seeking to pursue a career in horticulture. This year’s recipients include:

+ Christine S. Spencer ($1,000) of Tequesta, FL, who began growing hydroponic tomatoes in Hypoluxo for Publix. A Master Gardener at Mounts, who assists her husband Greg in the presentation of composting and vermicomposting, she is a member of the local Rare Fruit Council and the Bonsai, Evening Herb, Rose and Palm & Cycad Societies and is currently pursuing an AS degree in Landscape and Horticulture Management at PBSC. Ms. Spencer and her husband recently purchased a nursery in Jupiter where they grow palms, fruit trees and ornamentals.

+ Kyle Seidenstrucker ($500) of West Palm Beach, who fell in love with horticulture during his first botany class and eventually opened his own company, Iron Gardens Landscaping LLC. A member of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, he will soon receive a Landscape Horticulture Specialist Award, Landscape Professional 2 Award, and Landscape and Horticulture Management degree from PBSC.

+ Bryan Keith Wackes ($500) of Lake Worth, who first got interested in horticulture after earning a degree in Business Management and Supervision from PBSC. After getting hands-on experience at his uncle’s plant and landscaping business, he re-entered PBSC to earn a degree in horticulture and looks forward to pursuing a full-time career in the field.

"The Mission Statement of Mounts Botanical Garden is very clear,” says Garden Director Allen Sistrunk. “One of our primary goals is to provide ‘opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn the art, science and joy of gardening.’ Our annual scholarships for local horticultural students is another way in which we are able to do this, thanks to the success of such popular events as our various plant sales and the generosity of the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden.”

About The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:

With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more.  Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden.

Located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org

Available for Interview:

Allen Sistrunk, Garden Director

Mounts Botanical Garden

561.233.1757

asistrun@pbcgov.org

Media Contact:

Gary Schweikhart

PR-BS, Inc.

561.756.4298

gary@pr-bs.net