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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SCC students offer floral wonderland in first of area flower and garden events

Horticulture student Sun Chaseth works on a fanciful topiary next to a white rabbit created mostly from carnations at Spokane Community College on Friday. The Horticulture Club will stage its annual ornamental flower and plant sale Saturday at SCC. (Jesse Tinsley)

The students in Spokane Community College’s horticulture program must have dropped down a rabbit hole on this one.

Who would think of creating a giant caterpillar out of Brussels sprouts?

The public will get a chance to see for themselves during today’s fourth annual Flower and Garden Show featuring student creations inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Flower mushrooms, the Cheshire Cat and even Alice will be on display during the show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SCC Lair.

Admission to the show, entitled “Through the Looking Glass,” is free.

“It’s going to be amazing,” said Loretta Etchison, a floral instructor at SCC and director of the show. “The students are so excited.”

The show will be the first in a series of four community flower and garden events through June 7.

The others are the Associated Garden Clubs’ plant sale on April 26 and 27, Garden Expo at SCC on May 10 and the Friends of Manito plant sale on June 7.

Parking is free during both SCC events.

Twenty-five students have been building today’s flower and garden show since January as part of a class that will earn them three college credits each.

Their creations are an exercise for building larger floral arrangements and creating interesting palettes of colors and texture. Many of the creations will be for sale.

In addition to the college work, the show will also display the work of high school horticulture students.

Alice and the Queen of Hearts will be on hand.

The students will be joined by 90 vendors selling all kinds of plants and related products, including arts and crafts.

Thirty feet of sod will be laid inside the Lair for garden ambience.

The Washington Federation of Garden Clubs will hold a judged flower show inside the Lair auditorium.

Children will be able to plant their own ornamental pot for free.

Etchison said her goal is to create an event that is similar to the famed Philadelphia Flower Show.

Proceeds will go to SCC’s Ag-Hort Club to defray travel expenses.