The Chester County Technical College High School (TCHS) Horticulture & Landscape Gardening program is helping ring in spring by opening their greenhouse doors to the community for their annual plant sale May 2 through May 6 from 8:30 until 10 a.m. and noon until 2 p.m. The sale will take place at TCHS located at 280 Pennock’s Bridge Road in West Grove.

Support horticulture students at TCHS by taking part in their annual plant sale. All proceeds will benefit students by funding educational opportunities such as field trips to gardens and horticulture seminars, and purchasing classroom materials such as seeds. In return, the students will offer their knowledge to the community.

According to Heidi Militana, horticulture program instructor, the sale will offer the public an opportunity to learn skilled gardening techniques for free.

“The students will be available to offer advice on techniques such as planting and upkeep of low-maintenance gardens using the student-grown perennials, and native plantscaping,” said Militana. “Native plantscaping is an exciting technique that gives yards an attractive, creative look while reducing or eliminating water and chemical use, and increasing and improving wildlife habitat and watershed stewardship.”

Students in the Horticulture & Landscape Gardening program have access to cutting-edge facilities designed to enhance their interests and skills, including a state-of-the-art greenhouse, computer-aided drafting programs, a plant tissue culture lab, and GPS/GIS technology. Horticulture students are also committed to community service. For example, program students will be growing food for the Chester County Food Cupboard.

In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in a special partnership with Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s premier horticultural display gardens. Students receive real-world experience working with Longwood’s professional horticultural staff.

For more information on the annual plant sale, please contact horticulture program instructor Heidi Militana at 610-345-1800 ext. 2051 or heidim@cciu.org.

The Technical College High School is a joint venture of the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) and Delaware County Community College. As Pennsylvania’s first hybrid career and technical high school/community college, TCHS offers career and technical programs for high school students. Delaware County Community College offers associate degree programs to college students. As a public high school, TCHS is free to high school students.

The most unique aspect of the school is that it offers dual-enrollment classes for high school students that blend career and technical programs with associate degree college courses. Students in dual-enrollment programs can graduate from high school with up to 16 college credits.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Chester County Technical College High School. Interested students can find out more information or apply online by visiting www.technicalcollegehighschool.org.