Horticulture

Instructor

Office: Building 56 - Fort Lewis Campus
Phone: 253/589-5631
Fax: 253/589-5693
Email: peter.punzi@cptc.edu

Education: B.S., Plant Science, Rutgers University (Cook College); M.S. Public Horticulture Administration, University of Delaware

Peter's experience over the past 20 plus years has brought him from coast to cost. After receiving his B.S from Rutgers Peter worked in indoor and outdoor landscaping and was a horticulturist for Bergen County (NJ) Parks and Adjunct Faculty in Horticulture at Bergen Community College (NJ). He then went back to get his master's degree through the Longwood Graduate Program a joint venture between Longwood Gardens and University of Delaware. He then moved from the Eastern to West Coast and became the Director of Lakewold Gardens (WA). For more information see his personal website.

Program Information

There will be two single-quarter certificates starting this 2008 Winter Quarter. You can receive a certificate in Production Horticulture or Ornamental Plant Material. The two certificates may be combined to serve as an option to the Landscape Management Degree (Associates of Applied Technology). The program currently runs from 10:00am-4:30pm M-F. Click here for registration information. or contact the instructor Peter Punzi at 253.589-0535.

Production Horticulture Certificate
Provides the opportunity to develop the areas of knowledge and skills identified as important to managing a greenhouse, field, or nursery operation. Gain direct experience with the culture, care, and growth of commercial horticulture crops. Focus is on woody and herbaceous ornamentals, floriculture, fruits and vegetables - each a branch of horticulture, and each involving commercial horticulture production. The program provides training relevant to the Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) program administered by the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association (WSNLA). In addtition to working at Clover Park's Greenhouse facilities students also get valuable experience working at Tacoma Metro Park's Greenhouses and at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright's Park.

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Provides the opportunity to develop the areas of knowledge and skill identified as important to identify and work with ornamentally important plants. This includes trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers annuals and perennials. Focus is on identifying characteristics, culture, aesthetic qualities and uses, maintenance considerations as well as understanding scientific and common names. Emphasis will be on plants identified by the WSNLA for the CPH exam.

Production Horticulture Certificate (Spring & Fall Quarters)

• LM 134 Horticulture Science 3 CR - Introduces scientific concepts used in horticulture including botany, soils science, and pest biology.
• LM 126 Integrated Pest Management 3 CR - Covers pest problem diagnosis and management options such as monitoring pest populations This includes identifying pests, and choosing a combination of tactics to keep pest populations at an acceptable level. Explores cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical tactics of pest management stressing the use of the least toxic methods first.
• LM 213 Fruit and Vegetable Culture 3 CR - Explores establishing and caring for vegetable, fruit and nut crops found large home gardens and small orchards.
• LM 214 Plant Propagation 2 CR - Explores the sexual and asexual reproduction of plants using various growing structures and growing areas. This includes greenhouse and nursery production concepts.
• Horticulture Production Labs (LM 211 Spring, LM 212 Summer, LM 209 Winter, LM 208 Fall) 3-5 CR - Explores the hands-on application of principles and concepts taught the horticulture courses. Covers practices commonly used in the horticulture industry in landscape management and greenhouse and nursery operations.

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate (Summer & Winter Quarters)

• LM 216 Plant Taxonomy 2 CR - Explore the science that describes, classifies, identifies, and names plants. Covers the evolutionary relationships between plants.
• LM 201 Plant Materials 4 CR - Surveys commonly grown houseplants, herbaceous ornamentals, and woody landscape plants. Explores their selection, use and care.
• Plant Identification Lab (LM 204 Spring, LM 205 Summer, LM 203 Winter, LM 202 Fall)3-5 CR - Explores the identification of woody plants and herbaceous perennials used in landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest. Covers Key identification characteristics, cultural requirements, and landscape usage. Plants are covered are seasonally appropriate to maximize the number of identification characteristics available.
• LM 217 Landscape Horticulture Techniques 5 CR - Explores the scientific principles behind commonly used horticulture techniques like pruning, planting, watering (and water management) as well as lawn installation and maintenance.

Scholarship Opportunities

• WaFlorA Scholarship & Research Charitable Fund - Since the original donation over 25 scholarships, of $500 - $2000 each, have been awarded to assist students in education in floriculture and related fields.