City College's Biannual Plant And Flower Sale A Landscaper's Dream

Indoor and outdoor plants, from orchids to vegetables, all cultivated by City College of San Francisco students, were available for purchase on Thursday.

Buyers from all over the city gathered in the Horticulture & Floristry building on Judson Avenue for deals on plants propagated from clippings donated by the Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco Botanical Gardens and other local flower shops.

The Environmental Horticulture and Floristry Department’s biannual Flower and Plant Sale showcases student work while raising funds for the department scholarship fund and clearing space for the next crop.

“[The students are] all propagating plants all the time so we end up with just so many plants on our hands,” Anna Geiger, the department’s nursery specialist, said “This is not only a way to connect with the community but also to make room in the greenhouses so that we can propagate more plants and the classes can do more stuff.”

Plant prices were fixed to pot sizes. Three-inch and 4-inch potted plants cost $5 each and 5-inch to 1-gallon potted plants cost $10 each. Larger and some select plants were priced at $15 or more.

“This is really cool to actually see people come in here and get really excited about the plants,” said student Jaida Alleman, who entered the horticulture and floristry program last year.

Environmental Horticulture and Floristry Department Chair Steven Brown said it’s exciting to share the students’ projects, even if the event takes serious work to organize.

Erin Cervelli, who lives near McLaren Park, and NoPa resident Sarah Bashford, have made attending the fundraiser a yearly tradition for the last three years.

“If somebody’s trying to fill a garden quickly and really inexpensively, this is a great place to go,” Bashford said.

City College Communications Professor Nathan Steele, a frequent customer, finds more than deals at the sale.

“I feel I get to participate in or really just kind of benefit from what other students on our campus learn, and to me that's what contributes to a sense of belonging and building community and giving back,” Steele said.

The next plant and flower sale fundraiser is targeted for early December and will feature poinsettias.

“It's always great to have members of our community being able to come in and see the work of our students,” interim Chancellor Mitch Bailey said. “And buying stuff helps us keep the program going.”