Not your typical poinsettia

by Lauren Dye, posted Dec. 3, 2009
photos by Aimee Gutshall

Shopping for poinsettias this holiday season? Want something different than the traditional red and white? Tiger Garden has a poinsettia for everyone.

Tiger Garden started creating dazzling poinsettias three years ago, and they have grown in popularity ever since. This holiday season, Tiger Garden is planning to sell 600 poinsettias.

Poinsettia slide show.

“It was an experiment that turned out really great for us,” said Kim Martin, agricultural education graduate student and Tiger Garden employee.

Both traditional and dazzling poinsettias are on sale at Tiger Garden now until graduation on Dec. 19. White poinsettias are used to make dazzling poinsettias since they are easier to dye. Customers can choose from poinsettias of all colors of dyes, glitter, shimmer and tiger paw prints.

Poinsettias are started off in July from clippings. The poinsettias are raised in campus greenhouses and managed by plant science classes and greenhouse workers.

If customers do not find the exact design in store, they can place an order. Tiger Garden employees decorate poinsettias and show off their creativity.

“I think its neat seeing how creative they can get,” said Becky Means, plant science sophomore and Tiger Garden employee. “I’ve never worked at a place that takes the time to do it.”

Traditional poinsettias are $12.95 and dazzling poinsettias are $14.95.

“I also think it’s cool that there are poinsettias for everyone,” Means said. “There are the traditional ones but also ones that students would put in their dorm rooms.”

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