Provided

Amy Spallone '10 displays her horticultural masks, completed as a final project for the Art of Horticulture course.

Masks from mythology, fabric tulips, a mosaic, a nature alphabet and botanical jewelry were just a few of the original works students created for their final projects in the Art of Horticulture, an experiential Cornell course that views plants and gardens as subjects of art.

The students' assignment: to reflect on their evolving experience in class, particularly on their individual notions of beauty and aesthetics; self-expression and discovery; human well-being; or their relationships with nature as expressed in the garden, according to the course syllabus.

Marcia Eames-Sheavly, the course instructor, told students: "This is your golden opportunity not to write a paper for a final project. I encourage you to enjoy it, learn from it and to be creative with it. The students who get the most out of this project typically select topics they have always wanted to explore; things they know they enjoy; or challenges that they actually welcome working on as a break from other studies. Bottom line: if you really enjoy it, engage with it and gain deep learning from it -- it will show."

The students who devote creative energy to their projects over the full semester tend to get the most out of the process, and often produce visually satisfying work, she added.