The district purchased the former Foxtail Floral Greenhouse in 2024, and students participating in the school’s FFA, DECA, FCCLA programs and agriculture classes utilize the greenhouse as a classroom space to learn about business, agronomy, and more.

Students currently have Easter lilies available for pre-sale through March 28. The lilies, available in single or double stem pots, will be available for pickup from the students April 15-16.

To reserve an Easter lily plant from the Southeast Valley Greenhouse, email greenhouse@svjags.org or call 515-352-3144.

According to Southeast Valley High School FFA Advisor Johanna Kunert, students are in charge of the Easter lily sale, including sale promotions and will be working the greenhouse throughout pickup times.

-Submitted photo
The Southeast Valley High School Greenhouse is packed with spring flowers and vegetable plants that were planted and cared for by Southeast Valley High School students. The plants will be available for purchase soon during the school’s first spring plant sale.

Students in Kunert’s agronomy class have also been spending time in the greenhouse planting seeds, keeping up with watering, transplanting plugs, and taking care of the greenhouse.

Most recently, the students started tomatoes, petunias, cabbage, zucchini, and squash. They also have starter plugs for geraniums, poinsettias, coleus, begonias, dianthus, and dahlias.

“The students are really enjoying it,” said Kunert. “This is the first time we have gotten the opportunity to get out there and start plants from seed, and it’s great seeing things come to life. The students are taking ownership in it and are so excited every time they notice their plants growing more and more.”

According to Kunert, the students are also planning a spring plant sale in which the plants they’re currently growing will be available for purchase by the general public. The spring plant sale is anticipated for mid-May.

“We hope to have a few days of open sale where anyone can come in and browse the plants and purchase as much as they’d like,” said Kunert. “The students will be there to help pick things out, give information, and help carry as needed.”

-Submitted photo
Aiden Anderson and Grant Farnham, both seniors at Southeast Valley High School, and Landon Bloomquist, a freshman, work to transplant hundreds of dianthus plants. Anderson, Farnham, and Bloomquist are all members of the Central Plains FFA group which works in the school’s greenhouse to grow a variety of flowers and vegetables that will soon be available to the public for purchase.