Floriculture

Both John Dole and Harold Wilkins have had a lifelong interest in floriculture. Dole is currently a professor with the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. He is a native of West Michigan and received his B.S. degree from Michigan State University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota and served on the Oklahoma State University faculty for 11 years before moving to North Carolina State University. Dole has written hundreds of trade journal articles, scientific journal articles, and book chapters. His research program has focused on specialty cuts, bulbs, Easter lilies, and poinsettias; and on flowering physiology and water and mineral nutrition. As an active member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG), Dole has served on the board of directors as Southern Region director, treasurer, and executive advisor. He also coordinates the National ASCFG Trial Programs. In addition, Dole teaches greenhouse management and commercial floriculture crop production. Dole has visited floriculture operations in numerous countries in Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. In 1992 he received the Kenneth Post Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper, in 1995 the ASCFG's Outstanding Service Award, and in 2000 the ASCFG's Allan Armitage Award. Wilkins is an emeritus professor from the University of Minnesota, former D. C. Kiplinger chair holder at The Ohio State University, and former director of research and development for one of the largest potted flowering plant producers in the country. He is a native of southern Illinois and received all three degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He worked as a postharvest physiologist at the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research Center, Bradenton, before joining the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1966. Wilkins' research program has spanned a wide range of species including Easter lilies, freesia, alstroemeria, azaleas, tulips, and poinsettias, as well as topics including light quality, branching, and the interaction of cold and light. In 1989 he joined Nurserymen's Exchange in Half Moon Bay, California, as their research and development officer. From 1992 to 1994 he was a visiting professor, D. C. Kiplinger chair of floriculture, at The Ohio State University. Wilkins is recognized as one of the most highly published authors in floriculture. Wilkins is also widely traveled with visits to numerous countries in western and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Central America, and South America. In 1987 he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for study at the University of Norway. Wilkins career has garnered him and his students numerous awards including Outstanding Floriculture Research Paper from the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS) in 1967, 1978, 1980, 1985, and 1992. He has also received the Alex Laurie Award from the Society of American Florists in 1991 and from the Ohio Florists' Association in 1993. He was named a fellow of the ASHS in 1984 and a fellow of Pi Alpha Xi in 1992. In 1988 Wilkins was initiated into the Society of American Florist's Hall of Fame.