STUDENT SPOTLIGHT » Zohara Scott

Nursery & Landscape Notes is introducing you to the next generation of green industry professionals by featuring current and recent college students with plans to pursue careers in the field. Zohara Scott, originally from New Zealand, will graduate from North Carolina State University in May 2021 with a degree in horticulture, with a concentration in landscape design, gardens and urban environment. She spent a year working in NC State’s Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, and recently began volunteering for Cure Nursery in Pittsboro. A dean’s list student for 2017-2020, she is also a 2020 American Society for Horticulture Science Collegiate Scholars award winner, as well as the recipient of a Margaret Pittman Horticultural Science scholarship and a scholarship from Pi Alpha Xi, a horticultural honors fraternity.

How did you discover horticulture?

Growing up I was fascinated by plants— especially their extensive variety—but I had always seen gardening as a hobby or a requirement of being a homeowner. I never realized it could be a career. When I started university, I didn’t know what I wanted to study, so I took a variety of classes to explore my interests. When my academic advisor learned that I enjoyed growing plants, she strongly recommended that I contact NC State’s Department of Horticultural Science. After I took my first horticulture class, I knew there was no going back. My fascination for plants developed into a deep devotion. Now, three years later, I am graduating with more horticultural knowledge than I ever thought I could acquire, immense gratitude to all the professors and classmates that have helped me along the way, and a clear focus for what I want to do in my life.

What were your most valuable experiences, either in school or from other exposure to the industry, and why?

My most valuable experiences have come from deciding to try new things at university. I tried to take every opportunity that came my way. Since an early age, I have had a deep fear of public speaking, due to my

experiences with bullying in elementary school. However, I was determined not to let this fear hold me back. When I was offered the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for a plant identification course, I knew I had to do it. In the end, I really enjoyed teaching and working with students.

After that opportunity, I became a teaching assistant for a horticultural photography course, which let me explore horticulture from a different creative perspective and gave me more experience with teaching. In my time as a student, I also joined Pi Alpha Xi and later was elected vice president, and I became a member of the Horticultural Science Department’s competition team.

Recently, I have been lucky to begin working and volunteering for Cure Nursery, creating planting designs exclusively with native plants—an excellent opportunity that is only just beginning to unfold. Together, all these opportunities have been incredibly valuable to me because they have filled me with confidence, given me work experience, and deepened my appreciation for and understanding of the various aspects of horticulture.

What were your favorite college classes?

I am not one who likes playing favorites, especially when I have taken so many fantastic classes while at university. Plant identification, digital media design, planting design, horticultural photography and plant propagation are just some of the classes I have truly loved as an NC State student. Honestly, there was not a single horticultural class I did not enjoy—the material was riveting. The professors who taught me are truly remarkable and made learning enjoyable.

What are your plans after graduation?

I am a big proponent of using more native plants in landscapes, so the opportunity to volunteer and work at Cure Nursery exclusively with native plants is a dream come true for me. Being able to practice what I have learned about planting design at NC State is amazing. Everyone at the nursery is incredibly kind and supportive, and I am overjoyed to be working with them. My nana, who lives in Australia, is getting older, so after graduation I would like to visit to take care of her and her garden. Fortunately, as remote work has become more common recently, I also hope to continue doing design work for Cure Nursery while spending some quality time with her.

What advice would you give to a student interested in the field?

Go for it! Horticulture is a diverse field, and even if you don’t like one aspect of it, you are sure to love another. There’s a place for everyone within horticulture, though you must like plants to truly enjoy it. I feel lucky to have discovered horticulture and to have had such a variety of opportunities come my way. But it wasn’t just luck—I have worked hard in university, sought out opportunities and given my all for every project I have worked on. So don’t just wait for opportunities to come your way—make sure you work hard to find them for yourself. Most people in the industry are incredibly friendly, so don’t be scared to reach out and discover more about a possible future career for yourself.

What is your favorite plant, and why?

My inability to pick favorites means I often pick a different plant each time I answer this question. Since I love my recent work with native plants, I’d have to pick one of my favorite local plants, Rhododendron periclymenoides, a beautiful, native, spring-flowering pinkster azalea shrub. I love when I come upon it in full bloom in the Piedmont forests.