HoFo Formal

This year, Hortus Forum proudly revived one of our club's oldest traditions: the Winter Formal, originally known as The Mum Ball during our early years as Cornell's Floriculture Club. For decades, the Mum Ball brought members together to celebrate the close of the semester and the friendships formed through a shared passion for horticulture. Reviving this tradition allowed us to reconnect with our club's rich history while creating a memorable experience for a new generation of Hortus Forum members.

The evening welcomed current members, executive board officers, alumni, and fellow student leaders who share a passion for horticulture, plant education, and biodiversity. It provided an opportunity to reflect on everything our club had accomplished throughout the semester, from caring for our greenhouse collection and hosting plant sales to organizing educational events and expanding our community. More importantly, it was a chance to celebrate the friendships and connections that continue to make Hortus Forum a welcoming home for plant enthusiasts across campus.

Throughout the night, members enjoyed dinner, lively conversations, and the opportunity to reconnect with alumni while getting to know newer members outside of the greenhouse. One of the evening's most anticipated events was our plant raffle, featuring a collection of some of our rarer and more unique plants. The raffle not only brought excitement to the celebration but also showcased the diversity of species our club cultivates and shares with the Cornell community.

We were also honored to welcome Chelsea Specht and members of her lab as our guest speakers. They shared their journeys into plant science, discussed their research on tropical plants and biodiversity, and offered valuable advice to students interested in careers in horticulture, botany, and plant biology. Their stories highlighted the many opportunities available within the plant sciences and inspired members to continue exploring their own interests in the field.

Reviving the Mum Ball was about more than bringing back a historic event, it was about celebrating the community that has always been at the heart of Hortus Forum. By honoring a tradition that dates back to our origins as the Floriculture Club while creating new memories with today's members, the evening served as a reminder that although our club has evolved over the years, our shared passion for plants, education, and community continues to bring us together. We look forward to making the Winter Formal, and the legacy of the Mum Ball, a lasting tradition for years to come.