As Savannah Keller (PWS ’26) walked across campus one brisk morning, inspiration struck. She and Abigail Moore (PWS ’26) had been asked to design a botanical display in honor of BYU’s sesquicentennial celebration to showcase how the Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences (PWS) lights the world. They wanted to ensure that their design would represent the department well, and they spent countless hours brainstorming together and praying for guidance. As Keller watched the sun rise over the summit of Y Mountain and flood the BYU campus with light, she knew—in that moment—the direction they needed to take in their design.
The botanical display, located west of the Life Sciences Building, highlights some of the impactful work being done in all four programs housed within PWS: environmental science and sustainability; plant and landscape systems; wildlife and wildlands; and genetics, genomics, and biotechnology.
The botanical garden showcases a new hybrid Bermudagrass created by Clarissa Peterson (MS ’25, PWS), Ashley Beazer (MS ’26, PWS), Dr. Bryan Hopkins, and Dr. Neil Hansen. This drought-resistant grass is ideal for desert environments like Utah and can last six weeks without water, contributing to water-conservation efforts while also keeping yards green throughout the summer.
Plant and Landscape Systems
Keller and Moore used a variety of flora to depict the sun rising over Y Mountain, symbolizing the light of Christ. “As I walked on campus that day, I was in darkness. But I could see the light beams coming over the mountain,” Keller explains. “It hit me that sometimes we may feel like we are in darkness, but God’s light is always there—even if we can’t see it.”
Wildlife and Wildlands
Celebrating Utah’s native rangeland plants, Melissa Burrell (MS ’26, PWS), Raechel Hunsaker (MS ’26, PWS), and Dr. April Hulet filled their section of the design with wildflowers, forbs, shrubs, and grasses to highlight their work studying, restoring, and conserving rangelands. These plants maintain ecosystem stability by providing habitat and forage for wildlife and livestock, supporting biodiversity, and stabilizing rangeland soils.
Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology
The display’s water feature highlights Gabi Jijon-Nemalceff (PhD ’27, BIO) and Dr. Paul Frandsen’s caddisfly research, which provides insights into insect genetics, stream biodiversity, and conservation efforts.
Working on the display provided Keller and Moore with a meaningful opportunity to apply what they learned in their landscape design courses. Creating a garden that is both inspiring and durable is “a really fun puzzle to solve,” Keller shares with a smile. While creating the design and choosing the plants, they considered several factors including space, colors, textures, local pollinators, water conservation, and how all the plants change throughout each season.
The four designs coalesce to create a seamless display that beautifully depicts PWS’s emphasis on both scientific research and the importance of acting as stewards of God’s creations. For “all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.”1
Working on the botanical display helped Keller and Moore see the bigger picture. As they learned about the projects being done across the department, they came to understand the impact both they and their peers can have on their communities. “An education in this department is not just about learning from books,” says Mariellen Tuckett, the coordinator over the botanical display. “It’s about taking that knowledge and using it to change the world.”
Students in PWS help to light the world by cultivating the earth and preserving natural resources. “We are a pretty unique program, and we focus so much on taking care of the earth. We take that responsibility very seriously, and the gardens are a fantastic representation of that,” Tuckett adds.
Cultivating a Connection to God
Keller and Moore were also impacted spiritually through their work on the garden display. “God is a God of science. He has created all things, and I feel connected to Him as I study the earth and create, build, and design in landscaping,” explains Moore. Keller shared similar insights, denoting how her testimony was strengthened: “My love for design is a gift from God. The more we can do to understand the world that He created for us, the closer we can come to Him.”
God’s hand was evident throughout the project, from the initial vision to the little details that fell into place, such as a donation of needed plants from a local greenhouse. When it came time to install the garden, Keller and Moore were amazed to see all the students in their program come to help. Despite the cold, rainy weather, everyone was eager to participate and apply their skills as they laid sod, planted flowers, set edging, and installed irrigation.
After the installation was complete, and Keller and Moore saw their design come to life, they were filled with gratitude. “This project is so much bigger than me, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it,” Moore shares. They know that not every student has the chance to leave such a tangible mark on BYU. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute something like this to an organization like BYU,” says Moore. “Throughout my career, I will accomplish great things, but this will always be one of my favorites.”