Grow XU

By Walt Bonvell

 

By now, you probably have noticed the hanging baskets along University Drive and the annuals planted around campus. It takes a lot of work to make all this happen, starting in the winter, when the grounds crew puts together the annual order for the campus. The work involves meeting with the grower, deciding on the annuals, making of the baskets, picking up the plants, design, planting, and most of all, maintenance and care. During the summer months, the hanging baskets are usually watered two or three times a week and fertilized once or twice a month. The geraniums have to be deadheaded, the lantana pinched back, and all the containers have to be watered as well. But the results are worth it—for all of us. So the next time you see the grounds people caring for the annuals, you might take a minute and thank them for making our campus a better place to be.