The House of Green – Part II

Thomas Lauzon and Josh (Eros) Medeiros

February 19 – 21, 2016

March of the Seeds – Feb. 19

The morning began with Thomas and Eros (Josh) meeting with Jeff at the House of Green. Jeff quickly reiterated general procedures. The opening checklist was completed and the two boys thoroughly surveyed the cuttings, seed flats and mature plants and watered or misted as needed.

Soon, Sue came in to inform and show the work partners how to use the device called an inferred thermometer, which uses a laser to measure the air temperature just above the crop. After, Jeff gave them what duties were required that weekend. Furthermore, he demonstrated how to sow the particular seeds that were ordered. Later, Jeff, Thomas and Eros met at the B-wing atrium. The students were told which planters needed to be rearranged and/or added to, staked and moved. They sauntered over to the T-wing interior plants which some had bare, unattractive media. Back at the House of Green, the pair began preparing seed flats by filling a set of three flats for each unique seed species/cultivar with Promix PGX media. We used this media for the reason that each pod of the flat was rather small and it had minute particles sizes giving young roots space to grow. Next, we meticulously aimed to get a single seed into a single pod. In succession, we covered the plant embryos with sprinkle of vermiculite as each needed, labelled the flats, moved them out and misted. This was done for New Day Rose Stripe Gazania, Kiss Orange Flame Frosty Gazania, Fresh Look Mix Celosia and Sparkler White Cleome.

With more general scanning and spot watering of the plants, along with ensuring everything was in order by way of the closing checklist, Thomas and Eros locked up and returned the keys to security.

Tropical Paroxysm (The March Continues…) – Feb. 20

As young men of the House of Green it was customary to go through the checklist of the morning following the captured of the keys. Misting and spot watering transpired, of course, since the plants had transpirated.

Thomas and Eros carried on with sowing. At least, seventy-three flats of Lady First African Marigolds were required by order. A table was emptied to have enough room, the resident plants moved to appropriate places. As a team, assisting each other where possible, they organized an efficient method to put together the flats, fill them with Pro Mix HP Mycorrhizae, move them to the table, water them all once, prod holes into every pod, insert one marigold seed into the holes, seal the holes gently and water them again. And so, they did. On this day the Sun was revealed and the temperature rose out and in the House of Green. By the afternoon, the temperature inside reached a maximum of thirty-four degrees Celsius, coupled with the humidity it felt as if the Amazon had come to Fanshawe. The two of them were concerned as they were told that when the temperature rose too high that the blinds would close and the vents would open; neither occurred. As a result, much more watering and analyzing of the plants and data of the Priva system was a must. This anomaly was reported swiftly. The cuttings in their special chamber were counted.

Due to all the media preparation and sowing the floor was blanketed, ergo, both swept around and under their work tables. This preceded the routine closing checklist and return of the keys.

Interior Alignment – Feb. 21

Like those before them, including themselves, the green lads attained the keys, went through the opening checklist and checked the flora, watering/misting as they saw fit.

The pair gathered lots of Devil’s Ivy, Epipremnum aureum (which is highly invasive in tropical regions), on a cart with a dust pan, brooms and bamboo. They meandered to the B-wing atrium where they moved Codiaeums and Epipremnums about, creating an even and aesthetically pleasing arrangement. Bamboo was used as stakes to support ficuses. As Thomas began moving the planters to good spots, Eros cleaned the debris from their work then helped move the remaining planters as well. Together in the front hall of the T-wing, more Devil’s Ivy was planted around the college’s Fiddle Leaf Ficuses. Afterward, they also, removed seeds from the fridge that were due. A search commenced for plants with mealybugs. With some time left of their day they got down to purifying the House of Green, sweeping, washing and putting everything. Before their end day procedures started, Thomas noticed some Hydrangeas beginning to bloom with a tiny hint of blue developing.

As per usual, they double-checked all on the closing checklist, looked over the plants giving water to dried and drying plants, locked the doors and said farewell to it with the deposition of the keys of the House of Green.

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