The Gardens of Fanshawe College
Summer Blog
Blayne D.
June 20-23
Monday
After coming back from a busy week at the Cuddy Gardens, I was happy to be back at the college doing the things I love, working with my other co-workers, greenhouse, mulching and other maintenance. Monday was a hot one! Tawny and I were sent out to mulch around HMF loop. We needed to quickly weed and edge the beds before mulching. Jenn got a few loads of mulch with the tractor and trailer then later helped Tawny and I spread it out. This took us all morning to complete. Alison was busy all day and for the rest of the week watering the outside planters and beds. It was a small group in the afternoon since Dakota and Scott were off while Alison left for the afternoon. It was just me, Tawny, Jenn and Jeff doing interiorscape since the weather was so hot. We hit up the areas at T, B, and outside the bookstore. It had been a while since those planters received some good attention as they needed watering and a major cleanup such as wiping down the leaves from dust, cutting back and cleaning debris. This brought the day to the end, in fact, it was quiet fun!
Tuesday
As I came back from Cuddy on Monday the greenhouse needed some serious organization and tidying up. I composted any spent plants while we were trying to get the remaining plants in the greenhouse planted outside. That kept me busy all morning. After lunch I went around the greenhouse with Sue to complete the Workplace Safety Inspection for this month. Making sure everything in the greenhouse is in tip top shape. Once that was done I went to continue cleaning plants up and cutting back our stock baskets so they don’t get too overgrown. As we were expecting a couple visitors in the greenhouse the next day, I made sure everything was ready for presentation. Tawny and Jenn planted Coleus and Portulaca in front of Saffrons then moved onto the rocked border garden bed near D building. Petunias and Castor Beans were planted. Continuing on into the afternoon they planted Flowering Maple, Begonias, Cleomes and Coleus in the parking office courtyard.
Wednesday
In preparation for the visitors coming in today, the greenhouse floors needed a good sweep then I went onto watering then re planting the Chrysanthemums on all the benches. I went by each bench at a time, spacing them and inserting drip lines. This took all morning and into the afternoon. Until lunch time, Tawny, Dakota and Jenn worked on the patio area at Saffrons. Mulching, weeding and tidying up were completed. Tawny and Jenn went to the parking office courtyard to do some maintenance such as pruning, removing tree suckers, weeding, edging, and removing dead wood from a Japanese Maple and a Viburnum. The last thing they did was plant Dusty Miller, Coleus, Portulaca, Begonias and Jacob’s Coat in front of the main doors to the Falcon (R1) residence.
Thursday
Everyone was at their own garden areas to do whatever needed to be done such as edging, planting and weeding. Alison and Tawny tackled Z Building that needed weeding, interorscape and planting done. I was planting up our greenhouse stock baskets and propagated Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) spiderettes that were dangling from the adult plant. While I was getting pictures for this blog a Cornus Kousa (Kousa Dogwood) planted at R3 residence caught my attention. It is used as a stunning flowering tree or large shrub with showy pointed petal-like white bracts.
All in all, I am happy to be back at the college with my fellow co-workers who I enjoy working with so much. Everyday has been jam packed with tasks to get the greenhouse and campus looking the best they can be! Summer has officially begun and I’m looking forward to the remaining of our co-op before I move onto new adventures in the fall!
