2008 Woodie Awards
Botanical Gardens set to open
By: Ashley Kennett
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News
Students will see more green on campus coming this summer.
The Board of Trustees approved a plan for the Central Michigan University Botanical Gardens during its regular meeting Feb. 14.
The gardens, which will be located west of Park Library, could be implemented as soon as this summer. The gardens, which cost $900,000, will be completely privately funded through donor contributions.
Students enrolled in botany, nature study, dendrology, behavior, ecology, field botany and plants and society as well as the general public will have access to the gardens.
"The garden will be much more diverse than the small rock garden around the greenhouse" said Claudia Douglass, chairperson of CMU's biology department, who has worked closely with Michigan State University faculty member Robert Schutzki and others on the project.
The department has been working on the project since spring 2006.
Schutzki said MSU's botanical gardens, also privately funded, have been a major contribution to the campus.
"It's an excellent learning experience for our (MSU's) students," he said. "It provides excellent hands-on experience."
MSU alumni Bianca Zemelis, Erik Pedersen and Josh Cook came up with the design for the gardens during their senior year.
"We gave (the students) a list of plants we'd use, and they helped choose the plants and plant combinations," Douglass said.
Although the board initially was concerned with the funding, it approved the proposal since private funds will take care of both operations and maintenance.
"We were delighted," said Gail Moore, director of development for the College of Science and Technology.
Moore also is in charge of fundraising for the project.
Saginaw graduate student Susan Dalgarn said she has heard about the planned gardens.
"I'm not a botanist ... but I wouldn't mind looking at the plants," she said.
The garden will feature three main areas: "Native Plants and Natural Communities," "Landscape Demonstration Gardens" and "Plants and Society." The gardens will cover approximately three acres of land.
The native plants area will emphasize Michigan's diverse natural flora said Douglas. It will include the existing Wakelin McNeel Woodlot as well as the Library Pond.
The landscape area will feature plants and landscapes that are new and exciting, but also offer students a place to sit and relax, said Douglas.
Plants and Society will educate people on the everyday impact plants have on our lives, said Douglas.
news@cm-life.com
The Board of Trustees approved a plan for the Central Michigan University Botanical Gardens during its regular meeting Feb. 14.
The gardens, which will be located west of Park Library, could be implemented as soon as this summer. The gardens, which cost $900,000, will be completely privately funded through donor contributions.
Students enrolled in botany, nature study, dendrology, behavior, ecology, field botany and plants and society as well as the general public will have access to the gardens.
"The garden will be much more diverse than the small rock garden around the greenhouse" said Claudia Douglass, chairperson of CMU's biology department, who has worked closely with Michigan State University faculty member Robert Schutzki and others on the project.
The department has been working on the project since spring 2006.
Schutzki said MSU's botanical gardens, also privately funded, have been a major contribution to the campus.
"It's an excellent learning experience for our (MSU's) students," he said. "It provides excellent hands-on experience."
MSU alumni Bianca Zemelis, Erik Pedersen and Josh Cook came up with the design for the gardens during their senior year.
"We gave (the students) a list of plants we'd use, and they helped choose the plants and plant combinations," Douglass said.
Although the board initially was concerned with the funding, it approved the proposal since private funds will take care of both operations and maintenance.
"We were delighted," said Gail Moore, director of development for the College of Science and Technology.
Moore also is in charge of fundraising for the project.
Saginaw graduate student Susan Dalgarn said she has heard about the planned gardens.
"I'm not a botanist ... but I wouldn't mind looking at the plants," she said.
The garden will feature three main areas: "Native Plants and Natural Communities," "Landscape Demonstration Gardens" and "Plants and Society." The gardens will cover approximately three acres of land.
The native plants area will emphasize Michigan's diverse natural flora said Douglas. It will include the existing Wakelin McNeel Woodlot as well as the Library Pond.
The landscape area will feature plants and landscapes that are new and exciting, but also offer students a place to sit and relax, said Douglas.
Plants and Society will educate people on the everyday impact plants have on our lives, said Douglas.
news@cm-life.com
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