'Adopt a Flower Bed' Program Succeeds

The new “Adopt a Flower Bed” program has sprouted more color on campus, not to mention volunteer opportunities for employees who want to help beautify the landscape.

Nearly 20 plots have been claimed by university offices or departments.

“I’m really pleased with the results for this first year,” said Terry Eilders (Plant Operations). “Phyllis Wong initiated the idea of the NMU Women’s Garden Club planting and maintaining a bed (she and members of the club are pictured near their garden). I thought it was a great idea and ran with it. Why not involve other groups on campus and model it after the ‘Adopt a Highway’ program?"

The grounds department prepared the flower beds using university compost, tilled the earth, delivered the plants and provided each group with a water source and hose.

Markers identify the group who agreed to design the bed, plant the flowers and maintain the garden through regular watering, weeding and flower dead-heading.

“We used to have so many flower beds on campus; I know because I used to plant them. They’ve been downsized through cost savings, but it was getting plain. The admissions office talks about how the appearance of campus affects enrollment. We’re just trying to make the place look a little better and we wouldn’t have pulled it off without a volunteer effort.”