Colourful Gardens Drawing New Attention

U of G Grounds manager is planting to make a splendid first impression

Is it possible for pretty plants to help seal the deal between prospective students and a university promoting all it has to offer? Grounds manager John Reinhart, pictured above in one of the conservatory flower beds, is planting on it. And while grounds staff and grounds summer students have been busy with the seasonal preening of the campus grounds, they've also been busy fielding questions and accepting compliments on the transformation and expansion of the conservatory gardens.

The gardens once only framing the D. M. Rutherford Family Conservatory, now meander all the way to South Ring Road and it's got the attention of the U of G community including Owen Roberts, adjunct professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences and the research communications director at the University of Guelph. While on route to his office in the University Centre, and taking in a newly planted flowerbed sporting Gryphon colours, he took the opportunity to acknowledge and question gardener Nick Colley-Lussier on the colourful developments.

Pictured from left to right are grounds manager, John Reinhart, gardener Nick Colley-Lussier, and summer student Letitia Uwamahoro.

Roberts, a.k.a. Urban Cowboy, also busily works as a columnist and journalist for many media outlets including Guelph's newest, exclusively online daily news site GuelphToday and he knows an interest story when he sees one - especially if it relates to research and the recruitment of students. In short order, an interview is set up with an enthusiastic Reinhart, a few photo-ops are taken picturing grounds summer students up close and personal with flowers that pop, and a few facts are verified with U of G student recruitment staff. The Urban Cowboy is ready to rebuke any "so what if there's pretty flowers on campus" statement because research shows that the university scenery makes a difference in attracting prospective students.

Reassuring words that make all the work involved with beautifying the campus landscape worthwhile. Roberts appropriately titles his column "No playing games – this campus gets top marks for beauty”. Roberts summarizes what’s been growing on in the conservatory, “The centrally located conservatory gardens, where many visitors get their first impression of the university, have increasingly become an aesthetic centerpiece in the past few years.”

Enjoy reading the full length (August 9th, 2016) column in GuelphToday from the link provided below.
Urban Cowboy No playing games — this campus gets top marks for beauty - GuelphToday.com.html

John and Nick Colley-Lussier assess the condition of the hostas and Leticia Uwamahoro and Carlos Poblete define the boarder of expanding plantings.

Roberts' column also discloses: “Plans are well underway for next year, with new plantings that will recognize Canada’s 150th birthday. Reinhart is trying to have this aspect of the conservatory gardens complete in time for Alumni Weekend, including signage and botanical and common identification for all the plant species.

Grounds heavy equipment operator, Nick Gielen, delivers mulch for the new plant beds along South Ring Road bordering the conservatory gardens.

"Establishing the perennial beds has been the most labour intensive task this year," says Reinhart, "after this it gets easier from here."

Above John instructs Nick, Leticia and Carlos on the best method of trimming and caring for rare species being introduced to the gardens.

Three years ago, with Reinhart in the lead, the University of Guelph won top place as best urban university grounds from the international Professional Ground Management Society. He has his eye on the prize again.