Horticulture students beautify Dean's Garden

Texas A&M University-Commerce horticulture students are currently doing landscaping work in the Dean's Garden of the campus Ag-IT Building.

Associate horticulture professor and graduate coordinator Dr. Derald Harp is primarily responsible for coordinating the Ag-IT Building's landscaping. Harp and his students shoulder the responsibly of maintaining the building's two gardens, a job which includes irrigation and weed control.

The Ag-IT Building's first garden was installed in November 2004, followed by the Dean's Garden located at the north rear entrance in spring 2006. The two gardens were connected in spring 2007.

Harp said that providing irrigation to the raised circular flower bed in the Dean's Garden has been a challenge during the summer.

"That soil also tends to compact really badly, so we've had issues trying to get plants to grow in there," he said.

Flooding on the ground surrounding the raised bed has also been a difficulty.

"We've discussed it with the dean, visited with her about it and then went ahead and excavated all of that," Harp said. "So we're going to go back in with a brick paver system over the top of that and make it a little more permanent."

Harp said he and his students also hope to replace the current granite path in the Dean's Garden with a full concrete sidewalk sometime next year.

"The design installation of the landscapes has always been a class project," Harp said. "Whether it's our landscape design class or landscape management class, both of those classes are involved in the installation and modification. The landscape management class is actually modifying that one (the Dean's Garden) right now, addressing issues that we've had with it."

Harp said the gardens exist chiefly to support the agriculture department's horticultural classes, like introduction to horticulture and ornamental plant ID.

"In addition to changing the aesthetic of this building, it also does serve the purpose of being classroom material," Harp said.

He said the addition of the Ag-IT landscapes have helped raise the total number of different plant species on campus from around 85 to 135. Harp and his students do not use any fertilizers, insecticides or fungicides on the plants and trees. As they generally plant only perennials, mulch is usually the only seasonal replacement necessary.

"It gives me lots of knowledge for when I get my own business," junior horticulture major Sadie James said. "It's good hands-on experience."

Aside from academics, Harp said that the Ag-IT landscapes were also designed with the intention of creating a quiet relaxing space for students in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the walking mall. Harp said he hopes the trees in the Dean's Garden will eventually grow and spread enough to form a canopy over its walkway.

For some A&M-Commerce students, the Dean's Garden is already a welcoming place.

"I think it creates an inviting atmosphere for individuals entering the Ag-IT Building," junior photography major Patty Neal said.

There are currently two work-study positions for the Ag-IT landscaping projects open for applications. Anyone desiring further information may contact Dr. Derald Harp at Derald_Harp@tamu-commerce.edu.