Gardening season is finally upon us, and Fanshawe Gardens is bursting with development, color and residents’ participation.
Photo Taken: (Evan Frederiksen, XFM news)
Fanshawe Gardens manager Cindy Buelow stated this season has included some welcome surprises, along with some old standbys. “As all gardeners realize, changes have to be made as we transition from one year to another and work with what Mother Nature is giving us,” she said.
Less severe spring weather this year has allowed flowers to open in a gradual, natural sequence, unlike the last few years. “It’s been pretty that we got to experience a really lovely progression of magnolias into lilacs and then peonies,” Buelow said. “It looks like we’ll have a long bloom period, which is really wonderful.”
Photo Taken: (Evan Frederiksen, XFM news)
But the extra rainfall has raised some concerns. “There will be additional pressures from fungal and bacterial issues,” she said. “We’ll certainly see a lot more of that this summer.”
Buelow encourages first-time gardeners to start with plants that are native to the area and familiarize themselves with the special needs of their garden bed. “Selecting the right plant for the right place is the key,” she said. “For the most part, they are very low maintenance if they are native… it will not take over your garden if you select the right plant for the right spot.”
The gardens at the Fanshawe campus’s are maintained by co-op students and technicians who ensure the grounds remain healthy and thriving throughout the summer months. Students and professors contribute as well through a campus community garden, using it as a site for research and learning.
Fanshawe also recently hosted its annual open garden event at Cuddy Gardens, drawing around 450 visitors. “It was fantastic,” said Buelow.
Photo Taken: (Evan Frederiksen, XFM news)
“People toured through the gardens and took part in our plant sale.”
When it comes to giving back to the community, since January, the team has donated more than 1,600 pounds of microgreens to the London Food Bank. “We’re very happy to be doing that year after year.”
Learn more about the background of Fanshawe College’s Botanical Gardens and how they operate here
