A (Literally) Green Initiative

Renovations are beginning on the cafeteria here on the Glendale Campus. Working in Barrel Student Center III, right next door to Barrel Student Center II where the cafeteria resides, I have a ringside seat to the construction.

One thing I can see going on outside our building right now is the occasional employee armed with a shovel and cardboard box digging up plants. Don't worry - this is not casual foliage larceny. It's actually a reclamation - these plants cannot be transplanted to other areas of campus, so Dr. Goeppinger has offered them to faculty and staff to transplant to their own homes.

The list of plants is a horticulturalist's dream:

•· Yellow Dot (Sphagneticola trilobata)

•· Toothless Sotol (Dasylirion quadrangulatum)

•· Native Orchid Trees (Bauhina lunaroides)

•· Purple Lantana (Lantana montevidensis)

•· Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

•· Blue Ruellia (Ruellia brittoniana)

Now, for my part, I don't know from Ruellia or Sotols. My relationship to plant life is basically, "Pretty green thing convert carbon dioxide to oxygen through photosynthesis." The only time I have a green thumb is when I'm sloppy while dyeing Easter eggs or when my dry-erase marker slips when I'm updating my office whiteboard.

Still, I find it pretty great that instead of just casting these plants aside in the name of progress, the University is embarking on a generous "green" plan to recycle these plants to new owners. It also makes for a fun change of scenery outside of our office windows to see people taking Dr. G up on her offer.

As for me, I'm just waiting for the day when Dr. G asks us to find new homes for our campus golf carts. I always wanted a golf cart.