As finals are approaching, I think we can agree that there’s an overarching sense of doom and despair over Tallahassee. We had our one week of coldness, and now we have lukewarm fall weather as it gets darker earlier. Given this gloomy atmosphere, I think it’s important to encourage everyone to take in the beauty of FSU and our Groundskeeping and Landscaping Operations team!
FSU Florals
Their page emphasizes being environmentally sustainable and attractive, and creating aesthetic arrays for each area on campus. Their department is a combination of grounds maintenance, landscaping and nursery, irrigation, pruning, and arboriculture. Did you know that there are even some spots on campus that grow fruit?
Additionally, our team is so passionate about their work that they launched “Flora Friday” in which a different flower/plant is posted every Friday with a little summary about it! This is such a cool feature of the facilities department!
As you can probably imagine, a lot goes on behind the scenes in regard to making our campus look as beautiful as it is! Thus, in an attempt to help bring back some appreciation of Tallahassee and all its joy, here’s a rainbow illustrated through FSU on these Flora Fridays:
Red: Pagoda Flower
Firstly, this red plant is a Pagoda Flower (Clerodendrum paniculatum) outside of the Thagard Building. This plant is notorious for thriving in the summer, even through extreme temperatures, producing vibrant color from now until winter hits. The plant in itself is massive; it can grow up to ten feet tall!
Orange: Dr. Moy Ginger Lily
Secondly, this orange plant is regarded as the Dr. Moy Ginger Lily (Hedychium ‘Dr. Moy’) between the Student Union and HCB. It’s a hybrid plant created by Dr. Moy in the San Antonio Botanical Garden. It can produce orange or white variations and is notorious for doing well in cold settings. It’s notorious for its vibrant color!
Yellow: Brown-eyed Susan
Next, there’s a yellow plant known as the Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) in the Labyrinth Garden between the College of Medicine and Department of Psychology buildings. This is a native wildflower that reseeds regularly and can beautifully finish a botanical array. It’s also pollinator-friendly and thrives with bees.
Green: Dunstan Chestnut
Next, this green plant is known as a Dunstan Chestnut (Castanea dentata x mollissima), which is a cross between American and Chinese variations of the plant just outside the Seminole Organic Garden. Between the circus lot and Wildwood Hall, the American Chestnut Tree wasn’t the most resilient to disease, so this hybrid was created to bring the plant back and leave its mark!
Blue: Blue Plumbago
Next, this blue flower is the Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), which has been said to be outside the Student Union or the Mendenhall buildings. These flowers are notorious for attracting butterflies and for their blooming beauty. They’re a great addition to any flower array and can grow to be very large.
Purple: Evergreen wisteria
Lastly, we have the purple flower, Evergreen wisteria (Millettia reticulata) outside of the Mendenhall B building. It’s not an authentic wisteria, their purple petals give it a pretty synonymous look, which is why it’s referred to as the “Evergreen” variation. These flowers are known for filling the air with a pleasant fragrance as well!
I hope this rainbow helped open your eyes to the beauty of FSU’s campus a bit more, especially during these gloomy months. If you see an employee of our Groundskeeping and Landscaping team on campus, I really encourage you to say hi and thank them for their hard and beautiful work!
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