When I was a child, my foster mother introduced me to the beauty of a flower garden. A large plot of ground adjacent to the property on which their house sat bloomed profusely with annuals and perennials every spring and summer. Every color on the color wheel could be seen in the garden and amazing fragrances permeated the air. I loved standing in the garden and taking it all in. Each Sunday my foster mother prepared the floral arrangements for the church altar and in July she entered her floral arrangements in the county fair competition. She obviously had a special love for growing, and great skill with planting and cultivating to produce such stunning arrays of flowers every year.
I never managed to acquire her skill level with cultivating such beauty, but I did acquire a great appreciation for the beauty of gardens. The Gardens at Kansas State University hold the same intrigue for me as an adult as my foster mother’s did when I was a child. Thus, it seemed natural to become involved with the Friends of the Kansas State University Gardens and to serve on the Friends Board to help promote the importance of The Gardens as a university asset. As the North Corridor of the university continues to unfold and develop, my hope is that The Gardens continue to expand and evolve as well. The Gardens at Kansas State University are an integral part of the integrity and aesthetics of the university and should be promoted as such. I will continue to be a “cheerleader” for The Gardens and to encourage others to do the same.