Botanic Garden Groundskeepers
Even on a university campus designated a botanic garden, meticulously planned, planted, watered, weeded, cut, and mulched, the shortest path from dorm room to classroom, and parking structure to office can blur the shades of green, and hide the patches of nature’s colors in plain sight. But even more hidden in plain sight are the groundskeepers, the workers moving from shade to shade keeping the weeds out of plant beds, turning on drip lines in flower beds and hauling gallons of water to plant boxes, replanting seasonal flowers before the heat of the day begins, endlessly mowing acres of grass, sweeping up every leaf, twig, and discarded wrapper which would make the scene less than ideal. This photograph essay is an invitation to walk a longer, slower route to your end point, wherever it may be, and to acknowledge the people and work that turn the journey into the destination.
Gage Bealmer, a junior studying business finance and economics at the University of Missouri, and working part time as a groundskeeper for the university, carries a bale of pine straw between two cypress trees that provide shade for the Turner Avenue Parking Structure, July 13, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Pine straw is an alternative to mulch for preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides, and provides a pleasing visual appeal. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 80.
Colleen Thomas, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, waters rows of potted cannas and elephant ears in Greenhouse 23, June 1, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Grounds keepers rotate tropical stock of plants from the warmth of the greenhouse in the cool months to planter boxes and plots around the campus in the warm months. Photograph made with Lensbaby Sweet 35.
Gary Blakemore, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, pulls up baby redbud trees and weeds from among the grasses and shrubs outside the entrance to Ernie & Lottie Sears Plant Growth Facility Tucker Hall, Aug. 2, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. The botanic garden grows many plants native to Missouri, but also plants native to other areas of North America, Europe and Asia. Photograph made with Lensbaby Twist 60.
Jeremy Grasela, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, stands in the basket of a Bill Jax lift as he uses a chainsaw to cut off the limbs of a dying pine tree outside of the Animal Science Research Center, Aug. 16, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. In an average year, the groundskeepers remove fifty trees, and plant one-hundred and fifty to two hundred. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 80.
A tray of vinca flowers await planting in the 8th Street Circle, a focal point of the University of Missouri campus, May 25, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. The groundskeepers plant three times per year—spring, summer, and fall to keep the botanic garden pristine. In addition to meticulous care, the botanic garden retains its status with records plant provenance, identification markers for all plants, and educational opportunities. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 35.
Andy Williams, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, plants vinca, Mexican petunias, and coleus between the drip lines at the 8th Street Circle, a focal point of the campus, May 25, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Grounds keepers turn on the drip lines three times a week to keep the plants and flowers healthy. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 35.
The statue of Beetle Bailey, a character created by cartoonist Mort Walker, a University of Missouri 1977 alum, looks on as Nate Watlow, groundskeeper at the university, rides a propane powered Turf Tracer cutting the grass outside of the Donald W. Reynolds Alumni Center, July 6, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Groundskeepers mow 240 acres of grass each week. Photograph made with Lensbaby Sweet 35.
Andy Williams, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, uses a leaf blower outside of Ellis Library to round up leaves, twigs and debris scattered during a windstorm, June 21, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. While most botanic gardens rely on advertising and promotion to bring visitors, this botanic garden shows off to 31,121 visitors (enrolled students) every day. Photograph made with Lensbaby Twist 60.
Herman Klippel, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, spreads a bale of pine straw between two cypress trees that supply shade for the Turner Avenue Parking Structure on the university campus, July 13, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Pine straw is an alternative to mulch for preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides, and provides a pleasing visual appeal. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 80.
Gage Bealmer, a junior studying business finance and economics at the University of Missouri, and working part time as a groundskeeper for the university landscape department, waters a row of zinnias, rhuellia, lantana, vinca, and coleus flowers built into the retaining wall surrounding Truman Pond, July 19, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Groundskeepers water flowerpots, planters and plots three times each week across the university campus. Photograph made with Lensbaby Sweet 80.
Jennifer Smith, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, meticulously cuts back spreading vinca and ivy overgrowing the sidewalk loop surrounding Woodlands Garden, one of eighteen thematic gardens on the campus, this one a dry creek bed shade garden, tucked away within the semi-circle created by the Anheuser-Bush Natural Resources Building, Aug. 10, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Photograph made with Lensbaby Edge 80.
Jennifer Smith, groundskeeper at the University of Missouri, waters tiger eyed sumac, milkweed, lantana and ipomea in a circular planter box that Jennifer designed, outside the Student Center, July 6, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Smith transports 200 gallons of water in a tank strapped to the bed of a Kubota, pumps the water with a small gasoline water pump, and refills the tank ten times in a watering day, three times a week. Photograph made with Lensbaby Sweet 35.