May usually brings an abundance of new flowers, including on the Saint John’s University campus.
Karyn Morrissey plays a big part in making that happen.
The College of Saint Benedict junior is one of a small number of students on the SJU grounds department’s landscaping team – a group that since this past February has grown 14,000 new plants and flowers in the SJU greenhouse.
They are now being replanted across campus, adding a healthy splash of color and beauty.
“I grew up around plants,” said the environmental studies and biology double major who is in her third year working for the grounds department.
“We had a massive garden, and I worked in a nursery and floral shop in high school. Watching things grow and being around nature is something I’ve always enjoyed.
“When I first got here, I saw there was an open position on the grounds crew,” Morrissey continued. “That seemed like a perfect fit, so I applied and I’ve been here ever since.
“It’s the people that keep me coming back. I love every single person I work with, and it’s really exciting to have the chance to work on projects like this.”
Aiden Shoberg, the landscape/groundskeeper at SJU for the past four years, said more than 80 percent of the plant material found on the SJU campus is grown internally. This year, 42 different varieties of plants and flowers were produced – 26 from seed and 16 from plugs.
“Although I plan out the gardens, the students really help make the concept real,” said Shoberg, who grew up in Central Minnesota and attended St. Cloud Tech High School.
“We have a crew of four full-time student workers on the landscaping team. These are students who have been on the grounds crew and have shown a high level of skill when it comes to handling plants and shrubs, or students we’ve vetted and have a background in this. Or even some with no background, but a high amount of drive.”
Shoberg said the process of transferring the plants and flowers from the greenhouse to the ground began this week and will continue through early summer.
“We always try to get a certain amount of our gardens ready by commencement, but that isn’t always possible depending on the weather,” he said. “This year, we’ve been able to do more than we typically do by this point. We’re hoping to have everything buttoned up by the second week in June.”
CSB and SJU physical plant director Russ Klein said the efforts of Shoberg and his team help provide the SJU campus its distinctive look.
“At SJU, we’ve been growing our own flowers on campus for years,” Klein said. “This is a practice that begins as early as February under the care of Aiden and (SJU grounds director) Tony (Webber). This approach not only aligns with our values of stewardship, creativity and care for place, but also contributes to a strong sense of identity and belonging on our campuses. It’s an incredible story, rooted in tradition, hands-on knowledge and a quiet kind of innovation that inspires pride in the everyday.
“This work is also a great example of how we’re living out our strategic direction of financial and operational excellence. By growing much of what we need internally instead of purchasing from nurseries, we’re maximizing resources and impact and demonstrating what it looks like to embed the strategic plan into daily operations.”
Klein said the hope is to soon follow a similar direction at CSB.
“Tony Webber is now serving in the interim role of coordinate grounds director for CSB and SJU,” he said. “I’ve asked Tony and Aiden to not only continue this practice at SJU but to also bring this model to CSB. And just as importantly, to bring some of the incredible knowledge from the CSB grounds team back to SJU. The more information-sharing we do between our campuses, the more unique and differentiated we become.
“I’m extremely proud of the CSB and SJU grounds team and what they’ve built! It’s more than just flowers; it’s an embodiment of who we are and what we value.”
Morrissey – a Waupaca, Wisconsin, native who hopes to pursue a career working with wildlife and/or in conservation, and this year will also undertake a summer research project looking at the petiole (stalk of a leaf connecting the blade to the stem) length of Quaking Aspens and whether their movement helps deter pests – is proud to be part of the grounds team’s botanical beautification efforts.
“This campus looks so pretty during the summer,” Morrissey said. “It’s really fun to play a role in making that happen.”