ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ honored for campus beauty

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s tree-lined campus recently was one of two universities nationwide to receive the Professional Grounds Management Society’s highest award, the Grand Award.

November 17, 2009
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ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s tree-lined campus recently was one of two universities nationwide to receive the highest award, the Grand Award. The 170-acre campus is characterized by stately live oaks and grass quads that stay green year-round.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ colors of red and blue pansies fill the beds in winter while dogwood, hydrangea and daffodils bloom in the spring.Ìý Yellow star zinnias filled the beds all summer at the outside Fondren Library ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.

Kevin Dilliard, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ director of landscape management, faces the usual challenges of NorthÌýTexas gardeners – scorching summers and hard clay soil – but he uses a computerized irrigation system and campus weather station to ensure the best use of water resources. He also selects plants best suited to the climate. Knockout roses, Calico ornamental peppers and Pride of Barbados perennials were among the most popular plants on campus this year, he says.

As winter approaches, Dilliard and his staff are looking to spring. They plan to plant 10,000 red tulip bulbs on campus after Thanksgiving.

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November 17, 2009