UWindsor gardener Aaron Dickau shows St. Clair College horticulture students and instructors the diversity of native species in the Stewart Moore Carolinian Garden.UWindsor gardener Aaron Dickau (third from left) shows St. Clair College horticulture students and instructors the diversity of native species in the Stewart Moore Carolinian Garden outside the Leddy Library.

Horticulture students tour campus gardens

A group of St. Clair College horticulture students toured the UWindsor campus Friday to get a close-up look at how gardeners maintain its grounds.

“Everything we have studied is here,” said instructor Wendy Trahan, a landscape designer who teaches in the college’s horticultural program. “From containers and planters to flower beds, naturalized spaces and even a greenhouse — I am just fascinated by the campus.”

The tour was led by UWindsor gardener Aaron Dickau, who had first discussed the possibility of the visit with Trahan.

“He informed me of just how broad the grounds are here,” Trahan says. “It turned out to be a great opportunity for my students to see so many skills in use.”

The group visited a number of plantings, including the Stewart Moore garden of native Carolinian species, the campus community garden, raised beds outside Dillon and Chrysler halls, trees along Turtle Island Walk, the rooftop gardens in the Centre for Engineering Innovation, and the greenhouse atop the Biology Building.

Grounds supervisor Garry Moore says that variety of venues is a valuable resource he is glad to see used.

“Many people in the city, and even here at the university, don’t appreciate what a great learning resource we have just in terms of the plants and trees across the campus,” he says. “We’re so happy to share some expertise with these college students; education is our mandate, too.”

Student Trysten Cassidy says he hopes to be able to attend the university and says he was impressed by his visit.

“I’m just overwhelmed by the size of the campus,” he says. “In the future, if I keep working, I will get here.”