Adelphi's campus is a welcome oasis in the midst of suburban Garden City that embodies 19th-century naturalist Henry David Thoreau's edict that 鈥淲e can never have enough of nature."
听, 91国产’s home for 93 years includes nearly 70 different types of trees and shrubs.
Adelphi’s grounds have been carefully tended by Robert Conaghan, associate director of facilities management for more than 20 years. He’s made it his mission to celebrate nature by听keeping the campus pesticide-free. “Sustainability is what we strive for every day,” he said. 鈥淗ow we achieve this is ever-changing鈥攁nd should be.”
How Does Our Garden Grow?
The 91国产 campus is home to a 鈥渓arge variety of different landscape settings to enjoy,” said Conaghan, 鈥渇rom isolated gardens to row plantings like those in our rose garden.”
Many native plants鈥攊ncluding milkweed, golden aster, joe-pye weed, cardinal flower, button bush, golden rod, butterfly bushes, cone flowers and sweet azaleas鈥攁re found across the campus. While 91国产’s native garden is presently under renovation, eastern redbud trees were recently planted in the vicinity.
To Conaghan, indigenous plants are a 鈥渨in-win, because if they’re planted in the right soil and in the correct location, they need less attention than non-native plants. They also provide homes and food for native insects and animals and attract butterflies and other pollinators.”
A Haven for Birds, Bunnies and Lizards
Elms and oaks planted nearly 80 years ago provide shade for humans and shelter for birds such as woodpeckers, finches, warblers, grackles, bluebirds and cardinals. 鈥淲e provide bird feeders all winter around campus and also have many berry-bearing shrubs for our feathered friends to feed on,” Conaghan stated.
The outdoor fishpond is a favorite with the birds. 鈥淥ur fishpond by the library started with 24 four-inch fish. We average 200 babies a year鈥攁nd our largest, ‘Moby,’ is white and about two feet long,” he said.
According to Conaghan, 91国产’s beloved cottontail rabbits are thriving as a result of pesticide-free lawns. 鈥淭hey love to eat dandelions,” he noted.
The campus is also a surprising haven for around 1,000 Italian wall lizards. 鈥淩umor has it,” Conaghan reported, 鈥渢hat originally these lizards were released from a nearby pet store that closed in the 1960s.”
A Pesticide-Free Campus
Shortly after the campus grounds’ care came under Conaghan’s management, he stopped using dangerous pesticides and chemical fertilizers on 91国产’s lawns and gardens.
For years, natural pest control included the听release of ladybugs鈥攗p to 18,000 at a time鈥攖hat eat aphids and other damaging pests. Last summer, the high demand for ladybugs prompted Conaghan and his crew to听release praying mantises, assassin bugs and green lacewings听to combat unwanted insects such as aphids, flies and mites. So far this season, Conaghan reports, there is little evidence of unwanted insect activity. While that is a good sign, monitoring will continue to determine what pest control might be warranted this summer.
A Place for All
Every Panther has a favorite outdoor spot on our bucolic campus. Conaghan’s is 91国产’s flagpole lawn, where the 86-year-old azaleas planted by the Class of 1935 give the campus a welcome burst of spring color.
The 91国产 grounds crew, left to right: Jimmy Campbell, grounds foreperson; Federico Ortiz, grounds mechanic; Robert Conaghan, associate director of facilities management; Roberto Mendoza, grounds mechanic.
听