CSC arboretum sows volunteers

The Chadron State College Campus Arboretum hosted a work day at the Sandoz Center Saturday. Volunteers met in the Chicoine Atrium of the Sandoz Center to clean and plant seeds from harvested wild flowers beginning at 9 a.m., and continuing till noon.

The volunteers, numbering around 21 in all, who ranged in age from elementary school to senior citizens, participated in the event which included various stations. Each station offered different activities at which members would cut out and glue envelopes, clean seeds (breaking the seeds out of the shells), or label envelopes.

Lucinda Mays, Chadron State College campus horticulturist, led the group explaining everything that needed to be done, as well as facts about the different wild flower seeds being worked with throughout the morning.

One of the varieties of the seeds the group was working with were from harvested wildflowers found on Chadron State College Campus.

Mid-morning, the group took a break from working in stations to sow Penstemon seeds outside around the Sandoz statue.  All of the volunteers received a pinch of seeds, lined up on the walking path along the garden, and spread the seeds to be carried by the wind and sown in the cold earth. Mays said that Penstemon favor cold weather, and that the seeds require chilly temperatures for proper germination.

After the outside sowing excursion, members then returned inside for coffee and brownies, and then after that, they returned to working at stations.

The seeds the group worked with will be for sale in the Sandoz gift shop.  Each seed package was labeled with instructions on how to grow the seeds properly.

According to Mays, the arboretum work day was signficant because of the education that the volunteers received about growing plants native to the high plains, the enhancement the flowers will provide to the campus, and the outreach that the sale of plants will provide to the Sandoz Center.

At the culmination of the event, each volunteer received a packet of wildflower seeds, live cultivated seeds, and a Parsley plant.

Chadron State College Campus Arboretum volunteers host four events throughout the year, one in April dealing with trees, one in the summer about plants, and a fall clean up event.  Anyone is welcome to attend these events without any reservations.

This is the time of year to get seeds started for vegetables and herbs,” Mays said.

Mays invited campus and community members to the series of events that the Arboretum society will continue to host, saying

“We invite anyone interested in sharing their experience growing plants in the High Plains, or those interested in learning more, to join us.”