Brina Barrientos
Since its official opening in October 2003, the Botanical Garden at Pierce College became a refreshing area of colorful and fascinating plant wildlife, with benches offering heavenly repose amid sweet-smelling flowers, a trickling fountain and a small pond.
Still, that is not all the lush beauty that the garden will have to offer.
Originally planned to be completed May 11, the final phase of the garden has undergone some difficulty in constructing supports for the three mission-style shade structures that are to be put up in various areas of the garden.
“There was a problem with building the structures and then lay out foundation for the beams,” explained James Rikel, chair of the life sciences department.
The contractor has fixed the problem, he said, and it is “all taken care of now.”
The life science department’s idea for a Mediterranean garden first began in 1999 with several goals in mind.
First, an outdoor botanical laboratory was ideal for a better student learning process. Also, water use would decrease on campus with plants natural to our climate and different Mediterranean areas. These plants stop growing during the dry summer weather until the winter when they start growing again.
A garden was practical for these reasons and also for adding beauty that was lacking in an area of grass by the life science building.
Half of the two-acre garden has already been completed to include many plants, benches and “Writer’s Circles” and three various water features.
A large part of the funds for the garden came from grants from two separate foundations; the S. Mark Taper Foundation and J.M. Long Foundation.
Other donations were received from various nurseries in southern and central California, as well as donations from individuals sponsoring plants and benches in their name.
“We still have many more benches as well as plants that need sponsoring,” said Rikel. “People can contact us on the Web site for the garden on the college Web site.
Donors are recognized for their sponsorship by plaques placed on the benches and nearby the plants.
Four days after what was supposed to be the completion of the Botanical Garden, Pierce student Shamima Sharmin stood by the pond observing the water lilies.
These water lilies are her countries national flower in Bangladesh.
Sharmin said she loves to use the garden.
“I am usually working (studying) in the lab right here and when I need a break or need to make a phone call, I come out here to the garden,” said Sharmin. “It’s very peaceful.”
Now that the construction of the Botanical Garden is underway again, Rikel said that it should be completed by late July.