Art walkway found under brush

Horticulture hosts earth day to show off clean up

Glass bottle designs, a dolphin mosaic, and precisely placed rock patterns sit neglected under overgrown plants and tree debris in the center of the Pierce College Arboretum.

An artistic walkway, which was created by Pierce students in the various landscape construction classes over the years, is just one of many areas in the arboretum that face the danger of the unknown.

“We [still] teach landscape construction but it’s just wherever we can do it,” Jody LaChance, professor of horticulture, said as he walked along the concrete. “We don’t do a lot of permanent things because, what’s going to happen?”

LaChance said since the economy took a hit back in the late 2000’s, funding has been hard to come by. A plan was put in place to build new facilities for the department, but suddenly things were put on hold.

Dr. Leland Shapiro, professor of animal and veterinary sciences, believes the program has value, but feels the facilities need some updating. He touched base on the subject during a walk around the Arboretum’s Braille Trail.

The long neglected area has been receiving some much-needed attention from volunteer Gary Humecke, but not without some obstacles.

“I’m a real nature lover, I’ve visited every state park there is probably,” Humecke said with a chuckle. “I wanted to give back so about three years ago, we cleaned out the nature center [and the] Canyon da Lana and we were kicked out of there.”

Humecke, a landscape contractor and former Pierce student, has a sentimental attachment to the outdoor learning area that used to compliment his studies. He is unsure why people would try and prevent him from helping out.

“The bureaucracy is so secretive, we really don’t know [why],” said Humecke. “The sheriff just shows up and says ‘leave.’”

Familiar with the neglect the horticulture program has received,

“There’s a great job market for our graduates. There’s an interest, but you have to have a facility to get the students to come here,” Shapiro said. “Students come and they see our horticulture buildings which were built in the 40’s and nothing’s been done to [them] since.”

Humecke will continue to dedicate his time to beautifying the arboretum in hopes that someday, students will be able to enjoy the area just as he did when he attended Pierce.

“I went to school here 40 years ago and I believe that this is an asset that shouldn’t be wasted,” Humecke said.

The horticulture department, led by students, is planning to continue clean up and schedule an open house for Earth Day, encouraging everyone on campus to come view the new landscaping and plantings that have been put in place.