By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University Grounds Department is planting flowers around the main campus to beautify the area for Spring. Its grounds crew is landscaping multiple spots around the area by cleaning beds, applying pre-emergent, and cutting ornamental grasses.
The Fort Hays Grounds Department is conducting a project to beautify the main campus by planting flowers in multiple spots. 
Flowers orders from Jackson & Perkins Park Acquisitions, Inc. sit in the Grounds Department’s greenhouse. 
The Grounds Department will plant flowers near Sheridan Hall, Lewis Field, Heather Hall, Agnew Hall and the main entrance near Eighth Street. 
Grounds Equipment Operator Cody Norton plants flowers beside Memorial Union.
Grounds Manager Brenden Ibarra has overseen the project since October, when the department ordered its materials for Spring planting.
“Those come around in February,” he said. “We get them in plugs, so they’re tiny. The guys in the greenhouse transplant those into bigger pots, and then we plant them in the flower beds.”
The department ordered these plants from Jackson & Perkins Park Acquisitions, Inc., and shipping expenses were $5,000-$6,000.
“We cut back on our flower beds,” Ibarra said. “There are a few less flower beds in the middle of the Quad. We went to perennial bushes and more landscape-looked areas instead of those flowers because we’re short on help, and it’s simpler to maintain plants than water every day.”
Groundsmen have planted flowers near Sheridan Hall, Lewis Field, Heather Hall, Agnew Hall and the main entrance near Eighth Street.
“It’s been cold and hot, and it’s hard to prepare for that,” Ibarra said. “With Hays not getting as much rain as we need to, that always puts limits on how much we water, and that can be a large stress issue.”
Despite these challenges, Ibarra is satisfied with how the new flowers add value to the campus’ appearance.
“It’s monumental,” he said. “It’s a huge hit and people like them. If I had more people on staff or unlimited funds, it’d be great to continue to do even more flower beds.”