I think that it must have been made clear that I love to walk the verdant, lush, Campus of Southern Illinois University.  It has been said, many times through the years, that SIUC is the loveliest Campus in the state of Illinois.

The Grounds Department maintains over 1,200 acres.  They also ‘provide snow removal, street cleaning, and parking lot maintenance,’ according to their web site.

Every day that I am privileged to walk the SIU Campus…I see Grounds Staff busily maintaining their handiwork!

The juxtaposition of our well manicured Grounds with our historic Campus Structures results in a Painting worthy of Monet or Vincent van Gogh.

The Grounds department does all of this picturesque work with a staff of under fifty full time and twenty-seven student workers.

They accomplish all of the Grounds maintenance as well as having a crew dedicated, daily, to moving furniture and equipment, and fifteen of the staff are trained in the removal of asbestos.

My friend and colleague, of many years, Elizabeth assists the Superintendent of Grounds, Dave, in the daily managing of the Herculean job that this well run department produces.

We have been to the United Kingdom twice.  Both times I could not help but admire the emphasis that the British place on their flower gardens… in their individual yards. SIU is unparalleled in the spectacular…peaceful…lush…beauty of its’ Campus.

Thank you Grounds Department!