Plants nurtured throughout the pandemic by the horticultural hands at Penn College's Schneebeli Earth Science Center brought a burst of National Nurses Week sunshine to UPMC Susquehanna campuses Thursday. About 850 potted flowers and hanging baskets, originally cultivated for a plant sale, were delivered to Williamsport, Divine Providence, Muncy, Lock Haven, Cole (Coudersport) and Wellsboro hospitals for distribution to nurses – among the tireless health care workers on the front line of a global health crisis. A troupe of ESC faculty and staff, General Services employees and a college alumnus/retiree loaded and unloaded the colorful cargo at hospital campuses in Lycoming and Clinton counties; UPMC handled transport to the Northern Tier locations. Helping to keep the greenhouse stock thriving in students' absence were horticulture faculty; Wyatt C. Forest, laboratory assistant for horticulture; and Sean C. Golden, a landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis student and work study employee.
– Photos provided by participants
Special delivery, in care of committed caregivers
A staging area takes on the look of a retail garden center ...
A cart of greenery carries its own healing touch.
Faculty member Justin Shelinski holds a sign on behalf of horticulture students, thanking UPMC "for keeping us all safe and healthy." (The students were thanked with a second sign, noting their hard work prior to the semester's disruption.) About 30 first- and second-year students, responsible for the greenhouse stock during the school year, repeatedly asked for updates on their crop even when absent from campus.
Masked and marshaled, General Services and ESC employees make quick work of the load-in.
General Services horticulturists (from left) Mary Jo DeVinney, Michael L. Bremigen and Chad L. Karstetter add to the success of the day's mission.
... as those on the receiving end signal their mutual appreciation.
