Union in bloom?
While perusing some issues of Union's Chronicle from April of 1981, we noticed an interesting series of articles that seem as relevant this spring as they must have been two decades ago.
The weekly feature — “Union in Bloom” _ was supplied by the late C. William Huntley, professor of psychology (and a man responsible for extensive cataloging, planting and care of Union's trees and shrubs), as an aid to those interested in identifying the blossoms on campus.
“In the next few weeks, more than 500 flowering trees and shrubs will come into bloom on campus,” Huntley wrote in the first installment of the feature on April 17. He then went on to describe various species and their locations: the Star Magnolia (“large white blossoms that come before the leaves” along South College and near the President's House) , Saucer Magnolia (“more common pink and white variety, planted widely on campus”), Shadbush (“small white and pink blossoms” near Old Gate at Union Avenue and near Richmond) and Redbud (“deep, purple blossoms before the leaves appear” near Nott and Seward).
After a few weeks of fits and starts with spring weather, much as we seem to be having so far this spring, Huntley had to concede in the May 8, 1981 edition, “cold weather and a relatively dry spring have combined to make this a poor season for blossoms.”
Here's hoping for blossoms this year.