Plants, Flowers, People
The Horticulture and Lands Team consists of four dedicated staff members who play an essential role in supporting the daily activities and operations on Oakwood’s Prairie Ridge and University Woods campuses.
The team can be found planting Oakwood’s annual plants and trees, working with the Nature Preserve Committee at University Woods, helping assign gardening plots for residents on both campuses, and helping with the initial potting of those plants for residents.
The team is also responsible for general maintenance of the campus grounds, including caring for the many plants on campus, both indoor and outdoor. They also help with the removal of any fallen branches blocking the road and snow on the ground to ensure safety for all on campus.
During the fall and winter seasons, you might even be able to catch the Horticulture and Lands Team hanging up outdoor lights and decorations for the holidays. Every Friday they are in their office carefully arranging beautiful flower bouquets to give to each resident on their move-in day, birthday, or anniversary!
Connecting with Residents
The Horticulture and Lands Team collaborates with campus Life Enrichment teams to host events for residents across both Oakwood campuses.
In the Memory Care households, they host activities in which residents help fill birdfeeders of all different shapes and sizes that are placed in the nearby courtyard area.
Residents of Assisted Living enjoy floral arranging with the Horticulture and Lands team. Residents can pick from a variety of flowers — kindly donated by Trader Joe’s in Madison — to create their own bouquet and showcase different styles.
Educational talks on various horticultural topics are always popular. Past talks covered different types of birds and plants as well as fun facts about cucumbers, tomatoes, and zucchinis.
