It’s been a big few weeks for plant lovers at Swarthmore (myself especially, of course). As the semester starts amping up, one of the few things I look forward to the most is the annual free plant giveaway hosted by the Scott Arboretum. As the day of the giveaway approaches, we get emails for Sue MacQueen (the widely beloved arboretum campus engagement manager), see posters all around the academic buildings and Parrish Hall, and eventually, on the big day, there are tons of signs chalked all over campus to remind us when and where our new plants await us.
I am a huge plant lover. My mom has always had a green thumb, as have I (and not just because my last name is Greene). My first ever plants were propagations from my mother’s pothos plants, and they’ve been thriving for many years. In fact, I love my plants so much that a big part of the reason I begged my parents to drive me to college my first year instead of flying was so that I would be able to bring them with me all the way from Illinois. So, needless to say, I get VERY excited about the annual plant giveaway.
When you enter the Wister Center’s parking lot on the day of the giveaway, there are a bunch of signs and stations manned by arboretum volunteers. You start by choosing which plant plug you want (I chose a variegated rubber plant). Once you have the plug, you grab a little pot to put your new plant in. Then you move down to a new station, fill up the pot with soil, and actually do the planting. After that, you move to yet another station where you water the plant, and then you’re done! At each station, there are plant experts with way more experience than you who explain what to do and how to do it. Each plant also comes with something you can stick into the soil with care instructions. There are three different types of plants to choose from, and I went really late in the day. Since there were still a ton of plants left over, I was able to pick two (and then I got the third species the next day at the career fair because the Good Food Garden Club was giving them out). My collection was complete! Except not actually, because I decided I needed EVEN more plants two days later.
The Saturday after the free giveaway, my friends and I decided to go to Philly. Since we have free SEPTA passes and one of my close friends is a Philly native, we were totally set. We got brunch at Sabrina’s, a really cute spot in University City. Then, we took the trolley (for free, using our SEPTA cards again) to Rittenhouse Square for a farmers’ market. My main goal for this farmers’ market was to get another plant (or two). We wandered around and saw a ton of cute stalls and dogs, but my mind was set on one thing. Finally, as we were about to turn a corner, I saw the plant stall. There were soooo many plants there, and my friends and I were so excited. After much deliberation, I settled on a Chinese Money Plant and a Baby Rubberplant. On the way back, we were caught in a torrential downpour, but I was so happy about my new plants that I couldn’t be too mad.
Swarthmore (famously) is an arboretum, a plant museum even. Having access to these free plants and having access to Philly to get more (not free) plants is so lovely and was so important to me when I was looking for colleges. Having my plants in my dorm always makes me feel so calm and full of love and light – I love having a little piece of the Earth to take care of and admire! I love being on a campus that’s so close to nature AND so close to a major city (in my case because I want to get little pieces of nature and because I love a good brunch). My friends and I are planning another little Philly farmers’ market trip for next weekend, so hopefully, by this time next week, I will be a little plant richer. I’m always looking for a new friend to add to the collection (even if I may run out of space soon)!
