Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2005
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/landscaping.html

Making Friends
September/October 2005
Linden Johnson, Vice-President, Johnson's Garden Centers &
                Kansas Certified Nursery Professional

    Putting your best foot forward ... first impressions ... curb
appeal. The transformation at Friends University began with the arrival
of Dr. Biff Green and his wife, Bennie. Before their arrival, the
importance of curb appeal was not the priority that it is now. It began
with the renovation of 1000's of square feet of turfgrass in front of
the Davis Administration Building to establish a beautiful park-like
green space; and it has progressed to new buildings with
well-thought-out landscape plantings. We've had the pleasure of working
with Friends during this transformation.

Landscape Planning
    The landscape committee at Friends, consisting of Bennie Green,
Hervey Wright and Mark Furry, spends many hours developing landscape
plans for all new building construction. Not only are views from the
street considered but also the view from inside the building looking
out. Plant selection is given a great deal of thought, looking for plant
material that is suitable for the site considerations (sun, shade,
drainage, texture, deciduous, evergreen, broadleaf evergreen) and plants
that are unusual. We have been able to evaluate some of these unusual
varieties at Friends to see how they perform in the Wichita area. One of
those plants that we have added to what we offer through our stores is
the Nigra Yew.

Installed by Johnson's
    Our first major landscape installation was around the Olive White
Garvey Business and Technology Building, located on the north side of
the campus along Maple. Following the removal of many old houses, the
transformation began with the construction of this building. Since that
time, there has been an addition to the Science and Fine Arts Building,
construction of the Marriage and Family Therapy Building on the south
east corner of the campus (can be seen from Kellogg), the removal of the
road leading up to the Davis Administration Building and the
installation of rose beds and sodding to connect the north and south
sides of the campus. The Green Residence Hall, located on the southwest
corner of the campus, is the most recent construction project completed.
Presently, construction is nearing completion of the new IT Building.
Each of these projects have included landscape installations which have
been well planned and thought out.

    During this transformation, we have planted 1000's of shrubs, 100's
of trees, over 100,000 yards of sod, making the campus at Friends
University an asset to the Wichita community. According to Paul
Winchester, Director of Physical Plant at Friends, "People don't know
what we have here" referring to the beauty and uniqueness of the campus
landscape. If ever given the opportunity to walk the campus, I think you
will agree that the investment made in the landscape definitely adds
"curb appeal" to the campus and should have a positive effect on the
learning experience.

    Paul Winchester's father, Ray, also worked at Friends and dealt
closely with my father, Harold Johnson. The Johnson and Friends
University relationship has spanned decades and we are proud to have
been a part of this new transformation.