Students at Commonwealth Honors College Plant 500 Daffodil Bulbs

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On Saturday, October 23, Honors College students and faculty gathered for the annual Daffodil Planting at the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community Concourse. By the end of the event, 500 daffodil bulbs were planted around the Honors College in time for these flowers to bloom in March, which is close to the time of the Daffodil Lecture, an event that focuses on sustainability and the environment.

The tradition began in 2010 by the late Honors Dean Priscilla Clarkson, who was a strong advocate for sustainability and had overseen the building of the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community. She first planted these flowers near the Old Chapel and said it was symbolic for blossoming and multiplying year after year, much like how the Honors education continues to grow and thrive over time.

Sadly, in a fight against cancer, Dean Clarkson passed away during her time at UMass, so the flowers are planted yearly to honor her work and the ideas she envisioned for the Honors College.

Before starting the event, Ann Marie Russell, associate dean of student recruitment, inclusion, and success, addressed the crowd about the importance of the event and how it was “a space for community-building and community-beautifying,” while also explaining the historical ties it has with Dean Clarkson.

Attendees then met up with a representative from facilities and management, who provided bulb-planters with protective gear and equipment. The facilities rep said the idea was to plant yellow flowers on the outside of the beds and mixed flowers towards the inside to create a decorative pattern.

Once they completed their training, the group broke off into smaller teams and commenced planting. Dean Mari Castañeda also joined in as planters tirelessly worked their way through the afternoon. Students passing through the concourse also picked up shovels and began planting—an image that was a strong part of what Dean Clarkson envisioned through this activity.

After successfully planting all 500 bulbs, the group went inside to the Events Hall for snacks and drinks. And from now until March 2022, the community will watch as the flowers slowly grow into their true forms, both beautifying and adorning the space that surrounds them.