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Fordham At Work: Helen Norgard

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WHO SHE IS University Gardener, Department of Facilities Operations TIME AT FORDHAM 10 Years BACKGROUND Helen has a degree in horticulture and is a 30-year gardening veteran. She began her career at the New York Botanical Garden. WHAT SHE DOES Designs, orders and installs all of the flower beds on the Rose Hill campus, takes care of the bulbs and maintains ornamental trees and shrubbery. BUSY SEASON “We plant about 30,000 bulbs each fall, but May is the busiest month. About two weeks before Commencement, we take the bulbs out and plant the annuals. We also have perennial beds that come back every year. In addition to the flowers, other members of our department cut the grass and seed the lawns so campus looks its best for Commencement and Jubilee.” EARLY RISER “My day starts at 6 a.m., but I’ve done it for decades so I’m used to it. Starting early is key—especially in the summer when it’s really hot. I like to get most of my work done before noon.” FAVORITE FLOWER? “I never really ever thought about it,” said Norgard, who agreed that choosing a favorite flower would be difficult, almost like a parent having to choose a favorite child.

WHO SHE IS
University Gardener, Department of Facilities Operations

 

TIME AT FORDHAM
10 Years

BACKGROUND
Helen has a degree in horticulture and is a 30-year gardening veteran. She began her career at the New York Botanical Garden.

WHAT SHE DOES
Designs, orders and installs all of the flower beds on the Rose Hill campus, takes care of the bulbs and maintains ornamental trees and shrubbery.

BUSY SEASON
“We plant about 30,000 bulbs each fall, but May is the busiest month. About two weeks before Commencement, we take the bulbs out and plant the annuals. We also have perennial beds that come back every year. In addition to the flowers, other members of our department cut the grass and seed the lawns so campus looks its best for Commencement and Jubilee.”

EARLY RISER
“My day starts at 6 a.m., but I’ve done it for decades so I’m used to it. Starting early is key—especially in the summer when it’s really hot. I like to get most of my work done before noon.”

FAVORITE FLOWER?
“I never really ever thought about it,” said Norgard, who agreed that choosing a favorite flower would be difficult, almost like a parent having to choose a favorite child.

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