Employees' landscaping efforts improve hospital appearance
Visitors at St. Luke Hospital and Living Center are seeing more of the building.
Trees and shrubs are being trimmed to encourage growth without diminishing the view.
For the past 10 years or so, plantings were allowed to grow with modest trimming. The result was that trees had overhanging limbs, and shrubs crept well above windowsills.
Some of the trees became havens for birds, which left sidewalks a mess, particularly between the hospital and clinic.
And complaints came from the public, particularly after Sept. 11, that the hospital didn't have a useable flagpole. The original pole was surrounded by trees and blocked in by building additions.
A landscape committee, made up of employees, oversees the project.
"We're staying with the original plan, it's just been brought up to date," said business manager Kevin Cronkelton.
The first project was to prepare the entrance for a new flagpole, which stands right in front of the hospital. Shrubs near the entrance were cut back before the dedication ceremony. The pruning proved to revitalize many of the plants.
Some trees also have had lower limbs removed. This seems to have helped reduce the bird problem while opening up the sight line.
The goal now is to have most of the pruning finished by the 50th anniversary celebration in late September.
What might be the most dramatic change will affect several large cedar trees on the south front lawn. They will be removed to encourage growth of other trees and improve the view for patients and visitors. Right now, people looking out the window can't see much but branches.
Also, the foliage growth has covered a cross built into the exterior wall, which traces back to the hospital's original role as a facility run by Catholic sisters.
The open areas will be returned to grass or converted to tulip beds. A few rock gardens or sculpture pieces also will be added.
So far, people have indicated they are pleased with the pruning, but happy that plenty of greenery remains.
"You would be surprised at the number of people who come up and say that exact thing," Cronkelton said.
The plan also calls for a single location for memorial plaques and continuing to honor donors who contributed to past landscaping projects.
Right now, landscaping work is part of the general budget, but memorials will be accepted.
