Athletic Dedication Beyond the Track
Student athletes at the University of Michigan often find themselves training in some of the most scenic areas of campus. Among their regular running routes, the university’s prized peony garden stands out as a landmark of natural beauty. Members of both the men and women cross country teams pass this botanical treasure frequently during their daily conditioning workouts, growing deeply familiar with its layout and seasonal changes.
From Runners to Gardeners
Routine training paths recently transformed into volunteer workstations for these collegiate runners. Instead of focusing solely on their running paces and endurance splits, the athletes dedicated their time to manual labor. They traded their typical athletic gear and running shoes for work gloves and gardening tools, stepping off the pavement and directly into the soil to assist botanical staff.
Preparing Hundreds of Plants for Winter
The primary mission for the student athletes involved getting hundreds of delicate plants ready for the harsh upcoming winter months. Peonies require specific seasonal maintenance to survive freezing temperatures and emerge healthy in the spring. The team members worked diligently to cut back foliage, clear debris, and apply protective layers around the base of each plant across the expansive campus garden.
Valuable Teamwork and Community Impact
This hands-on botanical project offered the cross country squads a unique opportunity to bond outside of traditional practice settings. Working collaboratively toward a shared community goal strengthened team camaraderie while giving back to the university grounds that host their daily runs. The collective effort successfully winterized the historic garden, ensuring the vibrant blooms will return to brighten the campus landscape when warmer weather eventually arrives next year.
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