Courageous Floraphiles

Michael Pontti (center) describes the cherry trees to Associates in Dahlgren Chapel courtyard.

Steady June rain, which some Washingtonians might claim had been coming down since April, did not deter a startling number of determined Associates from enjoying a June 17th tour of Georgetown University's Award-Winning Gardens, led by Michael Pontti, the Environmental Manager for Georgetown University. Mr. Pontti, who has been with the University since 1971 and through many landscape permutations, took Associates around some of the campus highlights: the elegance of Dahlgren Quadrangle's zelkovas, Kwanzan cherries, sweet bay magnolias, tree peonies and lily of the valley; pocket gardens full of daylilies, globe thistles, crocosmia, and purple loosestrife tucked into various corners where passersby and sunbathing students would not crush them; the Observatory garden high on the hill full of cascading pools, benches, a wealth of blooms and the occasional duckling; and the Leavey Esplanade roof gardens' expansive green space for students to study and relax in this spring's infrequent dry and sunny moments. The Library thanks Michael Pontti for taking Associates on this engaging departure from our customary programs.