What do you call a rowdy floral scheme? Wildflowers!

Last week, when I stepped onto campus for the first time, I was shocked by the beautiful flowers that have taken over Futter Field and the Milstein lawns, turning the concrete and construction of campus into a garden. From an assortment of sunset hued impatiens to towering sunflowers and even a new vine-consumed trellis, it is clear that Barnard spared no expense when it came to on-campus flora. 

As a Plimpton resident, I always love that as I trek to campus, my first sign that I’m almost at Barnard is looking through the fence at the whirling arrangements of lilacs and vividly yellow black-eyed-susans. However, some students are not as pleased with such additions to campus. As one senior at Barnard put it, she is “glad my valuable dollars are going to hire a florist,” and that she would rather the funds be allocated to “additional dining options on the weekend, when there are scarce on-campus options.” Similarly, a freshman who I interviewed in Milstein said that “it would have been much better for them to spend money on A/C units in the Quad.” 

However, I disagree with these negative sentiments and the majority of students who I spoke with do as well. Lylie Bechtel (BC ’27) said that the floral additions are “single handedly carrying the aesthetic integrity of this school, especially in the wake of the atrocious and claustrophobia-inducing scaffolding,” and that the “way they line the outside of the Milstein Center makes me feel proud to be a Barnard student.” Another sophomore, Charlie Benton (CC ’27) shared that the flowers “really brighten freshman campus.” Also, it is striking how many people now sit around Futter Field, opting out of the Butler Lawns to engage with the flowers. On beautiful days like the ones that occurred the first week of classes, it was even hard to find a table or seat around the field because of the popularity of the space! 

Though being a college student on campus can be stressful, the blossoms all around the center of Barnard really make it feel not just homey, but as if you are transported to a magical garden oasis. As Barnard freshman Giada Robinson put it: “I think the flowers on campus were really welcoming as a first year. It made this new environment more familiar. I like how Barnard is more connected with nature. It’s a great break from the stress of the city.” So now, one must ask, is everything coming up roses for Barnard?

Florals via Maren Frey