A GROWING REMINDER: How the Mariana H. Qubein Botanical Gardens and Arboretum inspire reflection.

Like High Point University itself, the Mariana H. Qubein Botanical Gardens and Arboretum are noticeably beautiful. But every aspect of their design, from their collections to their colors and size, also serves an important purpose on campus.

They are a refuge and respite from the day-to-day for students. They are learning tools for classes. They are a haven for wildlife.

Comprised of 26 different gardens and 3,700 recorded taxa, of which more than 700 are trees, the HPU gardens invite passersby to slow down, reflect and admire the beauty they encounter.

Benches beckon visitors to relax. Quotations selected by students provide moments for reflection. Walkways that connect students from one building to the next are lined with blooms--a reminder to pause and appreciate.

And within these gardens that spread throughout campus are various collections, each one having its own story.

PLANTS WITH PURPOSE

When Jon Roethling describes HPU's collections and the number of magnolias, azaleas or any other varieties they include, people tell him that they never knew there were so many.

"They only know the few that might be in mainstream commerce and are astounded by the diversity out there," says Roethling, curator of the gardens and arboretum. "I seek out all these lesser-known plants and selections so others might become aware of them. The same can be said for education. There is a basic set of knowledge that most are exposed to, but people who are truly extraordinary seek out more and delve deeper into things."

Additions to the plant collections and expansion of the gardens is a continuous process. These collections continue to distinguish HPU from other campuses. International groups such as the Magnolia Society International and the International Plant Propagators Society have visited campus to admire the collections, bringing national recognition with them.

Roethling knows that gardening is both an art and a science. Plants serve a variety of purposes, like feeding the body. But of equal importance, they feed the soul.

Science has proven that shrubs, trees and flowers have a practical application in hospitals. The soothing effect of plants is so great that having daily views of flowers in landscaped areas outside a patient's recovery room significantly speeds up recovery time.

At HPU, spiritual growth on campus continues through the collections. They blanket the campus in a bounty of beautiful color, but also serve as an important reminder for...