Story behind the beautiful scilla blooms

A photo of the scilla bulbs blooming on the Sherbrooke Street West side of the Dawson campus, published in the April 18 D Announcements, brought back memories for Eleftheria Styliaras, a technician in the biology department.

Eleftheria wrote to the Communications team: “I wanted to share the story behind these beautiful blooms. These scilla were planted as an activity the biology department did more than 30 years ago.

“Anne Pattison was the founder of the Biology Department in the 1960’s when it first opened at Selby. She was an avid gardener and a biologist, and she often painted plants and flowers. She loved Nature. After she passed away from cancer, the bulbs were planted in her memory.

“Since Anne was an avid gardener, the department decided to plant flowers. We all purchased a pack of scilla and went out there and planted them in her memory. Sandra Bowles, who was department chair at the time, planted a tree on the other side of the grounds where the Peace Garden is today.

“It has been over 30 years and this year, the bulbs put on a real show. My window faces the area where they are planted, and I have noticed a few people enjoying the flowers.

“They have done so well this year. I even notified some teachers who I am still in contact with and sent them pictures. Apart from Rami Hanna, I am the only one still here in the department that has come over to the motherhouse from Selby.”