2008 Woodie Awards
Sometimes the grass isn't always greener
Quang Do
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: News
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Entering campus from the Boccardo Gate and walking towards the Event Center is a pathway surrounded by dead grass up until the Aquatic Center where the naked trees seem to match well with the dead grass.
Professor Lajoie said, "The plants recognize that it's winter … the grass is dormant. It's sleeping."
The difference between dead grass and dry grass is that the dead is surrounded by grass that is green, whereas the dry grass are plentiful in fields of shrubs that are usually classified as fire hazards, according to the tips of fire prevention at the National Interagency Fire Center Web site, and guideline from the Web page, Lawn Diseases: prevention and management.
How plants grow is that they respond to the weather and environment where they receive light and a complex network of weather signals, according to Laura Heggie and Karen J. Halliday, co-authors of the 2005 article, "The highs and lows of plant life," published in the science journal, "The International Journal of Developmental Biology."
The rain that washed over campus this week is a part of the cycle that will bring the yellow grass back to life, according to Lajoie.
"I think the grass right now is yucky," said Brooke Kruschke, a sophomore majoring in business.
"I want to be able to frolic in it," said Jessica James, a sophomore majoring in communication disorder.
"We want to roll around in it," said James who is friends with Kruschke.
California hasn't gotten much rain. The precipitation levels have declined since 1997, according to state records at watersupplyconditions.water.ca.gov.
"I think it's good since we haven't had much rain," said Jessica Quaresma, a freshman majoring in sociology.
The walkway from the Industrial Building to San Fernando Street then back to the ATM machines is also surrounded by dead grass.
"Time is money" but for junior student Amima Khisim, a corporate finance major, she had time to stop and say, "I would never walk on the grass when it's raining (because of mud)."
"The next two months is going to be rainy," Katherine Hamlon said, a sophomore majoring in graphics design.
One of the healthier lawns on campus is located in front of the Engineering Building, with a two-story high redwood tree in the section of the university across from the Student Union.
"Sunlight and water are what feed plants, said Professor Lajoie, "Sunlight makes plants grow. You can look for green at the end of March."
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