Wisteria
Wisteria is a woody, twining vine with long, fragrant clusters of purple-blue blossoms. They are vigorous climbers and usually bloom in early spring. Long ago, someone (unknown) planted a wisteria vine on each side of the entrance to the Main Building. The vines are large enough to be detected in photographs as early as 1929. On the south-facing building, they thrived, climbing over 35 feet to the very peak of the building. At some point, the more easterly wisteria must have died, but its companion lived on. When the wisteria was in bloom, it offered a heady fragrance to anyone passing through the front doors.
Unfortunately, wisteria roots are as aggressive as their tops, and they spread deeply. Because of this, common advice is to never plant them near a building foundation, as the roots can work their way into every nook and cranny, ultimately destabilizing the structure. This was discovered to be the case when work began on renovations to the Main Building in 2013, so the iconic wisteria could not remain in this location.
However, a skilled gardener took cuttings and established a new vine at the entrance to the Alumni Garden, located to the east of the Main Building, close to Lonsdale’s statue. There it will delight visitors with its colourful, fragrant blossoms above ground, without having to worry about the destruction its roots may cause below ground.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
However, a skilled gardener took cuttings and established a new vine at the entrance to the Alumni Garden, located to the east of the Main Building, close to Lonsdale’s statue. There it will delight visitors with its colourful, fragrant blossoms above ground, without having to worry about the destruction its roots may cause below ground.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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