No matter where you walk on campus – or when, from spring through fall – just look around and you’ll be rewarded with a most colorful floral display. From Asiatic jasmine to zinnias, the grounds are home to hundreds of varieties of flowering plants, vines and trees. A stroll behind Kaufman Hall in early spring offers a veritable bouquet, featuring everything from LadyBanks roses, to Carolina jasmine, to wisteria. Walk along Kaufman Mall from July through early fall for an arresting display of crepe myrtle trees thick with tiny, pink blossoms. Or, visit one of the favorite spots on campus in late April, the historic Williamsburg Lawn, to take in the sight of resplendent azalea bushes, stately magnolia trees with their distinctive, fragrant flowers, and towering, 100-year-old willow oak trees. The job of maintaining ODU’s campus grounds and their rich floral palette falls to Patricia King. It’s a labor of love, to be sure, but one not without its challenges, from hungry insects to the fickle Hampton Roads weather. “In this business, timing is everything – when to plant, when to fertilize, when to do weed control – it’s all based on the weather,” King says. By all accounts, her timing, as well as her green thumb, have been impeccable. Prospective students and parents often are surprised to discover such an inviting setting for an urban institution. Over the past decade, Old Dominion has, indeed, gained a well-deserved reputation for its beautiful campus.