Part of University of Denver’s recent construction project includes a gigantic elliptical pansy garden. The Elliptical Garden is a new addition to the 10,000 sq. ft. of annual flowerbeds on campus, and makes up 4,500 square feet.

Mark Rodgers, the university architect, said the new flowerbed is an attempt “to maximize the lawn area for the campus green [and] edge it with color. The west porch entry of the new Ricketson Law Building was an elegant place to put a formal garden with lots of seating.”

Seventy thousand “Hardy Boy” pansies were planted in the Elliptical Garden. The variety of pansies, said Rodgers, is more cold tolerant and due to the ever-changing Colorado weather, a very good choice. Another reason for selecting pansies is that they tend to bloom throughout the year, even when winter weather occurs in summer months. Another deciding factor was the variety of colors available.

The pansies were purchased from Welby Garden Co. and cost $10,404 plus an additional $10 per hour to plant.

Despite the seemingly high cost, Rodgers said the cost “is a small part of the Facilities Department’s roughly $12 million annual operating and plant fund budget.”

However, some students are unsure about the university’s decision to create the new garden. Chris Morrissey, a DU first-year student said, “[the pansies] are a waste of money. DU could have used the funds in a more constructive way.”

The flowerbed is irrigated by a variety of water sources, including water collected by the law school cistern, non-potable water pumped from the new campus wells, located near the new Women”s College project, and potable water obtained from the city water system.

By next year, with the addition of trees in front of Sturm Hall, the newly reconstructed Campus Green and the Elliptical Pansy flowerbed will be completed.