By Kyra Brownlee and Alex Grosso
The head gardener at American University explained the significance of using plants to create a global campus that connects students to their home, peers and the world.
Mike Mastrota took a group of students on a tour of the Washington, D.C. campus gardens Friday. American University is also one of the city’s arboretums, which is a garden dedicated to trees.
“We have trees from all over the world,” said Mastrota, leader of American University’s arboretum for 18 years. “I was hired to make the place look better.”
Best Choice Schools ranked this year American University’s campus “4th Most Beautiful Urban Campus.” Best Choice is an online resource that provides information on colleges across the nation.
This recognition acknowledges the campus’ global components.
It has approximately 4,000 trees and 385 different species of woody plants. One tree in the heart of campus is the scarlet oak tree, which is the oldest tree on campus and represents the official tree of the district. Mastrota said the tree is likely 130 to 150 years old.
The branches stretch across the Quad and give students a shady place to relax and study.
When the campus is in person, Mastrota said students play Frisbee, read books, listen to music under the trees, eat and spend time with friends. For students who attend school here, the campus and its plants and trees are a way that connects them to one another and the world around them.
Many of these plants are transplanted from states across the country so there is a little piece of home for every student here. International students, too, who make up 13% of its graduating classes, according to the American University’s website, have something from home.
In 1943, Korea gave the campus three cherry blossom trees that are on the edge of the Quad. Japanese officials gave American University 19 cherry blossom trees that create a covered path that students can enjoy walking around in.
“I like the cherry trees, especially when they’re in bloom,” said Mastrota, when asked his favorite part of the arboretum.