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UD scientist has a green thumb and office to prove it
Schenck, a UD alum and now a scientist with the survey at the University, has dedicated his life to geology and, in the process, has discovered his green thumb. “Geology might be my first love,” Schenck said, “but horticulture runs a close second.” Many of his plants sprouted from seeds purchased at the National 5 & 10 on Main Street when Schenck was a student at the University in the late 1970s. Now, nearly 30 years later, the second-floor lobby adjacent to Scheck’s office has become a refuge for dying plants and an adoptive home for other plants that were left behind. “Once people retire, I end up inheriting the plants that were in their offices,” he said. Schenck takes a five-gallon bucket and waters his plants every Friday. “Out watering the forest?” is the common comment he hears from his colleagues. The plants, several standing two times the average person’s height, all have a story or a memory attached to them, Schenck said. The jade tree growing in his office has had pieces cut from it and given to others. Now, he said, almost every person in the building has a jade tree growing from the original. In 1978, he purchased a dying palm tree with only two leaves that was selling for half-price at the 5 & 10 because of its condition. Now, the palm towers over the rest of the plants and has leaves upon leaves on its branches. Schenck grew an orange tree from a seed taken from the lunchroom on a bet that he couldn‘t grow it. Now, the tree stands as living proof of his horticultural skills. Near the large windows in the building, modeled after quartz crystal, a sizable vine is wrapped tightly around the railing near the staircase. The vine came from a du Pont estate, Schenck said. His mother, once a private nurse at the estate, received it from the gardener. It is now 15 years old. There’s also a vine that trails two stories down to the floor that Schenck has had since he was 8 years old. Schenck said he thinks his plants grow so well in the atrium area of the lobby “because they are so happy.” His interest in horticulture began at a young age while watching his grandfather, who taught him a great deal about plants. His hobby grew throughout his college years when he was living in Paper Mill Apartments, where he then had room to grow larger plants. Years later, he said, his wife told him the plants were too big, so he moved them to the Delaware Geological Survey Building. In addition to his busy schedule at the survey, Schenck works on weekends at a garden center and is earning his certificate of merit at Longwood Gardens. He said that the certificate is the equivalent of earning a degree in horticulture. Once he earns his certificate, Schenck will have completed 500 hours of horticultural class work and hands-on experience. Schenck’s plants appear to be happy in their home in the lobby. Now, the only threat is the curious hands of third-grade students who tour the building to get a glimpse of where real geologists work. The children are attentive while petting the different plants, Schenck said, “[but] sometimes we have some casualties.” Article by Meredith McCarty, AS ’05
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