This time of year, perhaps more than any other, Heidelberg鈥檚 trees take center stage with their vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow. They paint a stunning canvas that creates a welcoming and memorable impression for first-time visitors and a hint of nostalgia for alumni who have come and gone, and come home again.
It is appropriate, then, that Heidelberg鈥檚 Board of Trustees, during its fall meeting late last month, voted to name the collection of trees across all parts of the campus in honor of the man who made it his mission to champion the biotic diversity of Heidelberg鈥檚 property. Dr. Percy Lilly single-handedly selected and oversaw the planting of more than 60 diverse species of trees during his tenure as a member of the science faculty.
The Percy Lilly Campus Forest is now official. The designation recognizes the efforts of Percy, now 95 years old, for his commitment to beautifying the campus and for introducing generations of students to the wonders of the natural world. Dr. Lilly retired in 1998 after serving as a professor of botany and microbiology for 32 years.
Heidelberg鈥檚 Campus Forest is one of the most species-diverse collections of trees found in northwest Ohio.
鈥淲e often ask ourselves the important question, 鈥榃hat are some of the things that distinguish Heidelberg from the many other fine liberal arts colleges and universities in Ohio and in neighboring states?鈥欌 wrote former colleagues and retired biology professors Dr. Ken Baker and Dr. Susan Carty in proposing the naming of 鈥渢he diverse assemblage of trees across all parts of campus鈥 in honor of their friend and former colleague.
鈥淲e sometimes overlook the physical beauty of our campus. Our locally quarried granite-faced buildings are set against the splendid diversity of elegant trees that have been planted across campus. 鈥 The trees are an unusual and distinctive feature of our campus.鈥
After the Board approved the naming of the Percy Lilly Campus Forest, it was Ken and Susan who delivered the news to him. When they first broached the idea with Percy before submitting the proposal, 鈥渉e was shocked at first,鈥 Ken says. 鈥淏ut then, he realized it would be a significant honor.鈥 There was a happiness and a serenity in his expression that won鈥檛 be forgotten, Susan says.
From 1956 until his retirement, Percy taught a wide diversity of courses including Introductory Biology, Botany, Field Botany, Plant Morphology, Plant Physiology, Microbiology and Genetics. Throughout his time, he worked with his students and alumni in planting trees across campus. He remembers that the administration, under President Terry Wickham, was supportive of his efforts, one of which was the initiation of the planting of a tree on Alumni Weekend, a tradition that continues to this day.
Percy鈥檚 love of and interest in flora, however, predates his time at Heidelberg. It was during his undergraduate years at Concord College (now University) in Athens, West Virginia, where he was inspired to explore a career in botany. While at West Virginia University for graduate study, he honed his taxonomic skills by identifying over 400 species of plants for his thesis.
鈥淗e grew up in the forests and hills of West Virginia,鈥 Susan recalls. 鈥淭rees are just part of his genetic makeup.鈥
Percy鈥檚 generations of students were the beneficiaries of his care for and expertise in Heidelberg鈥檚 forest.
鈥淏oth Susan and I for years, with our field biology classes, made extensive use of the trees,鈥 Ken says. Susan adds, 鈥淣early every student who came through Heidelberg experienced tree keying鈥 as part of their Biology 110 Contemporary Biological Problems class. She also notes that over time, a number of students took on research projects or enrolled in special topics courses related to the forest. 鈥淥ne of the last ones was to update Percy鈥檚 map and bring it into the digital world.鈥
Behind Ken and Susan鈥檚 proposal was their desire to ensure that the diversity of campus trees is sustained and to remind people that the gift of Heidelberg鈥檚 urban forest 鈥 shepherded in large part by Percy Lilly 鈥 is worth cherishing.