{"id":39193,"date":"2024-08-15T09:31:42","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=39193"},"modified":"2024-08-15T09:31:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:31:44","slug":"sollecito-hydrangeas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/sollecito-hydrangeas\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Beautiful Campus Even Prettier? Hydrangeas!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Nurseryman Jim Sollecito \u201976 has given his alma mater 1,000+ plants\u2014a gift to students, inspired by his late Cornellian daughter<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cornell-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bd4d3d78e6eccfd7923d16a91716eea1\"><em>&#8220;Bear Hugs&#8221; celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at <a href=\"m&#x61;&#x69;&#108;t&#x6f;&#x3a;&#99;&#x6f;&#114;&#x6e;&#101;&#108;&#x6c;&#x69;a&#110;&#115;&#64;cor&#x6e;&#x65;&#x6c;l&#x2e;&#x65;d&#x75;\">&#x63;&#x6f;&#114;n&#101;&#x6c;&#x6c;&#105;an&#x73;&#64;&#x63;o&#114;&#x6e;&#x65;&#x6c;&#108;&#46;e&#100;&#x75;<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Melissa Newcomb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Each summer and fall, a tapestry of hydrangeas in brilliant shades of pink, red, and white blooms throughout the Hill, dazzling Cornellians and visitors alike\u2014just like Jim Sollecito \u201976 planned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CALS alum, who owns <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sollecito.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sollecito Landscaping Nursery<\/a> in nearby Syracuse, has donated more than 1,000 plants in 268 varieties to Cornell over the years, with the aim of enhancing our already-gorgeous campus with vibrant splashes of floral beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Jim Sollecito with pink dried hydrangeas at his nursery.\" class=\"wp-image-39204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/799A3363-A.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sollecito with dried hydrangeas at his nursery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>How massive an assortment of blooms has Sollecito given to his alma mater? It\u2019s in contention for a Guinness record as the world\u2019s largest hydrangea collection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as Sollecito stresses, he didn\u2019t gift the plants for his own sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s all for the students,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen they come to the beautiful campus in August with their parents, there\u2019s something nice for them to see. It blows you away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When [the students] come to the beautiful campus in August with their parents, there&#8217;s something nice for them to see.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And Sollecito was intentional about the type of plants: the hydrangeas he chose are panicles, meaning that they flower on new wood each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As he explains, other common types flower on old wood\u2014so if Ithaca has one of its infamously cold winters, the buds may be killed and would not bloom the following summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Hydrangea plants outside Schoellkopf Stadium\" class=\"wp-image-39300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_024-A.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A pop of subtle color outside Schoellkopf Stadium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe light went off in my head when I thought of panicle hydrangeas,\u201d recalls Sollecito, noting he originally learned about them in an ornamental horticulture class, \u201cbecause it is the perfect plant to have on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the plants have been distributed throughout the Hill, some main locations are on and around the Ag Quad (including in Minns Garden and near Warren, Stocking, and Wing halls) and in the Botanic Gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A sign that says &quot;Hydrangeas Symbolize: Friendship, Devotion, Perseverance and Understanding,&quot; at Sollecito Landscaping Nursery.\" class=\"wp-image-39206 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-632x790.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-316x395.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-280x350.jpg 280w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-140x175.jpg 140w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-70x87.jpg 70w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-400x500.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A-100x125.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/IMG_4189-A.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption>A sign at the nursery notes the plants&#8217; virtues.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Sollecito is a longtime supporter of Big Red wrestling\u2014so the grounds near the Friedman Wrestling Center feature large masses of his donated hydrangeas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Members of the team have even helped with the plantings around campus (as have horticulture students).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt gives the building such character,\u201d says head coach Mike Grey \u201911.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn 2020, the facility was renovated and there was no landscaping around it; we are thrilled Jim brought these beautiful plants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nina Bassuk \u201974\u2014a fellow CALS alum and friend of Sollecito who recently retired as director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cornell.edu\/urbanhort\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Urban Horticulture Institute<\/a>\u2014long taught a class titled Creating the Urban Eden, in which students plan and execute an on-campus gardening project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHundreds of students over the years have planted the hydrangeas,\u201d says Bassuk. \u201cAlumni come back years later and get to see the beautiful work they have done.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Pink and white hydrangeas outside of the Friedman Wrestling Center\" class=\"wp-image-39201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_027-A.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brightening up the Wrestling Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While Sollecito\u2019s extensive hydrangea collection has by now graced much of the Hill, the first plants he gave can be found between Schoellkopf and the Fischell Band Center as part of a memorial to his daughter, <a href=\"https:\/\/obits.syracuse.com\/us\/obituaries\/syracuse\/name\/hannah-sollecito-obituary?id=36984300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hannah Sollecito \u201911<\/a>, who passed away in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lovingly nicknamed \u201cHannah Hydrangea\u201d by her parents, she majored in international agriculture and rural development in CALS and played first trumpet in the Big Red Marching Band. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe took great pride in walking around the Cornell campus identifying all the plants,\u201d adds Sollecito.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The memorial for Hannah Sollecito with a plaque that says &quot;She lived and laughed and loved a lot.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-39200 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2024_1311_003-A.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The campus memorial to Hannah.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>In the landscaping business since he was an undergrad\u2014he got into it, he says, &#8220;because jobs were hard to come by&#8221;\u2014Sollecito opened his Syracuse nursery a half-century ago. It now offers more than 800 varieties of shrubs, trees, perennials, and edible plants, selected to thrive in the soils and conditions of Central New York.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>But hydrangeas remain one of his favorites, thanks in part to their beauty and longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a fascinating genre of plant,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey hold their color throughout the season. They are different sizes, and some have scent. They aren\u2019t messy, because they don\u2019t make seeds. The butterflies love them\u2014and so will you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Top: Hydrangeas outside Uris Hall. (Campus photos by Jason Koski \/ Cornell University; all others by Melissa Newcomb \/ Cornell University.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Published August 15, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nurseryman Jim Sollecito \u201976 has given his alma mater 1,000+ plants\u2014a gift to students, inspired by his late Cornellian daughter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":39202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[652],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-39193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-hugs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Makes a Beautiful Campus Even Prettier? Hydrangeas! - Cornellians | Cornell University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nurseryman Jim Sollecito \u201976 has given his alma mater 1,000+ plants\u2014a gift to students, inspired by his late Cornellian daughter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/sollecito-hydrangeas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Makes a Beautiful Campus Even Prettier? 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