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The Jackson Laboratory Garden

Bar Harbor, Maine

The Jackson Laboratory’s tulips have been under siege! Persistent and fearless four-footed marauders have wreaked havoc on the research institution’s efforts to cultivate a Pink Tulip Garden in support of Maine Cancer Foundation’s mission to fund cancer research in the state of Maine.

The garden team remembers well, that first garden in 2007! The day before the public ceremony and celebration, the Laboratory’s Facilities team had to purchase and plant a garden full of pink flowers, because the deer had turned their beautiful tulips into an early morning buffet.

But the Laboratory’s Pink Tulip Garden Team refused to quit. Much like a cancer survivor who understands that overcoming adversity often brings a renewed sense of hope and purpose, the Jackson Lab contingent has over the years, tried using environmentally friendly deer repellant, planting deer resistant narcissus, and relocating the garden not once, but three times!

Finally, in 2010, assisted by the Facilities Team once again, the group relocated the garden to a courtyard between buildings, with only one external access point (deer like to have more than one route away from the buffet!). They planted 500 bulbs in a raised bed and surrounded the bed with rabbit fencing. The fencing remained in place until the tulips were ready to bloom. It was sweet success for the entire Lab and a $1,400 contribution was made to the Pink Tulip Project.

Natural selection and deer-created diversity have helped the Laboratory’s Pink Tulip participation evolve into a multi-pronged campus-wide project. In addition to their garden, the Lab now hosts a Pink Tulip Tea - deer not invited - to raise awareness and funds for the Pink Tulip Project. Last year, Roscoe’s, the campus cafeteria, baked and sold pink ribbon cookies and their four-day sale contributed nearly $500 to the garden fundraiser. After enjoying the garden in full bloom for several days, the team harvested the tulips, secured them with ribbon and sold them to fellow employees in bunches, to raise additional funds. The Lab’s 2010 Tulip Garden raised $1,400 for the Tulip Project!

This year the Team will add 250 bulbs to their existing garden and sell 250 others, returning all the proceeds to the Maine Cancer Foundation. Senior Development Officer, LuAnn Ballesteros notes that “Research scientists at The Jackson Laboratory have received nearly $800,000 in grant funding from Maine Cancer Foundation since 2004. We are humbled by, and grateful for, the hard work and dedication that enables the Foundation to so positively influence cancer research at JAX and at other research institutions throughout the state of Maine.”

The deer have been a formidable opponent; Cancer is a life-threatening adversary. Thank you to the scientists and the gardeners, who have worked passionately and collaboratively, to plant hope well beyond Maine’s borders!