As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, more people are finding pleasure among plants and flowers around campus.At least that’s what Kevin Wagner, a renovation and construction engineer in the University Engineer’s Office, hopes is happening.Since last year, Wagner has taken care of the raised planter in front of Central Classrooms on Millikin Road. He is caring for the planter through the Adopt-a-Flower-Bed program run by the plant materials division of Physical Facilities.The Adopt-a-Flower-Bed program was a response to budget cuts in 1990-91 that caused the roads and grounds department to drop back to core services like mowing Ohio State’s maintained lawns and repairing sidewalks and roads, said Chuck Smith, director of roads and grounds. Throughout the year, Wagner waters and weeds plants during his lunch hour and after work. Co-workers enjoy the planter because of the color it brings to the entrance, he said.For more than four years, the program has provided volunteers with flowers. Wagner obtained mums, marigolds and geraniums this year.OSU Hospitals was the first to contact plant materials in 1992, said Cathy Maupin, supervisor of plant materials. “At the end of 1993, I had 13 groups. Now, there are more than 63 groups.”Along with Wagner’s raised planter in front of Central Classrooms, the volunteers are planting and caring for beds and large cement pots at Cockins Hall, the Block-O at Larkins Hall and the Faculty Club.Burtha Enat, archives assistant for manuscripts, started caring for beds two years ago at the entrance to the Book Depository on Kenny Road. Enat placed flowers in beds where someone had stolen shrubs. Last year, Enat joined the Adopt-a-Flower-Bed program, receiving geraniums and petunias. She added pots of plants, and replaced two dead bushes. Enat will plant more flowers this month.Due to the success of the program, physical facilities has increased funding, Maupin said.About $25,000 will be spent on flowers this year, Smith said.