The Longwood University Greenhouse is located atop the Chichester Science building. It is open every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to all students. The Greenhouse opened in 2008, just after the new science center (Chichester) was built, to replace the old greenhouse that was behind Jeffers and Stevens. The Greenhouse is overseen by Dr. Mark Fink, head of the biology department, and Dr. Thomas Akre.
The greenhouse is split into two sections. One section is the dry room, which is constantly kept dry and hot and is filled with succulent plants such as cacti and various other plants that are found in dryer climates.
Once you enter the room, you are surrounded by vivid green plants with fat stems and leaves. As the light streams in through the specially made windows, shadows dance through the room from the various fanned leaves found on a few of the larger plants.
One must be careful upon moving around this room for they may be in danger of being pricked by the barbs of one of the many prickled plants. Periodically, a whir of vents is heard as the complicated conditioning system boots up to make sure the room stays at the proper humidity and temperature.
The second room remains warm and humid at all times to preserve the wide array of tropical species that abide in the room. In the moist room, students can see a medley of tropical and rare plants that, unless they plan to travel the planet, they would not be able to see for the rest of their lives. According to the students who were watching over the greenhouse, only a couple of the plants found in the room could be found natively nearby.
Upon walking into the room, you are greeted by bright flowers and strange, twisted plants. A few of the plants take on curious shapes such as the plants with flowersthat grow to form vase-like structures and strongly represent the character Victreebel many college students may remember from playing Pokemon as a child.
There are thicker plants that stretch, with intimidating gusto, towards the ceiling. Various mosses sneak over the pots and plants, sometimes engulfing entire pots and their surrounding area. The room is warm and wet, giving anyone who walks in the impression of being in a jungle. While the greenhouse volunteers did not inform me of any animals dwelling in the dry room, the moist room is home to a few turtles that are free to roam the room and are well taken care of.
The greenhouse is a great opportunity for anyone who loves plants and nature alike. The students who help out are very eager to tell about how the rooms work and about how to take care of the plants.
If any student is willing to help out in the greenhouse or just wants to learn more, they are encouraged to stop by during the open hours on Tuesdays. If the students or advisors aren't sitting at the workspace that is found in between the two rooms, they will be nurturing and watering the plants in either of the other rooms. If there is a student who is interested in seeing the greenhouse but is not able to make it during the open hours on Tuesdays, they are welcome to make an appointment with either Dr. Mark Fink or Dr. Thomas Akre.
