The Biological Department and Science Outreach Center teamed up for the first time to give the university an inside look at the newly-expanded campus greenhouse last Saturday.

The Greenhouse Open House featured over 100 plants ranging from locally grown to exotic. The open house hosted guest speaker Renata Bitoy Bunger, a master gardener from Walworth County.

Self-guided tours took place throughout the day, allowing students and staff to explore the new features of the greenhouse.

The open house showed off the expansion of the greenhouse in Upham Hall, and provided information on plants.

“A lot of the campus community seems to be unaware of the greenhouse,” Scientific Outreach Coordinator Alisa Hass said. “People pass it all the time and don’t even realize what it is. This was a good way to get the word out so people could see how great it is.”

Many students have volunteered under Dr. Nicholas Tippery, head of the greenhouse and professor of biological sciences, to maintain and bring the greenhouse from about 20 to more than 100 plants in the past year.

“[The greenhouse] is a resource of the Biology Department, and I felt I had an obligation to share it with the campus community,” Tippery said. “I want people to get excited about plants, and I want to give students and faculty alike, the opportunity to explore their love of plants.”

During the tours, Tippery and student volunteers were available to answer questions and provide information about the plants and greenhouse.

“The open house was a great way to meet new people, have a good time and see a portion of campus that one may not typically go see,” student volunteer Daniel Bognar said.

Tippery said he worked hard and devoted countless hours to get the greenhouse up and running. He said none of this would be possible without plant donations from UW-Whitewater students and many other

organizations.

“I am proud of a lot of the work done in the Greenhouse, especially the worm bins that compost plant clippings and old papers into rich soil that we use to fertilize the plants,” student volunteer Austin Krueger said.