New UCF Greenhouse Takes Root

Story by Jonathan Gabriel, UCF Today

The UCF Arboretum  celebrated the completion of a new campus greenhouse that will support UCF’s educational and research efforts.

Photo by Allison Miehl, Central Florida Future

UCF faculty, staff and students gathered at the new greenhouse for a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception on Friday, March 25. Dr. Michael Johnson, Dean of the UCF College of Sciences, assisted in the ribbon cutting along with Dr. Patrick Bohlen, director of the UCF Department of Landscape and Natural Resources & Arboretum.

“The Arboretum greenhouse will be a hub for demonstrating and sharing our knowledge about propagation and public horticulture, as well as a space to support teaching and research activities. We are thrilled to have this important addition to our campus facilities,” said Patrick Bohlen.

The original campus greenhouse, the Stockard Conservatory, was dismantled in 2005 due to damage from hurricanes and aging infrastructure. The new greenhouse will be a 1,000-square-foot glass-enclosed facility with actuators controlling ventilation to maintain optimal temperatures for the plant life.

The Arboretum will use the greenhouse to grow plants for distribution across campus landscapes, natural areas and the volunteer-run community garden. Threatened and endangered plant species will also be cultivated for campus restoration projects.

Photo by Allison Miehl, Central Florida Future

Volunteers, interns and independent-study students will be able to work on projects and learn specialized skills such as plant propagation, the process of creating new plants. In addition, the greenhouse will also be home to biology classes such as medicinal botany, as well as be available for class tours from nearby public schools.

The UCF Arboretum was founded in 1983 by then UCF President Trevor Colbourn. It supports several initiatives to enhance campus landscapes and increase community awareness and understanding of urban ecology, natural resource conservation and environmental cultivation.

More information on its activities can be found on it’s website.