Insider’s View: Inside the Greenhouse
Photo by: Deirdre Haber Malfatto
Built in the years immediately following the fire of 1896, which destroyed the original seminary building on campus, Talcott Greenhouse displays a living collection of plants from around the world.
First-years can stop by to collect a complimentary plant—most often a jade or spider. The plants are produced by student workers, who work in the propagation division, making cuttings in the spring so they will grow and be ready in September for the new class.
Learning in the greenhouse happens across disciplines, from biology classes studying species to art students practicing drawing and sketching techniques.
Open to the public year round, one of the greenhouse’s busiest times is during the Annual Spring Flower Show, which is months in the making and features thousands of flowers timed perfectly to bloom during the first two weeks of March.
This year the College will be represented in Holyoke’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with a float decorated by greenhouse staff with flowers grown on site.
—By Jennifer Grow ’94
This article appeared in the spring 2014 issue of the Alumnae Quarterly.
April 17, 2014
Thoughts of the Talcott Greenhouse bring back many happy memories from childhood as well as the College years. So glad to hear it is going strong and even expanding to share with celebrations in Holyoke.