Greenhouse protects foliage despite frosty weather

Catching the eye of the casual observer on East Third Street, the greenhouse in Jordan Hall might look like something from an old science-fiction movie. The dome-shaped room with large windows is difficult to place until one sees what's inside.\nThe greenhouse displays a wide variety of plants for students, researchers and the general public to study and observe. Despite the cold of the upcoming winter months, plants ranging from tropical to desert backgrounds continue to thrive in the enclosed space. \n"(The greenhouse) even has fruit -- banana and guava, and the cocoa has pods on it now," said John Leichter, one of the four members of the IU staff that runs the greenhouse. \nThe greenhouse has been in its current location since 1956 and has not been renovated since it was built, Leichter said. However, he said the facility will see an upgrade soon. Along with renovations, Leichter mentioned that work on a new greenhouse on 10th Street will begin in April 2007, a project that will add 10,000 square feet and will be used solely by researchers.\nLeichter said as of now, researchers and beginning biology classes are the main users of the greenhouse. PJ Pulliam, a recent IU graduate, is currently performing research and lab work in the greenhouse, looking at non-native plants of the area to see how they affect the soil. \nThe gardeners can be seen throughout the greenhouse maintaining and adding plants, discussing things that need to be done for general upkeep and taking people on tours. The gardeners' knowledge of the plants is also a great help to the researchers that use the greenhouse.\n"The guys that work here are great," Pulliam said. "They know a lot about the plants and are a great resource."\nDespite the classwork being done, the greenhouse is not just a place for researchers. \nKatrina Panovich, a junior majoring in Informatics, said she enjoys coming to the greenhouse to lift her mood. \n"I like to come to the greenhouse when it's a gray day," she said. "It's warm and smells like living things." \nPanovich added her favorite part of the greenhouse was the desert section because the plants are so different than what can be seen growing in Indiana.\nWhether student, researcher or member of the community, everyone finds something out of the ordinary at the greenhouse.\n"It's a really nice, different place," Panovich said. \nThe greenhouse is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.