The University of Wisconsin Plant Science Department runs the D.C. Smith Greenhouse that is free and open to the public. So we went to check it out.
Starting with the huge Oak across the street from the greenhouses, our trip to the Plant Sciences Building was a huge hit.
The first room hosts the Corpse Flower and the koi pond. The Corpse Flower wasn’t in bloom when we went, so we got more enjoyment out of looking at the fish. We’ll have to go back again to get the full effect of the Titan Arum. A definite must see for plant lovers are the Sensitive Plants hanging in the hallway. You touch the Mimosa Pudica and they react immediately, wilting while you watch. A few minutes later they are back to normal. It’s freaky- the kids loved it!
The main hall features eight rooms each with different collections of plants being studied at the moment. This assortment triggers good conversations about why some rooms are hotter or more humid than others. There are no tour guides within Plant Sciences, and few fact sheets explaining what surrounds you. But it is great fun exploring the building and seeing what’s within. It’s a fun make-it-what-you-want-it-to-be trip.
Parking on campus is always an adventure in itself. We parked a few blocks down Babcock Street at a two hour meter.
Tip: The greenhouse is a block away from Babcock Hall Dairy Store, if you need a little treat after seeing some cool plants. 
[…] by the Science Outreach Department, Family Gardening Day is held at the D.C. Smith Greenhouse, the Allen Centennial Gardens and the Steenbock Library. Each location set up a few booths to […]