Among the hustle and bustle of FRCC’s Larimer Campus sit Turtle-Dum and Turtle-Dee. The two red-eared sliders spend their days splashing, swimming, and lounging in a pond in the Larimer Campus’ very own greenhouse.
The turtles and their pond enhance the life in the building as part of a lush ecosystem, providing hands-on learning, new experiences, and a tranquil place to clear one’s mind.
One need not be a botany or horticulture major to take a class in the greenhouse. Many of the classes – Intro to Horticulture, Plant ID, Plant Propagation, and other courses – count as a science credit for other degrees.
FRCC registration is now open. Look into these “green thumb” classes to learn something new, get out of your comfort zone, or just for a fun class.
Greenhouse programs also give students relevant experience for future jobs and internships.
Program director Molly McDonald and laboratory coordinator Mike Anthony have work-study students every semester. They help care for plants and for the building itself.
This semester, the greenhouse has four work-study students.
Along with tending to plants and educating students, Anthony works with the Natural Resources and Environments (NRE) program at FRCC. He begins by growing native species in the greenhouse. In the spring, NRE classes use those plants to revegetate natural and wildlife areas around Fort Collins.
The greenhouse is a permanent home to many of the plants. However, a handful of plants circulate in and out every semester, being used for experiments and teaching opportunities.
The latest lab tested water additives with different nutrients. Students tested how each nutrient affected different plants of the same species.
The facility was originally built by the Larimer County Voc-Tec Center over 50 years ago, long before the FRCC Larimer campus opened.
