Appalachian State’s Biology Greenhouse overflowed with plants from around the world at the greenhouse’s semi-annual plant sale Aug. 27 through 29.
Thursday, the opening day for the sale, brought in several hundred people, according to Jerry Meyer, Biology Greenhouse manager.
The proceeds from the sale go into a fund that pays for general maintenance and equipment for the greenhouse, and educational and classroom purposes.
“The funds are needed to help maintain the greenhouse,” Meyer said. “Secondary benefits [to the sale] are it’s an opportunity here, since our university doesn’t offer a plant science degree program, to get some hands-on horticulture and botany experience. All these volunteers can learn a lot here.”
The greenhouse was filled with greenery from head to toe while classical music played in the background, creating a fresh and springtime joyful vibe.
Plants from Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa and more sat on a table together, displaying the diversity of plants found in the greenhouse.
Greenhouse volunteer Rebecca Waller said the greenhouse is both a calming place and a place where Meyer wants his volunteers to learn about taking care of plants and also where the are from in the world.
The succulents are the most popular plants, Meyer said, especially for students.
“I think they are popular because they are fairly low maintenance,” Meyer said. “As long as someone has a bright window sill, you can nearly neglect them because they don’t mind drying out.”
The most popular and exotic plants were a variety of succulents exclusively from South Africa with the genus or family name Haworthia. They are “endemic,” meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth except for South Africa.
Waller said that without the sale, it is almost impossible to buy new plants.
“[The sale] is an opportunity for people to come in and see all these really cool plants that are in the greenhouse and then maybe get the idea to come in and volunteer,” greenhouse volunteer Alana Baird said.
Story by Charlotte Wray, Intern News Reporter