Why the ESF Greenhouses are the Low-key Coolest Spots on Campus

I’ve always been intrigued by the greenhouses on top of Life Sciences for some reason. I honestly love plants (no shame) and would fill my whole room with them if I could actually keep them alive, so I appreciate greenhouses for their aesthetic and for successfully doing what I can’t. Not to mention, I knew that if I could get inside, I’d get a dope ass Insta pic. So one day my friend and I tried to get in, climbing different stairwells and asking around everywhere in ESF. Turns out, you need a special card that grants you access. I pay $60,000 a year to go to this school and I can’t even get into the greenhouses.

Well, if you’ve been in the same unfortunate situation as me or simply have no money and want to pretend like you’re on a tropical vacation, SUNY-ESF has a bunch of greenhouses that are open to the public free of charge. They’re open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fact of the matter is that the Life Sciences greenhouses need to find their chill but ESF has enough to go around, and then some more.

It’s a really cool, under the radar place to go on campus. The greenhouses are on the roof of Illick Hall, which is located right next to the Carrier Dome. You don’t need a special card or to request an appointment, just the ability to push the button on the elevator to take you to the top floor. There are seven glass greenhouses total, all of which are different sizes. They’ve got everything from orchids to rare tropical plants. My personal favorite is the cacti and succulent greenhouse because so ~trendy~ am I right?

All but one are heated, because some of the plants need exposure to cold temperatures during the winter to bloom and continue growing every spring. But the temperatures are kept quite toasty, and it’s a great way (other than cuddling with bae) to escape the negative degrees during the winter.

Not to mention, all of the people who work there are scary nice. You would think that plants are a weird thing to be passionate about, but these workers do a great job at maintaining them and answering any questions you might have. A lot of ESF students work in the greenhouses, making sure all of the plants are doing well, but they won’t bother you if you just want to roam in peace and quiet.

So the next time you find yourself bored between classes, wanting a change of scenery, in need of an Insta aesthetic revamp, or on the brink of hypothermia, check out the sick roof of Illick Hall.