The Biological Sciences Greenhouse Facility
The Ohio State University

Contacts
Scheduling guided tours of the Conservatory and Insectary and classes in the Conservatory should be directed to Ms. Cindy Schroeder at 614-688-5593 or schroeder.244@osu.edu. Scheduling for classes in the Insectary should be directed to Mr. George Keeney at 614-292-9634 or keeney.1@osu.edu

About the facility
The Conservatory houses plants native to tropical and desert environments. The collection has an estimated 1500 specimens representing over 100 plant families from around the world, including some specimens rarely found in cultivation. There are flowers and fruits year-round and a vast diversity of foliage shapes, sizes and colors. Primarily used for instruction in the College of Biological Sciences, the Conservatory is open to other university classes by scheduling through the greenhouse staff.
The insectary rears approximately 130 species of insects and arthropods for instructional and research purposes, including tarantulas, walking sticks, and giant hissing cockroaches . Due to limited space, only a few students can be accomodated at any given time. Visitation by appointment only.

Hours of Operation
The Conservatory and Insectary are available for visitor tours and classes Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. The facility is closed on University recognized holidays and weekends.

Reservations
Groups are requested to make reservations at least 15 working days in advance of visit. Facility scheduling is available for 6 months in advance and is subject to change based on course demand and facility staffing. Scheduling priority is given to Ohio State University College of Biological Sciences courses first, followed by other university courses. Impromptu guided tours are not available.

Cancellations
Groups are requested to call at least 48 hours in advance should the tour or class need to be cancelled or rescheduled. Tours will be cancelled by the facility staff when groups are more than 30 minutes late for their scheduled time.

Group size
Due to space limitations, groups in excess of 40, not including adult supervisors, cannot be accomodated. Groups larger than 20 will be required to divide, usually with half touring the Conservatory while the other half visits the Insectary. Both parts of a divided group will have the opportunity visit each area. Groups of fewer than 5 may be asked to arrange their visit with another small sized group.

Fees
For guided tours, we request a nonrefundable minimum donation of $2.00 per person. Groups larger than 40 will need to divide and schedule separately, due to facility space limitations. The fee is due at time of scheduling, to reserve a single date and time for a guided tour of the Conservatory and/or Insectary. Contributions are payable by check made to the order of The Ohio State University and directly support the Biological Sciences Greenhouse and its programs.

Etiquette
Please read over the Greenhouse and Insectary Etiquette before visiting the facility. Failure of any group or group member to comply with these rules will result in a prompt end of the tour or class and the group asked to leave. These guidelines are meant to insure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors.

Please Note! We are an active teaching and research facility. The Conservatory and Insectary are not designed, as museums and zoos are, for handling large numbers of visitors. The tour allows visitors the unique opportunity to experience the educational resources inherent of such a facility.

• Please remember that this is a teaching and research facility. There are classes in session and researchers working in their offices and laboritories. Visitors are asked to remain quiet in the hallways. Running and horseplay are not tolerated.
• Do not touch plants and arthropods unless instructed to do so by the tour guide. Certain plants and arthropods can cause irritations when handled. When instructed to handle organisms, rest assured that it is safe to do so, as we have your safety in mind. Please handle gently as these are living things.
• The Insectary does not allow strollers due to space limitations.
• Please show respect for the tour guide and fellow visitors by keeping quiet during presentations. Questions and comments are welcome.
• This building has been designated as a smoke-free environment.
• Please be aware that there is no seating available in the Insectary and Conservatory. Tours involve walking and standing for the duration. Visitors needing special assistance can be accommodated with prior arrangement.
• Groups showing a lack of control and respect will be dismissed from the premises, and future tour arrangements for such groups will be made at the discretion of the facility management.
• Artists are welcome with water-soluble paints and chalks. No inks or permanent markers are allowed.

• Art students may not use any permanent inks or markers in the Conservatory. Please have students use water-soluble paints or chalks.
• Please respect the plants in the Conservatory collection by not removing leaves, flowers, or name labels. The plants should not be rearranged without the assistance of greenhouse personnel.
• Food and drinks are not permitted in the greenhouse as they attract pest insects.
• Students may move chairs into the greenhouse ONLY if they are returned to their original location.