You can at the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse at Ball State University in Muncie.
The Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse is the new home of the Ball State University Wheeler- Thanhauser Orchid Collection and Species Bank, and a wonderful new Display House, in which tropical plants of many types, including orchids, are displayed. The Display House contains 700 square feet of plants from the world’s tropics. Even in winter, the Rinard Display House is always in full bloom. Changing educational displays, student art exhibits, and other seasonal features make the Rinard Display and Orchid Greenhouse a great place to visit throughout the year.
Ball State created the Wheeler-Thanhauser Collection to conserve rare and endangered species of orchids, disseminate them for conservation, and
use the collection for research and education. They display orchids with other tropical plants to give you the impression of being in a small tropical environment.
A terraced “mountain” and waterfall give you a hint of the cooler, high- elevation rainforest environment and a glimpse of the cloud- forest orchids that grow there. You will also witness a display of tropical poison arrow frogs, since rainforest conservation is about both plants and animals.
Greenhouse Hours: Monday – Friday: Open 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
greenhouse.iweb.bsu.edu/
(765) 285-8839
