The Conservatory on Miami Hamilton campus: What to know

Here are eight things to know about the Conservatory at Miami University’s Hamilton Campus:

1. The Conservatory, which houses more than 1,000 plants from around the globe, was a gift from Richard J. Fitton, a lifelong friend and advocate of the Hamilton campus.

2. It opened in 2005.

3. All the rooms in the Conservatory are open to guests daily (except Mondays), but "the desert room always seems to inspire the greatest interest, especially to young visitors," says Miami spokesperson Perry Richardson.

4. The first plant addition, whose catalog number is 1005-0001, is a Dorstenia gigas, which staff affectionately call "Gigas." It is in the Conservatory's desert room.

5. The largest tree in the Conservatory's collection is a bunyan pine, Araucaria bidwillii, which can grow to more than 150 feet high.

6. The building is surrounded by 11,000 square feet of glass, and can easily be spotted on campus because the glass roof and sides make its appearance so different from the other buildings.

ExploreMORE: Old sewage dumping ground now a treasure for wildlife in Hamilton

7. Schools, clubs and other groups often visit, and the place is ideal for local family trips, especially during the winter.

8. The Conservatory is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

In Other News

Miraculous vacation rescue changes Kettering man’s life

Surge in child melatonin overdoses leads to call for safer packaging

Dayton Playhouse selects finalists for nationally-recognized new play...

Sprucing up your yard – for the dog, of course

‘Reading Rainbow’ documentary at The Neon spotlights childhood literacy

About the Author

Mike Rutledge