Oct. 2 marked the grand opening of the new greenhouse located beside the Ag and Auto building. 

“I would just like to thank everybody that helps with it all, I mean, I can’t do it alone,” greenhouse and horticulture teacher Madison West said. 

Floral design teacher Kirby Phillips said the new greenhouse has created “endless possibilities.”

“We can grow stuff year-round now, and that has just opened up so much stuff, especially with Texas climates being so harsh,” Phillips said. “Now we have a controlled environment where we can grow stuff and share with the community. We can do the plant sale in the fall, and the spring sale now, and sell stuff to the public so they can be a part of it.”

Students can immerse themselves in their studies through hands-on learning, which gives them a better chance to retain information and creates a more engaging learning environment. 

“I think it’s very good that we all have the opportunity to grow things and be hands-on with plants and flowers,” sophomore Mariah Cann said. “I think it’ll help us improve because we get to see how the flowers and plants develop over time.” 

With the necessary guidance from teachers, students will be in charge of planting, watering, monitoring and preparing plants grown from seeds or plant plugs to be sold at the spring plant sale. 

“I’m very grateful to get to learn under these amazing teachers and they are doing an awesome job with us,” Cann said.  

Last year the school did not have a greenhouse and Phillps said that not having that designated space to grow plants had a negative impact.

“We used to have [a greenhouse] and they tore it down two years ago to build the new construction pad, so last year we didn’t have one and we were deeply struggling, so we had to petition the school board, and they graciously agreed and we finally have one now,” Phillips said. “I think it’s great because now we can grow stuff year-round instead of just seasonal.”

Phillips’ and West’s classes will share the greenhouse, and each class will grow different greenery. 

“The floral design classes will focus on growing cut flowers that can be cut and used in arrangements,” Phillips said. “Greenhouse and horticulture classes will focus on growing plants that have a longer life span.” 

As long as the plant or flower is in season, there is no limitation to what can be grown in the greenhouse. 

“Right now begonias are in season, so they’re really pretty, and so are our snapdragons,” West said. “We have a lot of aloe which grows year-round, and we’re going to grow, hopefully, some prickly pear cactus. I want to get some from my hometown and bring it back, and we’re going to cross-plant it.” 

West plans for her classes to grow tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, strawberries and other vegetables. 

“I’m excited to see how our vegetables grow this year,” West said. “They grew pretty well last year even though they were outside, but a lot of our tomatoes died in the heat.” 

Anybody who has extra or leftover seeds that they are not currently using, or just want to make a contribution to the greenhouse, can donate.

“We always welcome donations from the community, from nurseries, from people like myself and my mom,” Phillips said. “We both bring stuff up here.”

The greenhouse has already become something that many students find enjoyment in, regardless of their other activities or interests.  

“I think a lot of the kids who you don’t think would like this class, now that we have a greenhouse, actually really like it,” West said. “In my greenhouse class, I have four to five football players that you wouldn’t expect to like plants, that’s their favorite thing.”

Phillips said she would encourage anyone to come out and see the greenhouse in their spare time. 

“Bring your classes out here, especially science classes, just get involved in this program,” Phillips said. 

The greenhouse not only helps students get a better understanding of how to grow and take care of plants, but it also allows them to get a feel for their future job if they decide to pursue a career in agriculture. 

“I bring my kids out here almost every day, and they love being able to come outside and see the progress of actually growing something,” Phillips said. “They’re growing plants with their hands, and I think that’s a great thing to teach students and young people to get them involved in this industry, and just know that they can do something outside of pencil and paper.”