Catherine Cody was watering plants at Olcott Park Greenhouse as she often does when something surprising suddenly grew out of it.

Unexpectedly, a television production crew from WDSE-WRPT in Duluth, walked into the historic greenhouse. 

“The greenhouse was closed, but they happened to stop by,” said Cody, a board member of Friends of the Greenhouse, a non-profit that operates the greenhouse. “We spent about three hours walking around with them explaining the names of the plants and the history of the greenhouse.”

The episode filmed at the greenhouse that day will be aired on WDSE in early March as part of the station’s “Great Gardening” series.

The first airing is at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 10. It will be rebroadcast at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, March 12. 

Olcott Park Greenhouse, the nation’s northernmost conservatory, is an integral part of Iron Range history.

Built in the 1920s and 1930s, the city of Virginia utilized the greenhouse for decades to grow bedding plants that were replanted throughout the city. 

The city still owns the greenhouse. But it’s operated by Friends of the Greenhouse, a group of about 60 community volunteers.

The greenhouse is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. 

“A lot of people are delighted to find the greenhouse is still open, but they don’t know what’s in it, if it’s privately run, or if the city still has it,” said Cody. “This TV program will be real nice. We need the exposure.”

In addition to nurturing and improving its botanical garden, Friends of the Greenhouse are seeking to expand public activities.

Developing a bistro where community members can gather, is one of the goals, said Cody.  

A “Green Envy Equinox Celebration,” fundraiser conducted by Friends of the Greenhouse is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, March 19 at the greenhouse. 

“It’s basically to get the word out to people to people to come visit us,” said Cody.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., on the same day, the neighboring Historical Society Heritage Museum holds a free open house as part of the celebration.

For additional information on the event visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Greenhouse-Virginia-MN/154439367933556