Campus & Community

Introduction to Illick Hall greenhouses at Oct. 21 IRP

Monday, October 18, 2010, By Eileen Jevis

The Institute for Retired Professionals (IRP) will host Terry Ettinger, greenhouse manager at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), at its Oct. 21 meeting. Ettinger will talk about the teaching and research greenhouse complex at SUNY-ESF that consists of seven glass greenhouses ranging in size from 675 to 1,150 square feet. Plants grown in the greenhouses include an extensive collection of cacti and succulent plants, numerous orchids and a wide range of rare tropical plants.

Ettinger is a leading speaker, educator and communicator in the field of environmentally sensitive lawn, landscape and garden design and management. He has spoken to professional groups across North America—from California to Texas, Minnesota to New York, and Canada. He received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and did additional graduate work at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul and SUNY-ESF. 

Ettinger hosted the News Radio 570 WSYR’s  “The Weeder’s Digest” lawn and garden call-in program; wrote the lawn and garden column “Let’s Get Growing,” which appeared each week in the Eagle Group of community newspapers; and was the featured guest of WSTM TV’s weekly Thursday noon program, “Three Around the Yard.” He was also News Channel 9’s garden expert on the weekly “Dave’s Garden” with Chief Meteorologist Dave Eichorn.

Ettinger owns Terry L. Ettinger Horticulture Consulting Services, which provides landscape design and management, communication, education and research services to individuals, businesses and institutions throughout the Northeast.

The Institute for Retired Professionals, established by University College of Syracuse University, provides opportunities for retired people to stay intellectually active, to expand interests and make new acquaintances. Presentations are made bySU faculty and specialists within the community.

The program is free and open to the public. Meetings are held the first and third Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Syracuse, 5833 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville. Several times each year, members may take part in special activities such as daytrips, tours and luncheons.

For more information on this program, call University College of Syracuse University at (315) 443-4846.