Christy Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christy Woods |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Arboretum and botanical garden |
| Location | Old Quad Ball State University Muncie, Indiana United States |
| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Etymology | O. B. Christy |
| Website | Christy Woods at bsu.edu |
Christy Woods is a special outdoor area at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. It covers about 17 acres. This place is both an arboretum and a botanical garden. An arboretum is like a living museum for trees. A botanical garden is a place where many different types of plants are grown and studied. Christy Woods focuses on plants and natural areas that are native to Indiana.
About Christy Woods
Christy Woods is a beautiful green space. It is located on the southwest side of the Ball State University campus. This area helps students and visitors learn about Indiana's natural environment. It is a great place to explore and see different kinds of plants and trees.
History of Christy Woods
The land for Christy Woods was given to the State of Indiana in 1918. This gift came from the Ball Brothers. A professor named Dr. O. B. Christy played a big part in creating this area. He worked with his biology students. They carefully moved wildflowers from all over Indiana to plant them in the woods. This helped to create a diverse collection of native plants.
Later, in 1928, more improvements were made. Trails were built so people could walk through the woods easily. Garden beds were also created to organize the plants. These ideas came from J.J. Porter, who was from Cornell University.
What You Can See Today
Today, most of Christy Woods is covered by a mature forest. This means it has many old and tall trees. You can find different types of trees here, including:
- Oak trees
- Hickory trees
- Ash trees
- Walnut trees
- Hackberry trees
- Maple trees
Christy Woods is also home to four important greenhouses for Ball State University:
- Rinard Orchid Greenhouse: This greenhouse is home to the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank. It has many beautiful and rare orchids.
- Teaching and Research Greenhouse: This is where the university keeps plants for students to study. It helps them learn about different plant species.
- Herb Greenhouse: Herbs used by the university's dining services are grown here. This means fresh herbs for student meals!
- Environmental Studies Greenhouse: This greenhouse is used for growing new plants. It is also used for research about water plants and environments.
