50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE IU GREENHOUSE
John Lemon is the supervisor of the Biology Building Greenhouse located on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, Indiana. He started working in the greenhouse in 1972 with no experience. During his 50 years of service in the greenhouse he has learned to care for the plants and worked his way up to supervisor.

A car passes the Indiana University Biology Greenhouse Feb. 16, 2022, in Bloomington, Ind. Construction of the greenhouse was completed in 1955.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon checks the moisture levels of the greenery Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. Lemon started working in the greenhouse in 1972, this is his 50th year working there.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon waters hanging plants Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. When Lemon started working at IU he didn’t have any greenhouse experience he said he was learning as he went.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon waters a Sarracenia purpurea otherwise known as a ‘Sweet Pitcher Plant’ Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. Lemon recalled that when he started working at IU he was about the same age as all the college students.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon smells a flower from a lemon tree Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. After 50 years working in the greenhouse, Lemon plans to retire at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon collaborates with a researcher Feb. 16, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. Helping researchers has been a big part of Lemon’s job. He has consulted with them and looks after their projects making sure they have water and the proper soil.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon examines bananas before picking the ripe ones Feb. 16, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. Lemon has tried many of the fruits that grow inside the greenhouse such as bananas and lemons.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon visits the upper level greenhouses Feb. 16, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. “We have plants in here that are, I’d say, some of them are probably 60, 70 years old,” he said. “It’s nice just to feel like you’re at least partly responsible that the plants have been able to survive all this time and hopefully will keep going a lot longer after I’m gone.”

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon waters a plant Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. To the left was a plant with leaves growing wild. Lemon decorated it to have a face with sunglasses, a mask and a tie that would accompany the hairlike leaves.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon separates the roots from an orchid flower Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. The roots were getting too long for the original pot and needed to be pulled apart to create smaller orchid plants.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon repots the orchid flower with pebbles and soil Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. Pebbles are used because the orchid is a tropical plant and that the soil will keep the roots wet, according to Lemon.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon uses string to tie up the orchid flower Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. The string provided support to the freshly repotted plant.

Indiana University greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon returns the repotted orchid flower to its original spot in the greenhouse Feb. 9, 2022, at the Biology Building Greenhouse in, Bloomington, Ind. “I know that when I do leave I will probably miss it in some ways because I just take it for granted that this is a daily activity,” Lemon said “If you find a job that you like it might be worth hanging onto it.”