Nature center director: Dangerous, abandoned greenhouse demolished

NEW CANAAN — Glass fell from the last remaining antique greenhouse into the backyard of New Canaan Nature Center Director Bill Flynn, he said. The point of impact was a play area for Flynn’s four-year-old son who, thankfully, was not present.

On Monday, the dilapidated greenhouse was demolished.

It was time the dangerous structure was destroyed, Flynn said.

The greenhouse has not been tended to for over 25 years, according to Flynn, who said it was apparent not only from what he has been told, but from “the size of trees that were growing in it.”

It had been a locked and abandoned building before he started at the nature center 11

years ago and he contends it had been dangerous to keep on premises. The director said that it was not only the source of flying debris, but it had also contained hazardous materials including lead and asbestos.

It was in such disrepair it would have needed “more a rebuild than a restoration,” because the wood was rotting, Flynn said.

The foundation of the site, which was the last of four antique greenhouses at New Canaan Nature Center, will make way for gardens on the premises of the 39-acre nature center. Sally Waters Herb Garden currently sits just outside the black fence surrounding the site with the community gardens inside.

Flynn said he is not sure what the new garden will be used for, maybe an addition to both gardens there now.

The buds from the new gardens will not be seen this summer, since Flynn and his staff want to see what the foundation is like and plan the plantings for 2022.

Someone had posted the greenhouse for sale on Craigslist, Flynn added. He thought the anonymous individual did not “understand how things worked,” since it was not his or hers to sell and because remediation of the hazardous materials was needed.

The nature center has other improvements currently underway, including new boardwalks, which he said replaced walkways that were very nice when scouts made them nearly 30 years ago.

The property includes 13 acres that house buildings and animals, and another 26 acres behind the Visitors Center.

The larger land behind the main building is the focus of a new land management plan, in which invasive plants are being removed and native species are being planted.

The native plants are expected to attract native wildlife.

Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media The dilapidated greenhouse at the nature center had slowly been in the process of being demolished over a number of days in April.

Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media C and D Services was cleaning up the remains of the antique greenhouse at New Canaan Nature Center on Monday.