The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul displays five flower shows every year. The Fall Flower Show opens this Saturday, October 12 and runs through December 1. You should go, and here’s why:
1. It’s warm. We can still have some pretty beautiful weather in October and November, but if it happens to be a chilly, rainy fall day, a stop into the conservatory will warm you right up. The sun beams in and you can, for a time, imagine it’s warm outside again.
2. It’s beautiful. True beauty is hard to find sometimes. Here you can walk amongst natural beauty in fall feel with all the dark maroons accented by yellow, orange, and green mum flowers displayed during the Fall Flower Show.
3. It’s natural. Amongst the fall flowers, find multicolored Swiss Chard and ornamental peppers, completed with ornamental grasses.
4. The history. The Majorie McNeely Conservatory was built in 1915 and holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s been displaying annual flower shows ever since!
5. The other gardens. My personal favorite is the newly redesigned Japanese Garden, but you can also peruse a Bonsai garden, edible garden (veggies, fruits, herbs), enchanted garden (an outdoor haven for butterflies when the weather is right), the orchid house, and fern and palm rooms.
6. Tropical Encounters. A stroll through this garden brings you into a neotropical rainforest environment. Spot turtles, fish, frogs, and Chloe the Sloth. Learn more about the rapid destruction of rainforests around the world.
7. Animals! If the weather isn’t too crummy, then you can head into the zoo. Visit polar bears Neil and Buzz, gorillas, giraffe, seals, and many more creatures.
8. Educational programs. Classes and other learning opportunities are offered often for kids of all ages, families, and adults.
9. ZooBoo! Pair your visit to the Fall Flower Show with ZooBoo, a great family-friendly, non-scary Halloween activity for the whole family (October 19-20, 25-27).
10. It’s affordable! Both the Zoo and the Conservatory are free, but we hope you’ll pony up the suggested donation of $2-$3.
To learn more about the Fall Flower Show, watch the below video.
