It is -10 degrees outside. Your eyelashes are literally freezing together, and the wind coming off Lake Como feels like a personal attack. Then you walk through the double glass doors of the Marjorie McNeely Como Conservatory St Paul, and everything changes. Instantly. The air is heavy, thick with the smell of damp earth and jasmine, and suddenly you’re in a humid jungle instead of a frozen Midwestern tundra. It’s a trip. Honestly, if you live in the Twin Cities and you aren’t utilizing this place as a seasonal therapy session, you’re doing winter wrong.
The Conservatory isn't just a collection of plants; it’s a Victorian-era glass masterpiece that has survived over a century of Minnesota hailstorms and urban shifts. Opened in 1915, this structure is one of the few remaining large-scale Victorian glass houses in the country. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which makes sense when you look at the architecture—it’s all soaring glass panes and white steel ribs that look like the skeleton of a giant, translucent whale.
The Sunken Garden: The Room Everyone Recognizes
Most people come here for the Sunken Garden. You’ve seen it on Instagram—the long, narrow pool, the perfectly symmetrical flower beds, and the massive windows that flood the room with light. What's cool is that they change the display five times a year. If you go in January, you’re getting the Winter Flower Show, which usually features cyclamen, veltheimia, and cineraria. By March, they’ve swapped everything out for the Spring Show, dominated by tulips and lilies.
It’s not just about looking pretty, though. The horticulture team at Como is hardcore. They grow almost everything on-site in production greenhouses that the public doesn't usually see. The sheer logistics of swapping out thousands of blooming plants in a single weekend without killing them is a feat of engineering that honestly deserves more credit.
What You Might Miss in the Tropical Encounters Wing
While the Sunken Garden is the "star," the Tropical Encounters wing is where the actual vibe is. This isn't just a room with some palms; it's a functioning ecosystem. You've got free-roaming birds, turtles sunning themselves on logs, and Chloe the Sloth. Chloe is basically a local celebrity at this point. She spends most of her time high up in the canopy, looking like a ball of moss, so you have to really scan the branches to find her.
There are over 150 species of plants in this wing alone. You’ll see cacao trees (where chocolate comes from), coffee plants, and massive black pepper vines. It’s a weirdly humbling experience to see a vanilla orchid in person and realize how much work goes into that little bottle of extract in your pantry. The humidity here stays around 70%, which is great for the orchids but terrible for your hair. Small price to pay for a temporary escape to Central and South America.
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The North Garden and the Fern Room: A Masterclass in Texture
If you want quiet, head to the Fern Room. It’s lush, green, and feels incredibly ancient. Some of the fern species here date back to the time of the dinosaurs. It’s much darker and cooler than the tropical wing, creating this moody, prehistoric atmosphere that’s perfect for just sitting on a bench and staring at nothing for twenty minutes.
The North Garden is where things get practical. It’s filled with "useful" plants—edibles, medicinals, and fibers. You’ll find things like bananas, papayas, and lemons growing alongside agave and aloe. It's a reminder that basically everything we eat or wear started out as something growing in a climate like this.
The Japanese Garden: A Lesson in Restraint
Outside the main glass structure—but still part of the Como Conservatory St Paul complex—is the Ordway Japanese Garden. Note that this part is seasonal and closes during the deep winter months for the safety of the plants and the visitors. It was a gift from St. Paul’s sister city, Nagasaki, and was designed by Masami Matsuda.
Unlike the explosion of color in the Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden is all about green, gray, and brown. It uses "miegakure," or the "hide and reveal" technique. You aren't supposed to see the whole garden at once. Every time you turn a corner or step across a stone, a new view opens up. It’s meant to be a place of meditation. If you go during the summer, the bonsai collection is incredible. Some of those trees are decades old and require daily grooming that would make a poodle look low-maintenance.
Surprising Facts Most Locals Forget
- It’s Technically Free (Sorta): There is a "suggested donation" of $3 for adults and $2 for kids. You aren't barred entry if you don't pay, but honestly, look at the place. It costs a fortune to heat a glass building in a Minnesota January. Just pay the three bucks.
- The Palm House is Huge: The central dome, known as the Palm House, is 64 feet tall. It houses more than 15 species of palms, including some that are reaching the very top of the glass.
- The Fern Room’s "Aged" Look: The moss on the walls of the Fern Room isn't accidental. It’s carefully curated to give the room that "lost temple in the jungle" feel.
- The Holiday Tea: They host traditional teas in the glass house occasionally. They sell out months in advance. If you want in, you have to be stalking their website in the fall.
Navigating the Crowds
Look, it’s a popular spot. If you go on a Saturday at 11:00 AM, you are going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with wedding photographers and toddlers. It’s loud. It’s cramped. It kind of ruins the zen.
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The move is to go on a Tuesday morning or a late Thursday afternoon. The light hits differently when the sun is lower, and you can actually hear the water dripping in the Fern Room. Also, if you’re a photographer, leave the tripod at home unless you’ve cleared it with management—they have pretty strict rules about professional gear to keep the paths clear for everyone else.
The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden
This space deserves its own mention because of how it contrasts with the Victorian aesthetic of the rest of the conservatory. It was renovated recently to ensure the stonework and the water features stayed true to Matsuda’s original 1976 vision. The garden doesn't use many flowers. Instead, it relies on the shapes of the pines and the placement of the rocks.
There’s a specific "mountain" in the garden made of stones, and a "stream" that leads to the pond. It represents the journey of life. It’s very "deep," but even if you don't care about the symbolism, the sheer craftsmanship of the stone paths is worth the walk.
Getting There and Staying Sane
The Conservatory is part of the larger Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Parking can be a nightmare during the summer or during special events like the Sparky the Sea Lion shows.
- Parking: There’s a lot right in front, but it fills up by 10:00 AM. Use the overflow lots and take the shuttle if it’s running.
- The Zoo: Since you’re already there, the zoo is attached. It’s one of the last free zoos in the country. The polar bear exhibit and the gorilla forest are world-class.
- The Carousel: Don’t skip the Cafesjian’s Carousel if you have kids (or if you just like hand-carved horses). It’s a restored 1914 carousel that was saved from being auctioned off piece-by-piece.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to the Como Conservatory St Paul, don't just wing it.
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First, check the "Bloom List" on the official Como Zoo website. They update it regularly so you know exactly what is flowering in which room. If you’re hunting for a specific orchid or want to see the corpse flower (which smells like rotting meat and only blooms every few years), you need to check that list.
Second, bring a microfiber cloth if you wear glasses or have a nice camera. The humidity jump from the lobby to the Palm House will instantly fog up every lens you own. You'll be standing there blind for five minutes while your gear acclimates.
Third, consider a membership. If you plan on going more than three times a year, the "Garden Safari" membership pays for itself, and you get invited to member-only nights where the crowds are non-existent and the lighting is perfect for photos.
Finally, make time for the Lily Pond in the summer. The Victoria amazonica water lilies are massive—their leaves can grow up to eight feet across and can technically support the weight of a small child (though please, for the love of everything, do not put your child on a lily pad).
The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is a rare piece of living history. It’s a place where you can see the intersection of 20th-century architecture and global botany, all while hiding from a blizzard. Whether you’re there for a wedding, a solo mental health walk, or to find Chloe the Sloth, it remains one of the most vital spots in the Twin Cities.
Plan your visit for a weekday morning to avoid the rush. Pack a light sweater (the transition from the humid zones to the cooler Fern Room can be chilly), and give yourself at least two hours to really see the details in the leaves and the architecture. Take the North Terrace exit for a great view of the Como Town amusement park and the lake before heading back to reality.