Experience the wonder and amazement of gardens under glass…

To the left of the visitor and education center is the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory. A study in luxuriant flowers and foliage, unusual plant life, dramatic water features and panoramic views, the 17,500 square foot conservatory is a walkable work of art for all four seasons. From tropical gardens with soaring palms and vibrant flowers to temperate gardens with moss-covered oak trees and blooming azaleas, to an ever-changing gallery space for magnificent floral displays and special events, guests can explore picturesque garden areas and experience creative horticultural designs throughout the year.

With the visual appearance that the glass structure is growing from the hillside, the conservatory's uniqueness lies in the gradual twenty-foot rise in elevation that visitors experience from the entry to the northern end. This provides surprises around every corner- including a ten-foot waterwall, dramatic glimpses of the contrasting conservatory plantings, a large pool with Victoria water lilies- and culminates with an outlook over the beautiful Missouri River valley and the entrance to the garden's century-old bur oak forest in the middle of the city. 

  

Unlike most conservatories today, which interpret ecosystems or focus on specific plant communities, the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory focuses on what Lauritzen Gardens does best, gardens. Older conservatories were built as garden settings or plant collections of exotic plants that were displayed in a gardenesque way. The conservatory at Lauritzen Gardens is inspired by these historical conservatories, and is designed to showcase the beauty of a traditional garden in the southern United States in the temperate house and collections of elegantly displayed tropical plants in the tropical house. 

Standard garden admission rates apply.  

Members are admitted free. Join today!