Birds & Blooms - USA (2021-02)

44 birdsandblooms.com FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021

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NICHOLAS

CONSERVATORY

& GARDENS

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

The relaxed atmosphere

at this facility makes it a

favorite for families with

young children. At 11,000

square feet, the Nicholas

Conservatory is one large

tropical garden with a variety

of fruit trees and flowers.

Kids and adults alike enjoy

the indoor koi pond.

“Just feeling the humidity,

smelling a little dirt and

interacting with something

green in winter does wonders

for the soul,” says Lyndi

Toohill, the conservatory’s

operations manager of

education and programming.

The conservatory was

built to be green—it has solar

panels, a green roof garden

and a geothermal heating and

cooling system.

Learn more:

nicholasconservatory.com

L AURITZEN

GARDENS

CONSERVATORY

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Designed to mimic the

seasonal temperatures in

southeastern locations such

as Savannah, Georgia, and

Charleston, South Carolina,

this conservatory makes a

visit feel like a vacation. It’s

divided into three parts: a

tropical house, a temperate

house and a gallery featuring

occasional floral displays.

Walk into the tropical

house, and you’ll see a 10-foot

waterfall and collections

of aquatic plants, ferns and

palms. As you explore, stop

often and turn around for

different perspectives. The

tropical house is humid,

warm and green year-round.

In the early spring, southern

magnolias bloom in the

temperate house, which

also features a live oak.

Learn more:

lauritzengardens.org