The Gardens Experience
Lena Meijer Conservatory
Standing five stories high, the 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Conservatory is the largest glass conservatory in Michigan. With plantings designed by local garden designer Steve Rosselet, this exotic oasis features tropical plants from around the world.
Bamboo, palms, and a large collection of alocasias (elephant ears) are of particular interest in the Asian section, while the African area includes acacias, huge traveler's trees, and a coffee tree.
The conservatory also offers a changing display of the Gardens' orchid collection, which consists of over 3,000 plants, both familiar and rare, from all parts of the globe, including many species of vandas, phalaenopsis, paphiopedilum, and cattleyas. In March & April, the conservatory is the focal point for the Foremost's Butterflies are Blooming exhibit, when hundreds of butterflies are released in the largest temporary butterfly exhibit in the United States.