The Conservatory brings native plants of the Acadian Forest Region indoors to a single climate-controlled environment, allowing visitors to experience the Acadian Forest even when the region is blanketed in snow. The Conservatory is open daily until 10 p.m., enabling evening viewing when the outdoor gardens are closed. If you visit in late winter, you’ll be lucky enough to welcome spring early: We start heating things up at the end of February for much-needed early blossoms.

As the seasons change, so do the displays in the Conservatory. One day each year, the Conservatory is transformed into a tropical house to host an annual orchid display put on by the Valley Orchid Growers.

A notable feature of the Conservatory is an imposing granite boulder that houses native rock ferns as well as a fountain and reflecting pool. The boulder does a beautiful job of bringing the outdoors inside. Surrounding this stunning architectural feature, you will find a fern display that showcases 12 unique native fern species and highlights the amazing diversity within our plant communities.