Conservatory - Como Friends

For the second time this year, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s talented team of horticulturists have created a stunning flower show that most Como visitors may not get the chance to see. While the statewide lock-down is definitely not cooperating with Como’s horticultural calendar, hitting the pause button on public visitors did make it possible to invite a passel of Como Zoo penguins over to the Sunken Garden recently to experience this long-running Minnesota tradition. (These ever-so-elegant animal ambassadors will also be making an appearance on KARE 11 this Saturday, December 19 at 9 a.m.)

Grown in Como’s behind-the-scenes greenhouse for several months, this year’s show-stopping Cortez Burgundy and Golden Glo Poinsettias are now in full bloom through January 3. A treat for the senses, the vivid holiday colors are accented by rosemary, coleus, scented geranium, yellow walking iris, lemon trees, and towering ferns that fan over the stone walls. This year also features beautiful topiary trees generously donated by the Saint Paul Garden Club.

The Holiday Flower Show at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been a tradition for families and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory visitors since 1925. It is our pleasure to bring it to you virtually this year until it is safe to visit in person again.

Poinsettias are actually considered a shrub or small tree, and are chosen for the holidays for their perfect star shaped flowers and leaves. They are particularly well known for their red and green foliage, but come in other colors as well. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who is credited with introducing the plant to the US in the 1820s.

For more than a century, Como’s rotating flower shows are always a source for inspiration and renewal—even from a distance. Thanks to your support for Como Friends, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory will have the resources it needs to keep growing, and to cultivate plans for the future when we can gather again in good health.

With our best wishes for you and your families this holiday season, thank you for all you do to support Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, a beloved Minnesota treasure!

Post originally appeared December 16, 2020

For the second time this year, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s talented team of horticulturists have created a stunning flower show that most Como visitors may not get the chance to see. While the statewide lock-down is definitely not cooperating with Como’s horticultural calendar, hitting the pause button on public visitors did make it possible to invite a passel of Como Zoo penguins over to the Sunken Garden recently to experience this long-running Minnesota tradition. (These ever-so-elegant animal ambassadors will also be making an appearance on KARE 11 this Saturday, December 19 at 9 a.m.)

Grown in Como’s behind-the-scenes greenhouse for several months, this year’s show-stopping Cortez Burgundy and Golden Glo Poinsettias are now in full bloom through January 3. A treat for the senses, the vivid holiday colors are accented by rosemary, coleus, scented geranium, yellow walking iris, lemon trees, and towering ferns that fan over the stone walls. This year also features beautiful topiary trees generously donated by the Saint Paul Garden Club.

The Holiday Flower Show at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been a tradition for families and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory visitors since 1925. It is our pleasure to bring it to you virtually this year until it is safe to visit in person again.

Poinsettias are actually considered a shrub or small tree, and are chosen for the holidays for their perfect star shaped flowers and leaves. They are particularly well known for their red and green foliage, but come in other colors as well. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who is credited with introducing the plant to the US in the 1820s.

For more than a century, Como’s rotating flower shows are always a source for inspiration and renewal—even from a distance. Thanks to your support for Como Friends, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory will have the resources it needs to keep growing, and to cultivate plans for the future when we can gather again in good health.

With our best wishes for you and your families this holiday season, thank you for all you do to support Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, a beloved Minnesota treasure!

Post originally appeared December 16, 2020

Thanks to a combination of private donations and public funding, Como Harbor is a state-of-the-art habitat that has transformed the heart of Como Zoo. The new habitat has temperature-controlled salt-water pools that allow seals and sea lions to swim outdoors year-round—just as they would in the wild. The immersive and naturalistic design of the habitat features rocky outcroppings that reflect the Pacific coast, with a newly shaded amphitheater and underwater viewing area that give visitors close-up views of all three species that will call Como Harbor home. Behind the scenes, expanded animal care stations and underwater transfer areas will allow animals to swim in and out of every corner of Como Harbor, while providing multiple locations where zookeepers can provide specialized care for Como’s California sea lions, harbor seals and Atlantic gray seals.

While the historic Como Zoo and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are two of St. Paul’s most beloved cultural treasures, only 16 percent of Como’s average 1.7 million annual visitors come from the Capital City. “An even larger number of visitors, more than 400,000 every year, are actually from greater Minnesota, and 15 percent come from outside the state,” says Michelle Furrer, Como’s Campus Director. “The sheer number of visitors to Como makes clear that we’re an important part of the tourism economy.” In fact, a 2015 study from Sapphire Consulting found that Como annually generates more than $162.7 million in economic impact for our region, along with nearly 2,100 jobs.

Just as important to Minnesota lawmakers, says Furrer, was the strong public/private partnership between Como Friends and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. “Seeking state funding is a competitive process because there are so many needs across the state,” she says. “Having a strong track record of success working with Como Friends to build improvements like Polar Bear Odyssey and The Ordway Gardens definitely strengthened our case. It showed legislators that we had the community support behind us to leverage additional dollars to achieve our goals with Como Harbor.”

“We’re so proud of what our supporters have made possible in Como Harbor,” says Jackie Sticha. “Generous philanthropic gifts and public funding mean that transformational improvements are possible at Como without compromising our commitment to free admission and barrier-free access for everyone.”

“It is our first visit here, and it is an amazing opportunity. We asked how much it was and they said it’s free. And I said, ‘Are you sure?” –Lionnel Djon, Thunder Bay, Ontario

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT COMO, IS FREE AND FABULOUS, 365 DAYS A YEAR

Admission is free. Parking is free. Children are free. Adults are free. Como Zoo is free. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is free. At Como, free means free.

Como was founded by visionaries and volunteers who foresaw the need for creating a public green space at the heart center of the Twin Cities. More than a century later, that vision has made Como Park Zoo & Conservatory the most visited cultural destination in the state of Minnesota, often welcoming nearly two million children and adults each year. With its historic architecture, significant horticultural collections and state-of-the-art habitats, visiting Como has been a shared memory for more than five generations of Minnesotans.

But what’s truly unique when compared to other zoos and botanical gardens across the country is Como’s open door policy–free admission that’s made possible, in part, by your contributions to Como Friends. “Over the past 20 years, our successful public/private partnership has helped protect the free admission this community cares about, and to introduce a whole new generation to the wonders of nature without any barriers to access,” says Jackie Sticha, President of Como Friends, the nonprofit fundraising partner of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

We recently asked a few of Como’s two million annual visitors to talk about why kids need time in nature and what free admission means to them.

“My family and grandkids had the opportunity to spend the day at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. It was the best day ever!

How wonderful that we could see and do so many things for FREE! We did make a donation. It made me realize how many wouldn’t be there if there was a big entrance and parking fee like so many other places. Everyone has a chance to go. That is so great!!

Thank you so much for giving families this memorable experience.” – Como Visitor

Testimonials

“Introducing kids to nature broadens their world and lets them know it is bigger than they are.”

Testimonials

“We come to Como probably six times a year. The Sunken Garden is a must—when I was in college I would come and study in the Conservatory because it was nice and warm and relaxing. We obviously like the giraffes, but it’s important to introduce kids to nature so they can see the big picture, the circle of life, and see how we are all connected and we have to take care of our animals, and they take care of us.”

Testimonials

“Como’s free admission allows everyone to come and it doesn’t exclude anyone. And I hope it stays that way. It’s easy to visit for a whole day or just a couple hours. It is such a world of electronics that I think that bringing kids back to nature is a good thing.”

Testimonials

“With a free zoo, you get more public awareness. We are all involved together in saving the wild species all over the world and the people who are connected to the animals. Helping one is helping all of us.

We come every day—you never know who you’re going to meet. We meet people from all over the world here. We talk to parents with little kids each day, we meet grandparents whose grandparents took them here. Como is one thing that they can share with kids and grandkids for decades.”

Designed by Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s horticulturist Ariel Dressler, this summer’s Sunken Garden Show is all about summer sunsets

Summer sunsets are the inspiration for this year’s Summer Flower Show, featuring a warm palette of glowing tropical and seasonal annuals. From fiery reds like the Hibiscus ‘Imperial Dragon’, red salvia and dark red verbena, to citrus-y orange begonias, tangerine impatiens, striped tiki torch petunias, and canna, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s longest-running flower show captures the gloaming warmth of the season’s long days.