Conservatory
Many gardens have a greenhouse, sometimes called a conservatory. Greenhouses are constructed using glass and metal frames to allow the maximum amount of light and heat inside the structure. With the help of these windows and climate control systems, botanists can carefully monitor and control the climate of each greenhouse.
A carefully controlled climate is very beneficial for botanical gardens because it allows botanists to grow plants that would not normally grow outdoors in that location. Michigan can get very cold in the winter, so the Matthaei Botanical Gardens needs to have a greenhouse to protect and study these non-native species. For example, cacti come from warm, desert climates. Putting them in a warm, dry greenhouse year-round keeps them alive even when there is snow on the ground outside! (Source)
Question: Does your family or school keep any plants indoors all year? If so, find out what climate that plant came from originally. Does it come from a desert? A jungle? A temperate climate?
The Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens opened in 1964 and features a living collection of plants divided into three sections, called "houses." Each house features a different climate, set up to mimic the home environment of the plants in that house. Each house provides a space to study the types of plants that live in its climate, including endangered plants, plants that have unusual features, and plants that are of special interest to people. (Source)
As you explore the different houses of the Conservatory, you'll find examples of the plants that might live in those climates. These images are from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's Plant Photo Archive. Note how each plant has a scientific name (the name used to identify it by people who study plants) and a common name (a nickname used in everyday language). An example is Carnegiea gigantea (Giant Cactus).
Click Next to enter the Tropical House.