Shane Smith Grand Conservatory

The Andrikopoulos Orangerie is a dedicated space used for displaying a variety of citrus trees. These types of rooms originated from the Renaissance gardens of Italy and were used as a status symbol among wealthy families.  Our citrus trees continually flower and create a beautiful fragrant atmosphere for visitors to our Gardens.  This room can be rented out for events and has a small attached patio available to its guests.

The Gardens have a number of Bonsai plants that require a safe space for display purposes. We are fortunate to have an active Bonsai Club to help promote and encourage Bonsai programs at our site. With such a large community interest in the art of Bonsai, a dedicated space was created on the third-floor balcony that includes a wood-framed bonsai house.  This house is named for the late Rupert Farr, who was a beloved teacher at the nearby Deming-Miller elementary school.

Our conservatory can best be described as a place where people can enjoy some of the diversity of plants that grow in tropical and subtropical zones. High humidity found in tropical areas is maintained by a fog system that pumps moisture into the air. The three-story height of the structure accommodates tall plants like the Mexican fan palm.

As the fairies settle into their mountaintop village, a sense of enchantment fills the air, inviting young and old alike to embrace the magic that surrounds them. These delicate beings, with their shimmering wings and gentle demeanor, have found a perfect sanctuary amidst nature’s bounty, where sunlight dances through the trees and a serene quietude envelops their newfound haven. The trails that wind through this picturesque landscape offer an opportunity to witness the fairies’ whimsical antics from a respectful distance, allowing them to flourish in their cozy abodes. Families visiting the area are encouraged to tread lightly and with reverence, as this is a place of wonder and imagination, where children might find themselves befriending a wise turtle or engaging in whispered conversations with the wind. In this harmonious community, devoid of trolls and filled with the promise of friendship, the fairies and their neighbors thrive, reminding us all of the magic that lies in living peacefully with nature.

Please do not touch the plants or houses.

Along with moth orchids and cattleyas, we have more unusual orchids, from the small lady of the night orchid to the nun orchid, with flower spikes that may reach four feet in height. Sit under the vanilla arbor, surrounded by vanilla orchid vines. The orchid shelves and vanilla arbor are a gift of Carol and Earl Kabeiseman

Water is precious in our arid climate, and in keeping with its abundance in tropical rainforests, our water feature flows steadily and serves as a home for water plants like papyrus and beautiful koi. A rockery adorned with seasonal plants and a frog fountain lies along the stream. Yertle and Squirtle, our red-bellied Florida cooter turtles, live in the stream and can often be seen sunning themselves on a rock. The water feature was built by Sawyer Waterscaping. The waterfall and stream are a gift from Jack and Carol Speight and family.

Even in a tropical conservatory where the temperatures don’t change much, we have to celebrate the seasons. Whether it’s Christmas or Independence Day, come and see our fun interpretation of the spirit of the season.

The Kabeiseman Succulent and Cactus Conservatory houses our permanent collection of beautiful dry landscape plants. Our horticulture staff can keep the climate inside the Kabeiseman Conservatory drier and warmer than the rest of the Shane Smith Conservatory. But don’t let daytime heat fool you! Just like any desert, the temperatures drop drastically inside the Kabeiseman Conservatory at night to keep these desert plants happy and thriving.