Lauritzen Gardens’ Conservatory Reopens After $11.3 Million Revamp

The Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory at Lauritzen Gardens in Nebraska will reopen on Saturday following a significant renovation project costing $11.3 million. This extensive two-phase undertaking has modernized the conservatory’s internal systems and diversified its plant collections, enhancing the visitor experience.

The conservatory spans 17,500 square feet and features temperate and tropical houses that showcase plants unable to survive Nebraska’s harsh winters. Closed for nearly a year and a half, the conservatory is set to welcome guests back with an array of new updates and plant specimens.

Ennis Anderson, the chief executive officer of Lauritzen Gardens, emphasized the importance of these upgrades in a recent press release. “Modernizing and maintaining the conservatory’s internal and external structures is essential to providing the community with a thriving display of world-class plant specimens,” Anderson stated.

Upgrades and New Features

The first phase of improvements was completed in 2024 and included enhanced ventilation with larger fans, new shade cloths, and upgrades to the LED lighting and Argus climate control systems. The recently completed second phase focused on guest experience, creating dedicated spaces for special collections and improving soil conditions for a broader range of plant species.

The conservatory now features nine distinct regions, representing diverse ecosystems from the deserts of California to the lush tropics of Southeast Asia. Among the highlighted species are the cannonball tree, gumbo limbo, rose of Venezuela, Joey palm, and the iconic baobab, often referred to as the “tree of life.”

“There’s something magical about seeing a plant you’ve only read about in books,” Anderson remarked. “By selecting rare and diverse species from around the world, our new conservatory collections will invite visitors of all ages to explore and fall in love with the incredible variety of plant life.”

Notable Additions

Visitors will encounter several remarkable features upon reopening, including:

– An overhead plant chandelier composed of two tiers of hanging spheres made from orchids, anthurium, and moss.
– A plant library outfitted with hanging terrarium lanterns and wall terrariums for plants with specialized growing conditions.
– A dedicated display wall showcasing the garden’s extensive collection of staghorn ferns.
– Enhanced areas for tropical pitcher plants, hoyas, pelargoniums, and various ferns.
– A series of teak roots from Thailand, designed to replicate natural growing conditions for select orchids and bromeliads.
– An expanded overlook providing additional space for guests and accommodating small private events.
– An environmentally-friendly bottle refilling station.

Admission to the conservatory is included with the price of garden admission and free for garden members. In conjunction with the conservatory’s reopening, the woodland trail surrounding the garden’s century-old bur oak forest will also be accessible.

“The reopening of the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory marks the beginning of a new era of growth,” Anderson said. “Our community will witness this new collection flourish, creating an environment for guests to connect to and enjoy for years to come.”