Travel: Greenery can be still seen in the midst of winter at botanical gardens

The depths of winter might seem an unusual time to visit a botanical garden, but many public gardens, none more than a three-hour drive from Columbus, are home to greenhouses and conservatories that offer a verdant oasis on even the chilliest of days.

Despite the depth of the snow or ice outside, these conservatories can provide a refreshing – and warm – bit of tropical jungle or desert landscape.

And for garden lovers looking for a short post-holiday jaunt (or for those just seeking a bit of warmth), they make a great focal point for a day trip or overnight getaway.

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Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory

Near the center of Fort Wayne’s lively downtown, the Foellinger-Friemann Botanical Conservatory (botanicalconservatory.org) features three separate garden areas within its large greenhouses.

The indoor gardens cover 24,500 square feet and feature more than 1,000 different plant varieties.

A large water feature, complete with waterfall and goldfish pond, runs through the conservatory’s Tropical Garden. Around the stream are 13 types of palms and other tropical species including orchids and bromeliads and breadfruit, banana, coffee, orange and cacao trees. Mmmmm!

The conservatory’s Desert Garden seeks to replicate the environment of North America’s desert Southwest with a number of different cactus species including the iconic saguaro, plus prickly pears, creosote bushes, yucca, mesquite and ironwood trees.

Foellinger-Friemann’s Showcase Garden is the site of the conservatory’s four annual seasonal exhibits. A new, whimsical exhibit called “California Dreamin’" will debut there on Jan. 18.

All the leaves are gone and the skies are gray, but inside the exhibit promises to bring the spirit of surf, sand and sun to visiting beach bums of all ages, with vivid waves of color and sun-loving tropical plants accenting the garden’s botanical boardwalk.

And visitors to Fort Wayne (visitfortwayne.com) will also find a burgeoning foodie and cocktail scene with many several interesting stops including many at The Landing (thelandingfw.com), a recently developed dining and entertainment district located on one of the most historic blocks of the city.

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Cleveland Botanical Garden

The Cleveland Botanical Garden, part of Holden Forests & Gardens (holdenfg.org), is home to two display gardens within the 18,000-square-foot Eleanor Armstrong Smith glasshouse, each with a world-class collection of exotic plants and animals.

The Madagascar Glasshouse features greenery from Madagascar, a large island off Africa’s southeastern coast with some of the most unique flora and fauna on earth – so much so that it’s often called the “eighth continent.”

Among the plants on display is one of the largest collections of baobab trees in the United States. The trees have huge trunks and hard-shelled, nutrient-dense fruit, and figure prominently in African folklore and traditional remedies.

Among the exotic flora roam fascinating creatures including yellow-throated plated lizards and radiated tortoises.

A much different – but still warm and tropical –  environment is displayed in the Costa Rica Glasshouse, with large trees towering over ever-blooming shrubs, orchids and small bromeliads. The glasshouse also grows avocado, coffee, papaya and chocolate trees that often bear fruit.

Both glasshouses are also home to colorful free-flying native birds.

The garden will also host its annual Orchids Forever show Jan. 28 through March 12.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is located in Cleveland’s University Circle district (universitycircle.org), with many other interesting landmarks, museums and galleries such as Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland History Center and Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

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Krohn Conservatory

The Cincinnati Park District’s Krohn Conservatory (cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/) in Eden Park opened in 1933 and features many Art Deco accents from that era.

The conservatory’s glasshouse displays include the Fern House, with plants including tiny moisture-loving mosses and liverworts, cycads and bromeliads; and the Orchid House, featuring dozens of varieties of the beautiful bloomers.

The Krohn Palm House recreates a tropical rainforest, filled with moisture-loving trees and other jungle plants surrounding a stream and 20-foot waterfall; while the Desert House features plants that thrive in a dry, sere ecosystem including many varieties of succulents and cactuses.

The conservatory’s Celestial Holiday exhibit runs through Jan. 8, with whimsical model trains and miniature recreations of famous Cincinnati landmarks.

Opening Jan. 23 is “Ceramics in a Garden,” an exhibit featuring more than 60 ceramic sculptures designed for indoor and outdoor garden display. Many of the sculptures, created by local artists Roy Cartwright, Lisa Merida-Paytes and Robert Pulley, will be available for purchase.

The Cincinnati Art Museum (cincinnatiartmuseum.org) is also located in Eden Park not far from the conservatory and is another great winter’s stop for those visiting the area.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Closer to home, garden lovers certainly shouldn’t overlook Columbus’ own Franklin Park Conservatory (fpconservatory.org), one of the loveliest conservatories in the country.

At the heart of the conservatory is the John F. Wolfe Palm House, a beautiful Victorian greenhouse built in 1895 and featuring 43 species of palms from around the world.

Visitors can also explore conservatory gardens recreating such biomes as the American Southwest, an Amazon rainforest and the Himalayan Mountains. The conservatory also features a large permanent collection of colorful Chihuly glass.

Franklin Park’s seasonal Holiday Blooms exhibit extends through Jan. 8. But even after the holiday season, the conservatory hosts many special events and educational and fun programs.

Steve Stephens is a freelance travel writer and photographer. Email him at sjstephensjr@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Botanical gardens in Ohio and Indiana a great getaway from the cold