It's Spring All Year-Round Inside This Glorious Columbus Conservatory
By Sarah McCosham|Published January 09, 2023
×
Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Whether it’s raining, snowing, or simply too hot to do much of anything, there’s a place in Ohio were it’s always perfectly warm and wholly, wonderfully alive. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a glorious attraction in Columbus, Ohio, that will have you singing the songs of spring… even in the throes of winter.
Located on 13 acres of picture-perfect land, Franklin Park Conservatory takes you by surprise. It’s located just two miles from the heart of Downtown Columbus, and it’s shocking to find a place so peaceful and pastoral just a stone’s throw from the city’s urban core.
But Ohio is full of surprises, and this conservatory is the real deal. There are over 400 species of plants in its glass-domed greenhouses, making for a verdant and vivid journey across the globe!
From the arid deserts of the American Southwest to the hot and humid Amazon Rainforest, the biomes allow you to explore these exotic and extraordinary ecosystems right in the heart of central Ohio -- regardless of the weather.
The warm Desert Biome is especially inviting in the cold-weather months. Here, you'll discover plants you won't find anywhere else in Ohio, including cacti and succulents of all shapes and sizes.
If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a rare plant in bloom! Stapelia hirsuta, also known as the Starfish Flower, is a member of the apocynaceae family. Despite its beauty, this plant actually gives off a rather unpleasant odor that attracts flies, so stand warned!
The Himalayan Mountain Biome is especially glorious, featuring variety of conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs, flowering plants and vines; meanwhile, the Rainforest Biome has caverns and even trickling waterfalls sure to capture your imagination.
Of course, while the indoor biomes and exhibit halls are rapturous, there is so much to explore outdoors, too, from gardens and topiaries to trees and even a children's playscape.
Lush and green and gloriously alive; Franklin Park Conservatory is a delightful surprise just waiting to be explored and experienced in Columbus, Ohio.
Have you visited the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens before? This conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, is the perfect place to enjoy a day of warmth and wonder… regardless of the weather.
Of course, we’re all about embracing winter in Ohio, and these day trips are even cooler in the cold and snowy season!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
