By Claudia Taller
Avon now has a botanical garden — a 5,000-square foot conservatory housed within a big glass building nestled in the woods of Lorain County Metropark’s Miller Nature Preserve. The gardens are a pleasant respite from the winter cold. Right now the greenhouse is filled with waning poinsettias, and it will soon be filled with new banana trees.
But that’s not all. Landscaped paths flow around displays of bromeliads, lilies, ferns, palm trees, orchids, cacti, bonsai plant gardens, and an ever-changing array of other desert and tropical plants. The greenhouse was built by Rough Brothers Inc. of Cincinnati and opened to the public on May 7, 2011. Construction incorporated water conservation, recycled construction materials, and energy conservation. The glass building sits on 78 acres of wooded land, mostly donated by Buddy Miller in memory of his late wife Alice Fowles.
The orchid display is collected and donated by Dr. Ibrahim Eren of the Lorain County Tropical Greenhouse and Museum Association, who travels all over the world to find specimens to bring home to Lorain County. Local bonsai groups loan their container gardens of shaped picturesque foliage. Ancient ferns and palms create a tropical paradise while the flowering cacti, yuccas, and carnivorous plants such as flytraps reflect desert landscapes.
Visitors walk up a pathway near an outdoor patio to enter heavy wooden doors into the visitor center. To the left are the gardens of the greenhouse, and to the right is the Nature Nook (run by Friends of the Metroparks) — a gift shop that sells plants, gifts, books, gardening tools, and artwork. The Orchid Room café, run by Deluca’s in the Park, is open for lunch or an early dinner of salads, soups, and sandwiches. An open kitchen graced by seating is used for small hands-on classes and cooking demonstrations by local chefs. During the warmer months, local musicians perform on the outdoor patio.
My mother and I recently attended a Girls’ Night Out event, which included food and spa treatments, at a cost of $15 for members. We were treated to a manicure, chair massage, and a Mary Kay lip and hand treatment. We also had the chance to visit vendors who displayed herbal teas, handmade jewelry and bags, and herbal remedies. Reiki required pre-scheduling, but was included with admission. We left with a clay pot filled with early spring pansies.
Every so often, a naturalist takes visitors “around the world” with a talk about the various plants housed in the conservatory. The next walk takes place on Mon 2/6 from 3 – 3:30PM. Members will soon get a preview of the new banana trees while eating bananas foster—join the conservatory for only $10/year and take part in all the activities at a reduced price.
Visit the visitor center and conservancy at Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road, Monday through Sunday from 10AM through 6PM. The cost of admission is a mere $2. More information can be found at http://Metroparks.cc.
Claudia Taller is the author of Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries and has been a Cool Cleveland contributor for many years. She helps writers and other creative people discover possibilities for their lives through Igniting Possibilities events, including Word Lovers retreats. She has written articles for numerous publications over the last decade and blogs at http://ClaudiaTallerMusings.blogspot.com. Her book can be purchased at http://OhioLakeErieWineries.blogspot.com and makes a perfect gift for history buffs and wine lovers.