Paradise in St. Paul: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
If you know me, you know there are two places I love an inordinate amount: zoos and botanical gardens. My love for plants and animals is unsurpassed (I might be trying to turn my apartment into a greenhouse). So when I discovered that there was an escape into flora and fauna in St. Paul (Minneapolis' lesser-know twin city) that was both a zoo and a botanical garden—and not only that, it was also free—I just had to go.
Finally, the opportunity presented itself this past weekend. My roommate (and good friend, etc.) Kayla and her sister, Kari (also good friend, etc.), celebrated their birthdays on Friday, and since they both enjoy zoos and gardens, we decided to travel to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory on Saturday.
The zoo is tucked in the back of Como Park, and during the busy season, weekends see the zoo packed with visitors. We found absolutely no parking and ended up driving down a few blocks to the free shuttle parking, then took the shuttle back to the park—a very painless experience.
The zoo was absolutely crawling with visitors, but luckily the exhibits were spread out enough that we were given ample opportunity to view most of the animals from a good spot. I was also worried that the same kind of animals would be on exhibit here as at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, which Ryan and I visited several times last year. However, there were several unique animals that set it apart, including an Arctic fox, a male and female lion, silverback gorillas, two ostriches, and California sea lions, as well as a broad range of African hoofed animals. As a free zoo, I didn't expect anything up to par with the Louisville Zoo back home or the Minnesota Zoo, but I was impressed by the variety of animals and the ample space shown (on the public side of things) for the exhibits.
By far, however, my favorite part of the Como Zoo was the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Awhile ago, I wrote about how my happy place was the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, but I haven't really found somewhere to replace it since my study abroad experience. Well, I think it's safe to say I've found it.
The conservatory is filled with gorgeous plants towering up to the ceilings—vines and flowers and spices. The tropical room is filled with whistles and trills, as free-ranging birds flit to scattered birdbaths. The fern room feels distinctly prehistoric, transporting you back in time the way only vegetation can. Fountains and benches invite you to sit, to stay a little while. Dappled sunlight from the glass domes overhead illuminates rippling leaves and ripening blooms.
I love botanical gardens because they make you examine things on a small level: the petals on a flower, the spikes on a tree trunk, the way a lily pad floats on the water. But they also invite you to consider a larger perspective: the way the entire plant functions together, the interlaced branches above your head, your place in this massive ecosystem we call home.
As John Muir once wrote, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."
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