Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati (Photo by Gary Kessler)
Location: Cincinnati’s Eden Park, a hilltop oasis that’s also home to the Cincinnati Art Museum; the Presidents’ Grove of trees honoring U.S. chief executives; and the Eden Park Overlook, which offers panoramic views of the Ohio River.
Provenance: After the Civil War, Cincinnati laid the groundwork for Krohn Conservatory by acquiring acreage from the heirs of Nicholas Longworth, a prominent banker and horticulturalist who had used the future parkland for a vineyard he called his “Garden of Eden.” Opened in 1933, Krohn Conservatory was designed by Cincinnati’s Rapp & Meacham architectural firm and named for park commissioner Irwin M. Krohn.
Significance: It’s not only one of the nation’s few city park conservatories, but also among the signature art deco landmarks — including Cincinnati Museum Center and Carew Tower — that Cincinnatians treasure. As a botanical showcase, Krohn Conservatory provides greenery and color even on bleak winter days. “We call it a rainforest under glass,” says general manager Andrea Schepmann.
Currently: Krohn Conservatory turns 85 in 2018, and its noteworthy plants include original ficus trees from the 1930s; one of the nation’s largest chocolate trees; and fragrant citrus trees. “People are always amazed by our citrus collection; they have fruits or flowers almost year-round,” says Schepmann.
Krohn Conservatory annually presents five different shows, and 2018’s lineup includes spring’s candy-themed display: “A Garden of Pure Imagination!” (now through March 11); summer’s “An Apothecary Soul Garden” (March 24–June 17); autumn’s “At Home in the Garden” (Sept. 1–Oct. 21); and “A Crystal Holiday” (Nov. 10–Jan. 6, 2019) at Christmastime.
While those seasonal spectacles are certainly popular, Krohn Conservatory’s ambitious butterfly shows have implanted it on the horticultural attraction map. “We’re known for being one of the best butterfly exhibitors anywhere,” says Schepmann. Krohn’s 2018 event, “The Butterflies of Madagascar,” is scheduled from March 24 until June 17, and it features the Sunset Moth, a huge species unique to the Indian Ocean island with bright, iridescent coloring.
It’s a little-known fact that: Besides being an ideal family destination, Krohn Conservatory also offers evening and adult-oriented programs, including “Botany & Brews” on select Wednesdays, and “Love in the Wild” just before Valentine’s Day.
