THE AMIABLE TRAVELER - GUIDE TO A LATE WINTER VISIT TO THE LYMAN CONSERVATORY
Looking for something to do in the late-winter in New England? A fun day trip escape filled with fresh flowers, earthy aromas, and warmth? Plan a visit to the Lyman Conservatory’s Bulb Show, hosted the first two weeks of March every year, at the beautiful campus of Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is just the thing when you are yearning for a bit of spring, but snow still covers the ground. Here you can indulge your springtime longings amongst a vividly bountiful display of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
“The Amiable Traveler Guides - Follow along with the Amiable Traveler Guides, if you, like me, enjoy pleasant travel with companionable people, the comfort of distinctive lodgings with thoughtful touches, seek out good baked goods and restaurants with quiet views, enjoy spending the day in nature but want a good meal and a comfortable bed at the end of it, like carefully curated shops run by cheerful shopkeepers, and like knowing the inside tips before you travel. Based in New England. Explore my day trip and getaway guides to the New England states. Exploring farther whenever possible!”
— Debbie Harpe, Wonderful Life Farm
History of the Lyman Conservatory
The Lyman Conservatory at Smith College was built in the 1890’s, making it one of the oldest plant conservatories in the country. Students, past and present, have used it for study and research. It houses more than 3,000 plants from New England and around the world. The white metal and glass structure encompasses a 12,000 sq-foot, multiple building complex interconnected by doorways and hallways. Once inside the warmth, you can visit all the rooms without exiting into the cold again, making it a welcome respite in the last days of winter.
Bulb Show at the Lyman Conservatory
The first two weekends of March (and the week between) is the optimal time to visit the Lyman Conservatory, because it is hosting its annual Bulb Show. I took my mom for the day, and we were overjoyed to see more than 8,000 bulbs overflowing the first two rooms of the conservatory. The heady aroma of sweet blooms was intoxicating! We moved from flower to flower, pointing out our favorite colors and the delicate blooms that most intrigued us…the particular shade of pink of one tulip, the wild abandon of flowering branches, the ruffled edges on the white tulips. It is all such a joyful sight at the end of winter, and when you know such riotous displays of garden bulbs will still be many weeks off into springtime yet. It cheers the heart!
Exploring the Lyman Conservatory
But don’t stop at the greenhouse rooms holding only the bulbs. Explore further! Opening the doors and following the passageways will take you to rooms that feel like a rainforest, a succulent room, a fern and fir room (my favorite), displays of orchids, water plants, and more. Take your time as you stroll…savoring and observing carefully. Be sure to look up and look down, or you will miss some treasures. We noticed one flowering plant whose blooms were not on stems, like most, but grew flush with the earth. And we were intrigued by the underside of many leaves…some plum colored in contrast to their green tops, one polka dotted. We saw hairy plants, Venus fly traps, and fruit. And I’m particularly fond of the ferns and moss growing in every, aged crack of the conservatory’s white brick walls and metal frame.
Inside Tips to the Lyman Conservatory and More:
What does it cost? The Bulb Show is a requested donation of $5/person. Normally, the Lyman Conservatory is a requested donation of $2/person.
Parking? There is free parking along the street in front of Smith College. It is a short walk from the college entrance to the conservatory. You are able to drop off passengers directly in front of the conservatory. And there is one, designated handicapped parking space in front of the building.
Accessibility? As I mentioned, I took my mother who is in her 80’s and walks with a cane. The accessibility of the building was something I had worried about, but she managed just fine. There are steps that must be navigated throughout, but all had handrails.
Where to grab lunch and more? Northampton, Massachusetts is a college town, and has many options for lunch in the downtown area (a short walk from the campus). We usually grab lunch at the Coolidge Park Café inside The Hotel Northampton, with a solid menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. A short walk across the street from the café, you will find the sweet shop, Sweeties. This is a great place to indulge your sweet tooth and pick up some chocolate for dessert or the drive home.
