CONSERVATORY

Polar Bear Odyssey

Events at Como Park Zoo and
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

  • Bridal Showcase
    March 21
    5pm – 8pm - FREE
    Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
    The Conservatory will open its gardens after hours to feature the dramatic change from day to night in the lush tropical and flower gardens for the Como Wedding Showcase. 
    Visit with many vendors, photographers, musicians, officiates, and more, that offer wedding services.  

  • Spring Fling Weekend
    March 27-28 - FREE
    Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
    Spring blooms and guests can jump into the season with the opening of the Spring Flower Show in the Sunken Garden, gardener talks, story time, make and take crafts and more.

  • Spring Flower Show
    March 27 – May 2 - FREE
    Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
    Our bulbs, daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, bearded iris, lilies, crocus, plus ranunculus, pansies and violas, hydrangea and snapdragons, all in the color scheme of orange and purple.

  • Show Your Love for Como & the Planet!
    April 24-25
    Come show your love for Como at this two-day conservation event set to coincide with Earth Day Weekend. Make way for the polar bear parade, make your own polar bear mask, or make a contribution to Polar Bear Odyssey, the next step in conservation education at Como Zoo. Don't miss this fun-filled weekend at Minnesota's favorite family destination.

  • Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden
    May 1 - September 30
    The Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden is a living symbol of the peace and friendship that exists between Saint Paul and its sister city Nagasaki, Japan. A renowned landscape designer in Nagasaki, Masami Matsuda, created the garden according to time honored Japanese design principles using plants and trees that are hardy in Minnesota. Infused with true Japanese design, the garden is meant to delight your senses.

  • Summer Flower Show
    May 8–October 4   10am-6pm
    The Summer Flower Show displays the greatest plant diversity of any of the Sunken Garden Flower Shows, as well as the longest duration.  Roses, Statice, Geraniums, Asiatic Lilies, Heliotrope, New Guinea Impatiens, Petunias and Caladiums are some of the floral features, representing a rainbow of colors, bloom sequence, form and fragrance.
    Sunken Garden Closed May 3 – May 7.

  • Cafesjian's Carousel
    May 1 - September 6
    Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
    Operated by volunteers, the 68-horse carousel was built in 1914 and rescued from auction in 1988 for $1.1 million, ten minutes before the first horse was to be auctioned.
    www.ourfaircarousel.org ( http://www.ourfaircarousel.org/ )

  • ComoTown
    Weekends beginning May 1, Open Daily May 9 - September 6
    Como Town, the family amusement park at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, will open on Saturday May 1st with a few new attractions.  Kids and adults will be thrilled on the wide variety of kid friendly rides including the Screamin’ Dragon Roller Coaster, The Tornado and The Kiddie Grand Prix. They will also enjoy the new attractions inside HodgePodge Park, a super jungle gym that gives kids the chance to climb, slide, swing and bounce. In 2010, HodgePodge Park will feature a Splash Zone and interactive village, complete with a School House, Police Station and Fire Department.
    www.comotown.com

  • Bonsai Show
    May 8-9   10am - 6pm
    The Minnesota Bonsai Society Mother's Day Weekend Bonsai Show is a unique opportunity to see privately owned bonsai.  Bonsai are 'trees in pots' and are an ancient art form from Japan that blends artistic vision and horticultural expertise.  Each bonsai represents nature in miniature and creates appreciation for the aesthetic of great age and rugged form.

  • Sparky the Sea Lion Show
    May 31 – September 6
    Sparky presents "Sparky's Tundra Tour."  Sparky is excited about the return of polar bears Buzz and Neil. In celebration of this event, Sparky will take a trip to the Arctic where she could run into other animals such as a seal, walrus, Arctic fox and polar bear.  Each show is a little different – you never know what you might see! 

  • Polar Bear Odyssey Grand Opening Weekend
    June 3-4

  • Como Shuttle
    Weekends starting May 1 – September 30
    'Get Closer' to the plants, animals, and now the front door with the Como Shuttle. The Shuttle will run weekends May 1st through September 30th.

  • MELSA Kick-Off to Summer Reading Event
    June 17 – 10am-2pm

  • Blooming Butterflies
    June 18-September 6
    Back by popular demand, this seasonal butterfly exhibit is a total immersion experience. Witness hundreds of butterflies as they metamorphose from crawling caterpillars into beautiful winged creatures.


Current Events

  • Winter Flower Show

    January 30, 2010 – March 21, 2010 (Sunken Garden closed 3/22 –3/26 for show change)
    10am-4pm - FREE
    Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
    The Sunken Garden blooms with vibrant pinks, yellows and red created by azaleas, clyclamen, veltheimia, amaryllis, cineraria and more.

  • “seen & unseen” Photo Exhibit
    February 5-28 - FREE
    Photos of The Japanese Garden by St. Paul photographer Peter Leach displayed in the Bonsai Gallery 

  • 2010 Artist & Photographer Days

    Opportunity to bring in easels and tripods before or after hours.
    $5 per person
    Marjorie McNeely Conservatory & Japanese Garden (in season)
    Sunday, Feb. 7 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
    Sunday, March 28 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
    Sunday, May 16 - 8:00 am- 10 am (MMC and JG)
    Wednesday, June 30 - 6:30pm - 9:00 pm (MMC and JG)
    Wednesday, July 14 - 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm (MMC and JG)
    Sunday, October 24 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
    Sunday, December 12 - 8:00 am - 10:00 am

  • Daily Interpretive Talks
    Daily at 11am Keeper Talk
    Daily at 1:30pm Gardener Talk

    Meet the Keepers and Gardeners! Everyday a different topic will be featured and guests will learn about the day to day operations of running Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Learn about the animals and plants and how they are cared for, plus guests can ask questions.

  • Enrichment
    Primates Thursdays
    at 10am
    Large Cats Saturdays at 10am
    Como staff and volunteers develop special activities which stimulate the animals’ curiosity and assist their overall well-being by prompting their natural behaviors.

  • Story Time
    Thursdays-Sundays 12:30pm