Glasshouse

A spectacular 18,000 square foot, crystal-peaked conservatory that beckons visitors to explore two of the world's most fragile and fascinating ecosystems: the dry heat of Madagascar's spiny desert and the lush cloud forest of Costa Rica.

Features more than 350 species of exotic plants and 50 species of butterflies, insects, birds and other animals.

The only one of its kind that shows how plants, animals, geology and climate interact in delicate balance.

Spiny Desert of Madagascar

The fragility of the plant and animal life of the semi-arid, diverse spiny desert in the southwest corner of Madagascar is accentuated, considering that nearly 86% of flowering plants, 65% of birds and almost 100% of reptiles on the island are only found on this island (endemic).

Principle exhibit areas in the Madagascar biome:

• A bizarre landscape that looks as if it were designed by Dr. Seuss
• The Great Baobab Tree, the 40-foot high "icon" of the spiny desert
• A world-class collection of endangered Madagascar plants (most of which are found nowhere else on earth)
• The largest collections of mature Baobab and Uncharina trees in North America
• A pair of Oustelett's Chameleons, the world's largest species, roaming freely
• A small, hedgehog-like animal called a "tenrec"

Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

Visitors emerge from the dry/bright light conditions of Madagascar into the wet/low light cloud forest of Costa Rica. A cloud forest is extremely shady and green. Plants here thrive on other plants. Butterflies, orchids and colorful birds abound.

Major exhibits in the lush Costa Rica biome include:

• A lush, tropical landscape that fills with clouds
• The Great Cloud Forest Tree, a 50-foot high replica strangler fig
• A waterfall and a river gorge
• A 25-foot high Costa Rican Palm, as well as towering black olive, fig, and avocado trees
• More than 200 butterflies, representing 20 exotic species
• A 25-foot high canopy walk with birds' eye views of the trees, as well as beautiful orchids and bromeliads on the branches of the Great Cloud Forest Tree
• Tiny orchids with flowers the size of a pencil's tip and plants with giant leaves almost 4 feet wide
• A colony of leaf cutter ants farm fungi.