Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses Offer a "Taste of Spring"

It's cold outside but there are plenty of warm spaces and places to visit throughout campus this weekend. The Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses, in particular, offers a nice break from the weather.

To quote a 2010 Wellesley Magazine story, “Walking through the green-houses’ permanent collections is like globe-trotting, writ small: The main houses mimic various climate zones—the desert, tropics, and sub-tropics—each with its own array of color, texture, scale, and pattern.”

The sixteen interconnected greenhouses feature the most diverse collection of plants under glass in the greater Boston area.

Comprising 7,200 square feet under glass, interior spaces include a Desert House (which showcases cacti and succulents in a series of miniature landscapes), a Tropic House (which features palms, cycads and banana trees) and a Warm Temperate House (which just sounds pleasant). A writer for the website Greenhouse Gab wrote that the displays are “so beautiful that they can be compared to a fine art exhibit.”

Often called one of the Boston area’s “hidden gems,” and frequently included lists of local getaways for those longing for a taste of Spring (see this 2014 Boston Globe article and this 2013 story from WBUR’s The Artery), this living museum is open 8 AM to 4 PM this weekend and throughout the school year.