TCPL Tours: Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory

A water lily that was rescued from extinction when only a handful of seeds remained. A skunk-cabbage relative that produces the largest flowering structure on the planet — as well as a big stink when it blooms. An orchid that brings us a favorite flavor thanks to the ingenuity of an enslaved 19th century horticulturist. These are among the plants you'll meet up-close and personal on a tour of Cornell University's Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory — home to more than 600 species of plants from 144 plant families. Learn more about rare plants, plants of economic importance, and plants that defy the imagination on a tour lead by Cornell AES greenhouse grower Leo Louis.

Location and access: The Conservatory is adjacent to the Plant Science Building on 236 Tower Road. View map. There is no longer vehicle access to the Minns Garden driveway due to a renovation project. Enter the conservatory from the vestibule at the north end where it connects to the Plant Science Building, not through the Tower Road entrance, which is locked at all times.

Parking: The nearest public metered lot is the Peterson Lot at the corner of Tower Road and Judd Falls Road, across from Stocking Hall and the Cornell Dairy Bar. More campus visitor parking options.