Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
Biltmore’s Conservatory — Asheville After exploring the halls of the opulent mansion, enjoy a leisurely stroll to Biltmore’s Victorian-style conservatory, which offers a lush paradise, no matter the season. The
Biltmore’s Conservatory — Asheville After exploring the halls of the opulent mansion, enjoy a leisurely stroll to Biltmore’s Victorian-style conservatory, which offers a lush paradise, no matter the season. The
After exploring the halls of the opulent mansion, enjoy a leisurely stroll to Biltmore’s Victorian-style conservatory, which offers a lush paradise, no matter the season. The glass house was designed by the estate’s original architect, Richard Morris Hunt, and protects rare species of palms and orchids — a nod to the Victorian-era craze of collecting international tropical blooms.
Magic Wings Butterfly House at The North Carolina Museum of Life & Science — Durham
Step through the glass doors of this Durham conservatory and be transported to a “rainforest” filled with hundreds of tropical butterflies, flitting above. Flowering plants like pentas and firespike thrive in the warm environment and provide nourishment for rare butterfly species from East Asia and Central and South America.
Bromeliads, orchids, cacti, palms, and aroids fill the Greenhouse at Reynolda Gardens. photograph by Jay Sinclair
The Brown Family Conservatory at Reynolda Gardens — Winston-Salem
The construction of this 1913 greenhouse was commissioned by Katharine Reynolds, the first mistress of Reynolda, and was the first completed structure on the Winston-Salem estate. Today, the original greenhouse still stands and is used as Reynolds intended: as a space to cultivate new plant varieties, both native and rare, and to maintain the same kinds of blooms that grew in the estate’s early gardens — an homage to Reynolda’s rich past and thriving present.
Moth (left) and Cooksbridge Sunset orchids (right) are known to bloom in the winter, while other varieties might need a little persuasion this time of year: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s greenhouse coaxes blooms with its warmth and humidity. photograph by Brian Gomsak
William H. Williamson III Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens — Belmont
In this five-story conservatory, sunlight casts a golden glow from a sky-high glass ceiling, and a gentle waterfall lends humidity, creating a tropical environment for surrounding plants. The Belmont hothouse is known for its collection of more than 2,500 orchids of varying colors — from vibrant purples to creamy whites — that cascade from tall walls and hanging baskets.
For decades, a remote piece of Currituck County has been a respite for wildlife. Now under the protection of conservationists, this land, the waters surrounding it, and the skies above will remain a constant in our coastal circle of life.
On North Carolina’s coast, boardwalks wind alongside our sounds, rivers, and beaches, reminding us that the journey is often just as delightful as the destination.
