Gardens
Crystal Light
Jupiter doesn’t have to align with Mars in order to let the sun shine inside these jewel-like structures.
BY
Gloria Gale
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bill Mathews and Alistair Tutton



There’s a deep affection for buildings crafted of glass.  

As early as the 16th century, conservatories, or transparent dwellings laced together with metal fittings, have wintered over many delicate plantings. Practical and beautiful, it’s no wonder they’ve captured the attention of city and country folk throughout the decades.

The French aristocracy, always auspicious in their quest for sustainable architecture, constructed their Orangery at the Palace of the Louvre in 1617. Leaping past the Industrial Revolution and once the window tax was abolished in l861, glass became an affordable building material, driving interest in conservatories to new heights. Joseph Paxton, English architect extraordinaire and the genius behind Britain’s magnificent Crystal Palace, was knighted for his work on his glass wonder and has influenced countless glass building designs ever since.

Today, the resurgence continues. Ask anyone who’s visited London’s Kew Gardens, Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, or Chicago’s Garfield Park and Conservatory and prepare to hear superlatives.

The beauty of conservatories are the impetus for many to build their own house of glass, whether to protect tender greens or just revel in the sun.

Jane Frost certainly knows how. Her castle-like dwelling on Mission Road was originally built by Hal Stonebraker as a honeymoon cottage. The idyllic 2 fi-acre property was
further enhanced by Jack, Jane’s late husband, who desired to build a conservatory.
The original site, dating from l928, held a greenhouse that was later demolished then rebuilt in 2001, configured on the original footprint.

“Jack and I decided upon a stone and glass conservatory with a brick floor, antique windows and plenty of air conditioning,” Jane says. “The 1,000-square-foot greenhouse would serve not only the plants but a place to reflect and work.”

Early mornings, Jack and Jane would sip coffee and discuss goings-on. “I still use it as my office and tend to the garden necessities here,” she says.

Ricki Creamer’s glass conservatory is more than just a place for solitude or staff get-togethers. “We use it as a glass-classroom,” she notes. “The brick, glass and wood conservatory has been a convenience for Ricki’s Red Cedar Country Gardens business since moving to the eight-acre Stilwell property in the late l970s.  

“When we first moved in, we entertained or the kids occasionally slept out here since it was a screened-in porch,” she recalls. “Once I started my perennial business in l986, we would hold our classes and decided it would be more beneficial to enclose it.”

The 30-foot-by-20-foot heated conservatory will need renovating soon, but it’s still used for wintering plants, instruction for gardening classes and remains the site of family and staff gatherings.

Replacing the rotted wood will be stone, and the two entrances at either end will have French doors when all is said and done. Until then, it remains a showcase in her garden surrounded by carefully cultivated perennial beds.

The charm of the conservatory is the novelty of a seemingly fragile, almost otherworldly place — a perfect match for spiritual and creative endeavors. Just ask Lawrence resident Terre Wood. Her glass and wood conservatory is more than just an artist studio; it shelters the magic she creates.

Terre, a writer, artist and holistic healer, sought a place that would engender her 25-year life’s work. “Building this conservatory wasn’t by accident,” she asserts. “It was by design.”

Her alchemy — blending essential oils and plant extracts — is tendered under a structure made of mahogany timbers intermixed with glass panels. “I’d always favored the European look of conservatories, did my research and contacted a company in England,” Terre says. “After I designed it, the company built it in the UK, whereupon it was disassembled then shipped over by boat. A rather romantic notion, but that’s the idea.”

Terre’s conservatory, housing the accoutrements of an artist and naturalist, has authentic French clay floor tiles and plenty of water coupled with abundant light. “It’s been very conducive for my work,” she notes.

Room for a View?
Before embarking on your own sparkling adventure, you’ll need to research your plans and your community’s and city’s building codes.

Jane Frost learned about codes from experience. “When we designed and built our first greenhouse, the city had issues and we had to rebuild,” she says. “As a result, checking out codes beforehand is critical.”

Hiring an architect might save you from that mistake. But if you only hire a contractor, having someone with experience building not just a sunroom but a conservatory is important.  

Terre Wood ordered her conservatory from overseas. Her recommendation: “Do your homework, ask a lot of questions and make sure you have the land and the time to devote to this romantic project.”