Last Weeks! See it soon!

Enchanted Express is an indoor garden railway adventure traveling through the Conservatory’s plant collections to small-scale architectural wonders of the world and to places that exist in our imaginations.

Created by famed garden railroad designer Paul Busse, Enchanted Express is on view through March 30, 2008.

Paul Busse creates elaborate, three-dimensional structures made of natural materials including mosses, twigs, leaves, and seeds. Amazingly accurate in detail, his creations look remarkably like they were constructed of the originally used materials. Only upon further inspection can the natural materials be identified.

“We are excited to bring this unique experience to the Conservatory, “ said Bruce Harkey, executive director of the Franklin Park Conservatory. “Paul Busse’s creativity delights visitors of all ages and illustrates, in a whimsical way, the historical and literary connections between plants and people. ”

Installed within the Conservatory’s Himalayan Mountain, Rain Forest, and Desert biomes, small-scale model trains travel around the world to vignettes of well-known places such the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. A plant of significance to each location or culture is featured along with a character that tells the story of that plant’s importance to that society at that time.

Signage with facts about the individual buildings and their related plants will be located throughout the exhibition. Visitors can learn more about the scenes by purchasing a brochure designed to immerse families in the stories of the plants and the people of these well-known historical places.

In the Conservatory’s Show House, the journey will continue to imaginary places and the homes of well-known fairy tale characters including Rapunzel, the Three Little Pigs and the Old Woman in the Shoe.  Children will delight in the magical woodland landscape as they search for their favorite characters.

Throughout the run of Enchanted Express, related programs including lectures, hands-on nature crafts, curator tours, and small-scale gardening classes will take place for all ages. On November 23 and December 26, 27 & 28, the Conservatory’s popular Family Holiday Break programs are scheduled and will include activities and performances related to the exhibition. Family Fun Saturdays, held the second Saturday of every month, will be similarly themed. 

A full listing of all exhibition-related programs and images from Enchanted Express can be found on our School Tours page. Click Here.