These two greenhouses are original structures from H.J. Lutcher Stark’s Shangri-La of the 1940s and ‘50s. Thinking ahead of his time, Stark used cisterns to collect rainwater and supply irrigation to the greenhouses. These cisterns not only supplied the best quality of water for the plants but also served to lower the temperature in the greenhouses through evaporation. Stark planned to extend the greenhouses into a one-acre conservatory, which would have been the largest of its kind during that time.
Today, the greenhouses serve a dual purpose: one is used to house rotating botanical exhibitions for visitors to enjoy; the other is used as a hands-on classroom for students to enjoy all aspects of plant growth and care.