Complementing our indoor cacti and succulent collection is this outdoor garden area established in 2007 on the south side of the Lyman Conservatory. It features cold-hardy xerophytes, plants adapted to dry environments and able to survive here outdoors.

These species are able to survive New England winters if properly sited. A deep layer of gravel underlies the planting bed, which provides adequate drainage for these plants, especially important to their surviving the winter. Plants are mostly native to Mexico, western North America, and southwestern United States, with a few from Europe.