Minnesota's winter has its own stark beauty, but it is almost entirely without moisture in the air—or smells. The conservatory at Como Park is like a magical visit to a tropical paradise, for a $1 or $2 donation. Birds tweeting and flowers blooming are salve for the soul and a reminder that there is life after March. The warmest spot in the place is the Tropical Encounters room, a rainforest replica with a 14-foot anaconda, a two-toed sloth, and enough humidity to curl hair. Smell-seekers should head to the Sunken Garden, with its holiday flowers show in December and January; early spring blooms like foxgloves, freesias, and pansies from January to March; and true spring flowers like crocuses and tulips in April and May. The glass-domed palm room is a lovely place to relax and think. Spend an hour among the plants and leave refreshed. The winter may be harsh, but the conservatory has magical powers to rejuvenate.