While we all #StaySafeMN and practice social distancing, check this space for challenging, fun learning opportunities. Then, tune in Mondays and Thursdays at 1:30pm on our Facebook page for special LIVE zookeeper talks and gardener talks. Check back later in the day where we will post the video here.
If you’ve watched a Como Live episode we’d appreciate your feedback! Please fill out a five question survey by clicking HERE.

Monday, January 31: International Zebra Day!
Today is International Zebra Day! Listen to a zookeeper talk about our zebra herd on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Celebrate by putting your own unique spin on a traditional black and white zebra by printing out these coloring pages HERE and HERE.
Thursday, January 27: Winter Carnival Orchid Show Preview
The Winter Carnival Orchid Show is this coming Saturday and Sunday at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory! Get a sneak peek at Como’s orchid display and learn more about the orchid collection on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Interested in attending the Winter Carnival Orchid Show? Advanced registrations are required. Purchase your tickets HERE.
Looking to learn more about how to care for your orchids at home? Check out this video from the Chicago Botanical Garden about how to repot your orchid HERE.
Monday, January 24: The Winter Flower Show!
The Winter Flower Show in the Sunken Garden is in full bloom! Learn more about the plants in this year’s show and how they care cared for on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory hosts five flower shows every year. Check out how each show is changed over by watching this time lapse from the 2019 Fall Flower Show HERE.
Thursday, January 20: A Special Birthday!
Today is a very special day for penguins! Join us as we celebrate Penguin Awareness Day AND Amahle the penguin’s 3rd birthday! How will our penguin colony celebrate? Find out on today’s fun-filled episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want to spend some more time with penguins today? You can check out this LIVE webcam of the penguin exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo HERE.
Monday, January 17: Bromeliads!
Did you know? The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory houses a collection of over 215 different species of bromeliads! Go behind the scenes to see our colorful and vibrant collection and learn more about these interesting plants on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Looking for more plant education resources? Check out Plant Heroes, a resource that is part of the American Public Garden Association that aims to connect children with nature. Plant Heroes has a variety of free educational resources for both teachers and parents. Check out the resources HERE.
Thursday, January 13: Show Change Week!
It is show change week in the Sunken Garden! Learn about the process of the flower show change and get a sneak peek at the 2022 Winter Flower show on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook!
Find some of the plants of the Winter Flower Show in this word search HERE. Stumped? You can check out the answers HERE.
Monday, January 10: Bonsai!
Check out what bonsai are on display in the pavilion on today’s episode of Como Live. Take a break and join us for a virtual tour of this room at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Test your knowledge about bonsai ahead of the talk with this quiz HERE.
Thursday, January 6: Snake Enrichment!
Hear a zookeeper talk about one of our ambassador snakes and get an up-close view of them using some special enrichment on today’s Como Live! Be sure to tune in at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Looking for some enrichment for you dog during the cold winter months? Check out the ASPCA’s Canine DIY Enrichment article HERE.
Monday, January 3: Red-footed tortoises in Tropical Encounters
Have you checked out the red-footed tortoises in Tropical Encounters? They are one of the newer residents to this exhibit! Learn more about them on today’s episode of Como Live.
Have time today for a quick word search? This one is all about tortoises. Download the puzzle HERE. Stumped? You can check out the answers HERE.
Thursday, December 30: Year In Review!
As 2021 winds down, let’s check out the highlights – from new animal and plant arrivals, to all six of our Sunken Garden flower shows. Check out our year in review special edition Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook!
Last year, we celebrated by counting down to 2021 with 21 adorable animal videos! Check them out HERE.
Monday, December 27: Ferns!
What makes a fern a fern? Learn more about the unique adaptations of these prehistoric plants from a horticulturalist on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook!
Test your knowledge before the talk and see how much you know about ferns by doing this crossword HERE. If you are stumped, you can get the answers HERE.
Thursday, December 23: Reindeer!
The reindeer are gearing up for the holidays on today’s Como Live! Hear a zookeeper talk about these amazing animals at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want more reindeer action? You can check out what our reindeer are up to 24/7 on our own LIVE Reindeer Cam HERE.
Monday, December 20: Poinsettias!
Tis the season for the Holiday Flower Show! Learn more about the process of creating the show from one of our horticulture staff, and then take a virtual walk through on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Design your own poinsettia by coloring in one of these coloring sheets HERE or HERE.
Thursday, December 16: Lemurs
Hear a zookeeper talk about the blue-eyed black lemurs on today’s episode of Como Live! Learn more about these primates and get an up-close virtual view at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Lemurs are prosimians, which are members of the primate family. Do you know the characteristics of prosimians? Take this quiz HERE.
Monday, December 13: Cacao Tree in the North Garden
Do you know where chocolate comes from? Learn all about our cacao trees in our tropical North Garden on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook!.
Learn about how chocolate is made from cacao beans by watching this video from UK Discovery HERE.
Thursday, December 9: Polar Bear Birthdays!
It’s a polar bear birthday bash on today’s Como Live! Join us as we celebrate Nan’s 27th birthday and Neil’s 26th birthday! Tune into Facebook today at 1:30 to check out what tasty treats they were gifted! Can’t make the 1:30 party? Tune in later and we will post the video here!
Test your polar bear knowledge with this crossword HERE. Then, find the answer key HERE.
Monday, December 6: A Stroll through Tropical Encounters
Enjoy a virtual stroll through our Tropical Encounters exhibit on today’s Como Live! Check out the plants and animals without the added heat and humidity at 1:30pm on Facebook.
How well do you know the plants and animals living in Tropical Encounters? See if you can find them all in this word search HERE. Stumped? You can get the answers HERE.
Thursday, December 2: Choosing the Poinsettias for the Holiday Show
It’s Show Change week in the Sunken Garden on today’s episode of Como Live! Join us at 1:30pm on Facebook for a sneak peek of the Holiday Flower Show and learn more about the process! The Holiday Flower Show will open to the public on Friday, December 3rd.
Looking for a fun and easy holiday craft do with your kids? You can try making a paper poinsettia by following these instructions HERE.
Monday, November 29: North Garden!
Take a much-needed afternoon break with us after long holiday weekend and explore the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s North Garden! Enjoy a relaxing virtual tour of this beautiful garden on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
How much do you know about the North Garden? See if you can identify the plants in this word scramble HERE. Stumped? You can check out the answers HERE.
Wednesday, November 24: Bonsai
Much of our bonsai collection is behind the scenes in our greenhouses at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Learn about how they are chosen and prepared for display on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
You can check out the website Bonsai Empire to learn more about how to start and care for your own bonsai at home HERE.
Monday, November 22: Last Week of the Fall Flower Show!
It is the last week to enjoy the second part of the Fall Flower Show in the Sunken Garden. Check out a virtual tour of the show in full bloom on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
As fall comes to the close, many people are finishing their yard clean-up for the winter. Consider leaving the leaves and think of the beneficial insects and pollinators. Learn more about it from the Xerces Society HERE.
Thursday, November 18: Meet Our Newest Pinnipeds!
Meet two of our newest pinnipeds, Stanley and Wally the grey seals on today’s #ComoLive! Learn more about them from a zookeeper and how they came to be at Como Zoo on today’s episode of #ComoLive at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Pinnipeds is a term that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. Can you find different species of pinnipeds in this word search HERE? Stumped? Check out the answers HERE.
Monday, November 15: Bison!
We are highlighting North America’s largest land animal on today’s #ComoLive! Learn more about our bison herd from a zookeeper at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Did you know that November is National Bison Month? Check out the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Website HERE for more resources including upcoming and past webinars, poetry circles, and other great conservation information.
Thursday, November 10: Charlotte Partridge Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden
Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden. You can check it out before the snow flies on today’s Como Live! Slow down and take a virtual stroll with us this afternoon at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Test your knowledge about Japanese Gardens with this crossword puzzle HERE. Stumped? You can get the answer key HERE.
Monday, November 8: Orangutan Caring Week
We are celebrating Orangutan Caring Week on today’s Como Live! Take a break with us this afternoon and check out our orangutan enjoying some tool-based enrichment at 1:30pm on Facebook.
The Orangutan SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Education Group has put together some great educational resources to bring awareness to orangutans in humane care and in the wild. You can check out this puzzle activity, like the one our orangutans participated in on Como Live HERE. You can also try your hand at another training activity HERE.
Thursday, November 4: #PolarBearWeek
Celebrate #PolarBearWeek with us! Support polar bears by learning about Polar Bears International’s efforts tracking polar bears and reducing the human/polar bear conflict. On today’s Como Live, learn from a zookeeper about how Como is participating through testing a prototype tracking device called “Burr on Fur” on our newest polar bear, Kulu.
Read more about Kulu and “Burr on Fur” by reading the press release here: Como Welcomes Kulu the Polar Bear! – Como Zoo Conservatory
You can also learn more about how Polar Bears International is using radar technology to help wild polar bears HERE.
And, check out this webcam from Churchill, Manitoba and see if you can spot a wild polar bear HERE.
Monday, November 1: Ikebana Show On Now!
The Ikebana Show at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is taking place this week Monday, November 1st through Sunday, November 7th. You can learn more about this Japanese art of flower arrangement and get a virtual sneak peek of the show on today’s Como Live segment at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Interested in trying Ikebana? You can check out this beginner video tutorial HERE.
Thursday, October 28: Creepy Crawlies!
Ready for Halloween? Get in the spooky spirit by joining us for an episode of Como Live that is all about creepy crawlies! Hear a zookeeper talk about some of his favorite bugs at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Have a favorite creepy crawlie insect? Draw and color it using this bug jar craft template HERE.
Monday, October 25: Mums The Word!
The Sunken Garden’s fall flower show is in full bloom! Take a virtual tour with a horticulturalist on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
What is your favorite color of chrysanthemums? Color your own with these coloring sheets HERE and HERE.
Thursday, October 21: Wolf Awareness Week Continues!
Wolf Awareness Week continues today’s Como Live! Today we are highlighting our “Wolves and Wild Lands” traveling exhibit from Ely, Minnesota. Hear the Director of the International Wolf Center do a Question and Answer on this special exhibit at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Read the press release on the “Wolve and Wild Lands” exhibit HERE
The International Wolf Center is a great resource in Minnesota for wolf education. Check out their FAQ about Wolves HERE.
Monday, October 18: Wolf Awareness Week!
It’s Wolf Awareness Week! We are celebrating by highlighting wolves all this week on Como Live. Today’s segment will feature our two new resident wolves, Nicky and Cerberus. Hear a zookeeper talk about them at 1:30pm on Facebook!
Read all about Nicky and Cerberus in the press release HERE.
Looking for more local educational wolf content? Check out the Voyageur’s Wolf Project HERE, which has been tracking gray wolves and studying their ecology in northern Minnesota.
Thursday, October 14: Spiny Mice
Did you know? Spiny mice are more closely related to gerbils then mice! Learn more fun facts from a zookeeper and check out these ambassador animals up close on today’s episode Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Feeling creative? You can print out and color your own mouse picture HERE and HERE.
Monday, October 11: An Octopus in the Fern Room?!?!
It’s Octo-ber, and we have a special addition to our Fern Room! Check out this amazing hand-crafted octopus topiary sculpted by our horticulture staff on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want to try your hand at creating a topiary? Check out this beginner’s guide on how to make a topiary from the Home Depot HERE:
Thursday, October 7: Changing Over To The Fall Flower Show
Fall is here, and it’s show change week in the Sunken Garden! Learn more about the process of our flower show switchovers and get a sneak peek of the fall show on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Can you find these fall plants and flowers in this word search HERE? If you’re stumped, you can find the answers HERE.
Tuesday, October 5: The Fern Room
Even though leaf colors are changing outside, our fern room continues to be a vibrant green! Take a break with us and enjoy a walk through the ferns on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Can you identify the plants that will be highlighted in this video? Take the quiz HERE and find out!
Thursday, September 30: Emperor Tamarins!
The emperor tamarins are arguably one of Como’s most recognizable monkeys with their distinguishable facial hair! Get a closer look a them and learn more from a zookeeper on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
How much do you know about emperor tamarins? Try your hand at this crossword puzzle HERE. Stumped? You can find the answers HERE.
Monday, September 27: Sensory Plants
We have many different species of ambassador animals here at Como, but did you know that we also have ambassador plants? Check out some of our sensory plants behind the scenes and up-close on today’s episode of Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Have you ever wanted to create your own sensory garden? Get some tips from Kew Gardens HERE.
Thursday, September 23: World Gorilla Day is Tomorrrow!
World Gorilla Day is tomorrow, September 24th! We are kicking off the celebration by highlighting these special primates on today’s Como Live! Learn more about our gorillas from a zookeeper and see them interacting with some enrichment at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Check out this craft from the World Wildlife Fund where you can learn how to make a gorilla mask out of recycled materials. Download the instructions HERE.
Monday, September 20: North Garden
Join us in our North Garden on today’s episode of Como Live! Learn about how this garden is cared for and maintained from one of our horticulturists and get an up-close look at the plants at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want to spruce up your own garden this fall? Learn about how to prepare a fall vegetable garden from The Spruce HERE.
Thursday, September 16: Tropical Encounters
Tropical Encounters is a miniature rainforest right here in Minnesota! Learn more about the fish living in this exhibit on today’s Como Live! Get a closer look at 1:30pm on Facebook.
See if you can find the names of the fish in Tropical Encounters by doing this word search HERE. Stumped? Get the answers HERE.
Monday, September 13: Virtual Garden Walk
Take a break and enjoy a quiet stroll through the palm dome on today’s episode of Como Live! A few interesting plants will be highlighted on this virtual garden walk. Learn more at 1:30pm on Facebook.
See if you can identify a few of the plants in the palm dome ahead of the virtual stroll by doing this quiz HERE.
Thursday, September 9: Orchids!
We are highlighting our beautiful orchid collection behind the scenes on today’s Como Live! Hear a horticulturalist talk about these intricate plants at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want to learn more about orchids? The Orchid Society of Minnesota is a great resource. You can check out and read some of their blog posts HERE:
Thursday, September 2: Stick Bugs!
The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing, just down the street from Como Park Zoo and Conservatory! While you think about your favorite food on a stick, we’d like to highlight one of our stick insects to help celebrate! Come learn more with a zookeeper talk on today’s Como Live at 1:30pm on Facebook.
Want to celebrate the State Fair at home? Check out these recipes for food on a stick from the Food Network HERE. What is your favorite tasty treat on a stick?
Click HERE for June – August 2021 videos and activities
Click HERE for February – May 2021 videos and activities.
Click HERE for November – January 2021 videos and activities.
Click HERE for August – October 2020 videos and activities.
Click HERE for April – July 2020 videos and activities

Leave a Reply