The designers behind the Botanical Conservatory’s exhibits turned the indoor gardens into a new land of sun, sand and surf for the cold months of January through April. The exhibit “California Dreamin’ ” includes tropical plants, palm trees and fun things for children.

The display opened Saturday and continues through April 16 at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. Regular admission rates apply. Get details at https://www.botanicalconservatory.org.

“We are excited to do something a little bit different,” said Amanda Amstutz, supervisor for programs and volunteers at Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation. “Some members of our team have visited and lived in California, so they bring more insight into the display than you would expect.”

While the idea of California Dreamin’ might bring up beach settings with plenty of tropical plants, the reality is that parts of California are desert — with desert plants. So there will probably be some succulents on display, in addition to the more tropical flora visitors could expect.

Children will find fun things to do, including a sand box and sand toys, a beach volleyball court, giant beach balls, and a lifeguard tower — complete with a slide. Surfer music plays throughout.

“It takes a lot of different members,” explained Amstutz, to change the conservatory’s display from one season to another. She said that when the conservatory puts together an exhibit, staff might pull experts from a number of different areas of the Parks and Recreation employment force, like the landscape caretakers or playground technicians. These experts make sure that the equipment and plants arranged in the conservatory are put together safely. It takes the “whole parks department to make it happen,” she said.