question from u.k.
 

do any americans know what a conservatory is???

A large greenhouse type building.

Is this a trick question Marrion? I'm not even American and I'm getting my hackles up. Please explain further.

Conservatory of music?

A sunroom/greenhouse or a college of music?
Why do you ask?

It seems that Marrion likes to ask questions. Click on her name.

Oh, good grief!

Sure thats one of the rooms in a Clue game. Mr. Mustard did it with a candlestick holder in the conservatory!

lol - I played that game recently with my sons. Sometimes we like to regress to our young days. Apparently, Marrion never left ;).

I think Marrion is writing a book!

zootsi , you are Brilliant!

do Pups know what a conservatory is? ((&))

I think this may be a contender for "Most Random Question Ever Asked on Fodors".

Why do I feel there's a British joke brewing that has as its punchline:
"to conserve a Tory" ?

That's good, Patrick.

Hi Marrion, I've always associated a conservatory with music. Following is an interesting definition found on the web.

"An establishment that defines what is acceptable in music and what is not. Thus the European conservatories founded in the nineteenth century decided that there was only one way to sing and one way to play instruments, and they ruled out such long-standing traditional techniques as improvising, circular breathing, wind instrument and voice multi-phonics, etc. Jazz initially revolted against the limitations of the European conservatory. Many proscribed techniques, some inherited from Africa and some invented, were incorporated into the Jazz language. This caused the keepers of the European conservatories to claim that Jazz musicians could not play their instruments or sing properly. In the last thirty years, Jazz conservatories have become ossified to incorporate just the techniques of what is considered to be the Jazz mainstream. Their keepers are now claiming that Free Improvisers cannot play their instruments or sing properly.
members.aol.com/MartinRD/NewMuDic.html

A glass covered building to house or conserve plants, more elaborate than a greenhouse.
http://www.proforcerealestate.com/te...nguageauto.htm

a school, or academy, of music, art, etc.
usmcug.usm.maine.edu/~miranda/music/glossary.html

If you have a conservatory (or indeed are planning one) then this can have a significant effect on the look and feel of your garden, so it is important that you specify this correctly.
www.spidergarden.com/designs/define.htm

the faculty and students of a school specializing in one of the fine arts
a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts
a greenhouse in which plants are arranged in a pleasing manner
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn"