Review: 41757 Botanical Garden
Posted by MeganL,After over 30 Friends reviews this year, I've purposely saved one of the best of the year until last.
When 41757 Botanical Garden was first announced, it was met with universal acclaim. It's a beautiful set, and justifiably made the Brickset gift guide this year. I'm a frequent visitor to the wonderful Chicago Botanic Garden, so I was interested to see what a LEGO botanical garden brought.
Summary
41757 Botanical Garden, 1,072 pieces.
£74.99 / $79.99 / €84.99 | 7.0p/7.5c/7.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A stylish, sophisticated instant classic that can stand with Icons and other adult sets
- Amazing parts usage!
- Beautiful architecture
- Opportunity to learn about different flowers
- Did I mention the parts usage?
- None!
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the box there are seven numbered bags, a 16x16 plate, and a folder with an instruction book and sticker sheet, which was much smaller than I expected for this set. I was so looking forward to building the set I totally neglected to take a picture of the sticker sheet.
Minidolls
There are three minidolls in this set, to extent that anyone cares, as everyone is so excited about the building! Of the core cast, Liann is the only one in this set. She's wearing a very funky vest with coral, white and yellow pattern on top of jeans. It's nice to see Adi again in a set - we met her earlier this year in 41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores. It appears that Adi works at the Botanical Garden - what a lucky minidoll! Rounding out the crew is Niko, another recurring character that we've seen in 41731 Heartlake International School and 41744 Sports Centre.
The back printing on all three minidolls is interesting, especially for Liann and Adi.
All minidolls have some accessories - Adi has some pruning shears, which makes sense for her work. Liann has a pen and a sketchbook - stickers provide some details on the cover and interior. Finally, Niko holds a camera, and a selfie stick - I guess he wants to get pictures from all the angles!
A small side build is also included in the set - a lovely picnic spread for the Friends to nosh on while enjoying the Garden.
The completed model
As I've said before, and will say again, this is a beautiful set. I love the choice by the designer to make the building mostly white, with light nougat accents. Not a bright flashy colour in sight, with the exception of the lovely flowers, which is as it should be.
The eye, is of course, drawn to the colourful Prunus mume, or Japanese Flowering Apricot tree. The shape of the tree is fantastic and the blossoms look great. There's a bench at the base of the tree perfect for a Friend to take a break - or perhaps enjoy that picnic.
You might be so struck by the tree and surrounding detail (we'll look at that later), that it's easy to overlook the entrance. Stickers provide details for the signs above the door and the directory at the entrance. There's a stylish wrought iron bench as well, which is currently being occupied by some visitors. You can also see some of the fantastic architectural detail - not overly complex, but very effective.
(Note: botanical garden visiting sloths not included in this set).
Around the corner from the entrance you can see more of the architecture, and I really appreciate the designer's choice of light nougat for the accent. Giving the building such neutral colours really allows the plants' colours to shine. On this side of the building there's a bonsai - a great nod to the start of the botanical theme - using minifig fur collars (introduced in this set in this colour) in one of a multitude of nice parts usage throughout this set. Some brightly coloured flowers (unidentified in the instruction manual) are featured on the corner. I like to think they're orchids, but unless Heartlake City is in a tropical climate, that's unlikely.
On the opposite side of the building, we're back to that beautiful Prunus mume, but now we can see more details. There's a fountain on the upper floor feeding a waterfall that cascades down to the reflection pond. What a gorgeous scene! The serene scene has a lot of details too - I love the pair of ducks (new in this colour), and hidden in the pond is a frog and a pair of koi. On the flora side, there are several Nelumbo nucifera blooms - lotus flowers.
Looking at the back of the model, we see the inside of the conservatory, filled with various plants and boasting a butterfly house.
A sign shows that leafy plants are found in this section, and indeed, there's an impressive range of plants here. From left to right, we see Orchidaceae (orchids), Rafflesia (known for its particularly bad smell), Nepenthes (carnivorous plant), Amorphophallus Titanium (corpse flower), and Strelitzia Reginae (bird of paradise).
I'm not sure I know what Adi is thinking putting all these flowers so close together. The odour from the Rafflesia is almost guaranteed that visitors will not linger! The fragrance of the orchid and the bird of paradise may offset that a bit, I think.
Here's this chamber at a different angle, mostly because while I love the parts usage throughout this build, I'm particularly impressed with the green saxophones for the Nepenthes. Hope our visitors don't get too close!
Lots of light is provided for the plants below thanks to the clear arched panels overhead.
The other wing of the conservatory features Sucus & Cacti (succulents and cacti). It makes sense that these plants would be in a different wing, as they require an entirely different environment than the last set of plants. A water tap is located here, so Adi can make sure that the plants get the water they need.
The attention to detail on the part of the Friends designers is obvious here through parts selection - I love that a transparent 1x2x5 piece has been used to allow more light and greater visibility to the plants.
The atrium of the building features a butterfly house! This is my favourite part of the interior of the building. I love the clear domed panels that have been used for the ceiling. A butterfly refreshment station has been placed at the top of the first level, featuring slide fruit. A Morpho Peleides has alighted for a quick snack. Soaring above is an assortment of Morpho Peleides and Chitoria Ulupi.
It's easy to miss the butterflies in this area because the main attraction in this area is the beautiful Plumeria tree. While Plumeria comes in many colours, I think the choice of yellow for this set is fantastic, and the perfect colour for this set. The flowers are new in cool yellow. For the purposes of this picture I've turned the tree around so the leaf work and flowers are visible. Another bench is available at the bottom of the tree. The knob at the top can be turned to allow the butterflies to fly around the top of the atrium.
Overall thoughts
This is a beautiful set! There's good reason that this is the first Friends set for many. I'm hopeful that this set will cause those same people to take another look at the rest of the Friends range. The Friends team has really knocked it out of the park this year.
There's much to love here - the great architecture, the sophisticated lines, the elegant colouring. The colours throughout the set are outstanding and pleasing to the eye - the blooms have been carefully chosen to compliment each other. Similarly, the building colours are appropriately neutral to allow the focus to be on the flowers. This set can fit easily in any City or adult collection line up.
Great parts usage abounds, and I particularly liked the use of the minifig fur collars for the bonsai and the green saxophones for the Nepenthes. For the price (£74.99/$79.99/€84.99) I think it represents good value, which also explains partly why many are buying two copies to make a full building.
My one (minor) quibble about the set is the name - when I think of a botanical garden, I think of acres of gardens that includes greenhouses and conservatories. I think of this structure as more of a conservatory than a botanical garden.
Regardless of what you want to call it, this is one of my favourite Friends sets, and I think it will stay built for display. I'm so looking forward to next year's sets!
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51 comments on this article
Yes! This is the review I was most excited for!
This is just beautiful! Even the price is :-)
FINALLY! The only Friends set I've purchased and I've been waiting for this review!!!
As a fellow Chicagoan and plant enthusiast, my only problem with the Chicago Botanic Garden is that it's so far from the city. This one will be right in my Lego downtown where it belongs.
And as you point out, my first Friends set!
I don't collect Friends sets, but I'm buying this one. It's just a fantastic set.
Wow, this is actually the first, non-garish Friends set I've seen and liked. It would actually go well in my Lego City.
I am definitely getting more than one of this and moc-ing for my modular collection. I've had vehicles before but never a full set and this is just such a delight that I can't resist it.
it's a cool idea but once I saw that it wasn't fully enclosed, I removed it from my shopping list
Will combining two close the set up like. Modular build?
The only negative is that it appears you need 4 on this set to have one complete building.
Something about this set stinks...
Oh wait. That's just the corpse flower I'm smelling. Never mind!
@ickleb,
no buying two will not allow you to just clip them together directly to completely enclose it.
However with just the parts from two of the sets you can redesign and have a fully enclosed building @Lordmoral
There are folks that have done so and put instructions out online
This really is a superb set, my favorite of the year.
My only warning is that the set comprises 3/8 of the building, so if you do intend to modularize it as I have, you need to be creative with the architecture at the back if only using 2 sets (and not 3, or bricklinking extras).
I love this! I can't wait to get my hands on it!
It does look like a lovely set, and thanks for the review - I like the look of the pond! However, it hasn't quite made my mind up about whether to invest yet. Personally, I don't see a £75 set. Argos UK recently had this set reduced, but it was sold out by the time I saw that.. maybe one day.
I love how much LEGO Friends changed in the recent time and only for the better! I hope the target audience also likes the improvement.
This is Set of The Year for me. It's a joy to have it on display. I changed dolls for minifigs and added lights. Now Chandler (rip!) and Monica have a nice place for a rendez-vous!
My first Friends set as well. Bought 2 and managed to MOC it with the use of some extra parts. It is really an amazing set.
This plus 41737 are the only 2 current 'Friends' sets I would consider buying. A lot of great designs from others in the theme but, not being under 5 or colour blind, not really colour schemes I could stomach.
My only disappointment was that there was a much better Botanical Garden Ideas submission just before this was released, which obviously won't see the light of day.
Now, I just need to confirm with my local council that minidolls are acceptable for the recycle bin!
just recieved it with the insiders weekend order and I totaly agree with this review. a lovely set to build and watch.
@sjr60 said:
"This plus 41737 are the only 2 current 'Friends' sets I would consider buying. A lot of great designs from others in the theme but, not being under 5 or colour blind, not really colour schemes I could stomach.
My only disappointment was that there was a much better Botanical Garden Ideas submission just before this was released, which obviously won't see the light of day.
Now, I just need to confirm with my local council that minidolls are acceptable for the recycle bin!"
Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego? Just sell them on Bricklink / Ebay or donate them to a charity store like Goodwill. (Also, mini doll hairpieces are minifig compatible!)
Loving the more ‘advanced’ sets from the Friends theme. Up there with the Downtown Flower & Design Store for me, and the trend looks to be continuing with 2024’s Mansion!
Buying 2 copies if this set plus 1 standard baseplate will give you everything you need to build an enclosed Modular City style version.
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-150705/benbuildslego/modular-botanical-garden-friends-set-41757/details
And the age old question of ‘are saxophones made or grown?’ is finally answered.
This seems to be a favourite for doubling up and making a full building. There are several instructions on sites like Rebrickable and loads of videos on Youtube of people doing just that. I plan to do the same. Really nice set and a bit unusual even for Heartlake City.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @sjr60 said:
"Now, I just need to confirm with my local council that minidolls are acceptable for the recycle bin!"
Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego? Just sell them on Bricklink / Ebay or donate them to a charity store like Goodwill. (Also, mini doll hairpieces are minifig compatible!)"
Or, how about, there's not a single child on the radar that would appreciate them? I have two daughters, send them to me!
@Apedemak said:
" @ickleb ,
no buying two will not allow you to just clip them together directly to completely enclose it.
However with just the parts from two of the sets you can redesign and have a fully enclosed building @Lordmoral
There are folks that have done so and put instructions out online"
I'm not a very good MOC'er, and I'm not on a lot of LEGO sites, so where could I find some of those instructions.... (^_^)
EDIT - oops, now I see @Rimefang post
One more Friend set which truly deserves a nice place in any Lego city, even in the neighborhood of any Modular without being out of place. It is truly beautiful, graceful I dare say. And one more excellent review from MeganL, thank you.
@Murdoch17 said:
"Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego?"
Because minidolls are an evil force with the sole aim of destroying the planet and, for the sake of humanity, the quicker they're wiped out the better.
Indeed a great set with only minor flaws as I concluded in my review back in June as well ( https://myleniumsbrickcorner.wordpress.com/2023/06/25/botanicula-lego-friends-botanical-garden-41757/ ). Aside from it being bigger and just having more exhibition areas my biggest desire are some frames/ supports on the dome to make it more believable. That would have made it even more awesome.
I absolutely love this set. I have one on the way, with more to be purchased later. I’m going to build a smaller version of The Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco.
One of the better reviews on here. Great work Megan!!
The only thing I dislike about this set is the new milky type of transparent plastic they use.
Other than that it's beautiful and imho one of the best Friends sets ever.
Bought this set months ago but haven't had the time to build it yet. It truly is a lovely set but I intend to populate mine with minifigs once built. I don't hate the minidools but I do prefer minifigs as they are more versatile.
@oukexergon said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @sjr60 said:
"Now, I just need to confirm with my local council that minidolls are acceptable for the recycle bin!"
Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego? Just sell them on Bricklink / Ebay or donate them to a charity store like Goodwill. (Also, mini doll hairpieces are minifig compatible!)"
Or, how about, there's not a single child on the radar that would appreciate them? I have two daughters, send them to me!"
I’m a male TFOL, and I’d gladly take them!
If i ever might get the modular museum i will mod it and combine it with this set and maybe an outside garden with some statues in it as well.
@Lemerbrix06 said:
" @oukexergon said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @sjr60 said:
"Now, I just need to confirm with my local council that minidolls are acceptable for the recycle bin!"
Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego? Just sell them on Bricklink / Ebay or donate them to a charity store like Goodwill. (Also, mini doll hairpieces are minifig compatible!)"
Or, how about, there's not a single child on the radar that would appreciate them? I have two daughters, send them to me!"
I’m a male TFOL, and I’d gladly take them!"
That's OK. It's the least I can do to save you from yourself!
"I like to think they're orchids, but unless Heartlake City is in a tropical climate, that's unlikely."
Heartlake City is clearly a tropical urban farming lakeshore forest mountain beach location, so orchids will thrive there.
Great review, thanks!
@Brickodillo said:
"If i ever might get the modular museum i will mod it and combine it with this set and maybe an outside garden with some statues in it as well."
That’s my exact plan!
@Rimefang said:
"Buying 2 copies if this set plus 1 standard baseplate will give you everything you need to build an enclosed Modular City style version.
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-150705/benbuildslego/modular-botanical-garden-friends-set-41757/details"
Yes, but I like this one even more: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-162337/tommetallica/modular-botanical-garden/details
Friends is such a good theme, it's just unfortunate that I have no interest in minidolls, so end up waiting for big discounts before they feel like decent value for me. This one is amazing (I bought two so that I can combine them). 41756 Ski Slope & Cafe is great too, but 41737 Beach Amusement Park has to be the top one for me, it's fantastic. Wonderful design and colour palette, great builds, AND brilliant mechanisms built in as well.
Some of the 2024 sets look glorious as well, especially 42639 Mansion
"Friends" is such a strong theme, so much better than "City".
They do need some police/fire trucks and hopefully "Friendship Train" one day.
The set is beautiful, but I can't stand mini-dolls, to me they are not Lego...
@AddictedToStyrene said:
"Heartlake City is clearly a tropical urban farming lakeshore forest mountain beach location, so orchids will thrive there."
And it has the benefit of not being crime-ridden and always on fire.
No one asked for pink or purple with everything and it’s a broader minded approach to respect the limitless interest of children and girls. Friends sets in general cast a shadow over a lot of City efforts that never see such variety and scope.
Set of the year: it will be bought for all kinds of uses.
My first Friends set too.
If this was a City set it would be an instabuy. The only reason I still haven't bought this set twice is the ugly mini-dolls.
@Zink said:
"Friends just made the best City set in years. I don't want to hear anymore complaints about this theme."
For me Friends has been for quite some years what City should be (but mostly isn't): Nice buildings of a large variety of things - and not just police and fire brigades.
My daughters own some sets and they all are excellent builds and excellent play sets!
The Friends line has been underrated for years. The series routinely produces excellent sets. While thematically Friends is far from my top priority when it comes to LEGO purchases, we occasionally grab some of the impressive ones. We bought this one for our daughter for Christmas, but I'm as excited to experience it as she is!
The team has really elevated their game with this set.
Whether in the Botanical Collection or elsewhere, I love seeing the ways Lego designers make interesting-looking plants.
@sjr60 said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
"Why would you throw away perfectly good Lego?"
Because minidolls are an evil force with the sole aim of destroying the planet and, for the sake of humanity, the quicker they're wiped out the better."
I for one welcome our new plastic overlords.
Impressive, really impressive set. I don't buy sets (or very rarely) but anyway, I"m just happy to see TLG come with such a great set (I'm not excited about licensed sets based on crappy dumb movies, but at least we got a true, nice Lego set from time to time...)