LEGO® Friends review: 41757 Botanical Garden

One of the most keenly-awaited sets in the June wave of LEGO® Friends releases, 41757 Botanical Garden features a stylish butterfly house with cacti and succulents growing inside, along with an outside pond, overhanging cherry tree and three minidolls. It already seems to be a popular set with the AFOL community, so let's dive straight into the interesting parts included.

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.
LEGO® Friends 41757 Botanical Garden
US$79.99/ £74.99/ 84.99€/ AU$139.99
1072 parts
1 June 2023
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Recolours in set 41757 Botanical Garden

Although there are no new moulds in the set, there is a great selection of recoloured elements. 

The following are all unique to this set:

• 1x Panel 4x8x4 Quarter Circle with Axle Holes in Transparent/Trans-Clear (6444503 | 76798)
• 2x Panel Curved, Quarter, with Bars at Each End in Trans-Clear (6444502 | 87375) - unique at the moment but will also come in 41760 Igloo Holiday Adventure, due 1 September 2023
• 1x Brick Round 2x2 Dome Top - Vented Stud with Bottom Axle Holder x Shape + Orientation in Sand Green (6429065 | 3262)
• 4x Window 1x2x2 Flat Front in Sand Green (6449861 | 79128)
• 22x Window 1x2x3 in Sand Green (6444504 | 60593) [edit: ooops, this is actually just a new Element ID and Design ID for an existing piece, last seen in 2016, and it should really belong in the Rare section below]
• 2x Minifig Neckwear Armour Shoulder Pads Spiky in Bright Red/Red (6449862 | 88295)
• 1x Equipment Pen with Tip and Cap Pearl Dark Grey Print in Silver Metallic/Flat Silver (6446980 | 35809)
• 16x Plant, Flower with Pointed Petals and Pin in Cool Yellow/Bright Light Yellow (6451205 | 18853)
• 2x Musical Instrument Saxophone in Spring Yellowish Green/Yellowish Green (6447104 | 13808)
• 3x Equipment Paint Palette in Bright Green (6445437 | 65697)
• 2x Minifig Neckwear Fur Collar in Dark Green/Green (6447107 | 78127)

The parts below are new in June 2023 but also appear in a handful of other sets:

• 4x Plant, Stem with 3 Leaves and Bottom Pin in Dark Red (6438776 | 37695) - only seen in 41748 Heartlake City Community Centre
• 2x Slope Curved 2x1 No Studs [1/2 Bow] in Transparent Light Blue/Trans-Light Blue (6435020 | 3593) - in several June 2023 sets
• 6x Plate 1x4 in Light Nougat (6440965 | 3710) - also in 76421 Dobby the House Elf 

Rare elements in set 41757

Let's start the rare element selection with those that have been seen in one other set to date:

• 1x Technic Knob Wheel in Bright Green (6420915 | 49135) - just in 10313 Wildflower Bouquet
• 2x Plant, with Bar and Off-shoot with Stud in Reddish Brown (6433717 | 1566) - just in 40588 Flowerpot 
• 2x Technic Cam in Reddish Brown (6404660 | 6575) - also in 71412 Big Bad Island Expansion Set
• 27x Plant, Plate 1x1 Round with 3 Leaves in Light Purple/Bright Pink (6443651 | 32607) - appears in 71799 Ninjago City Markets

These elements have been seen in just two other sets:

• 2x Animal Body Part, Barb/Claw/Tooth/Talon/Horn, Large in Sand Green -  (6398464 | 11089) -  in 10309 Succulents and 41188 Breakout from the Goblin King's Fortress 
• 2x Bar Holder with Clip in Bright Green (6405702 | 44873) - in Flowerpot and 21189 The Skeleton Dungeon
• 1x Food Egg with 1.5mm Hole [Plain] in Yellowish Green (6398468 | 24946) - in Flowerpot and Succulents 
• 4x Animal, Snake Head with Open Mouth, Fangs and Curved Neck with Bar in Black (6380639 | 28588) - also in 31139 Cozy House and 10297 Boutique Hotel
• 4x Plant, Plate 1x1 Round with 3 Leaves in White (6382783 | 32607) - in 31208 Hokusai - The Great Wave and 80109 Lunar New Year Ice Festival 
• 1x Equipment Broom End in Brick Yellow/Tan (6400380 | 90826) - just in 71038-4 Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey and 76408 12 Grimmauld Place
• 1x Brick Round Corner 2x2 Macaroni with Stud Notch and Reinforced Underside [New Style] in Medium Nougat (6346464 | 85080) - also in Big Bad Island Expansion Set and 41679 Forest House 
• 1x Animal, Frog in Bright Yellowish Green/Lime (6435720 | 28841) - seen in Ninjago City Markets and 71038-5 Tiana 
• 6x Tile 3x3 Curved, Macaroni in Olive Green (6362965 | 79393) - additionally in 21336 The Office and 71390 Reznor Knockdown Expansion Set
• 1x Plate Special 2x2 with Groove and Center Stud (Jumper) in Trans-Light Blue (6443647 | 92569) - new in June 2023, also in 43215 The Enchanted Treehouse and Ninjago City Markets
• 2x Plate Round 1x1 with Hollow Stud and Horizontal Bar 1L in Medium Nougat (6433634 | 32828) - also in 41749 News Van and 11031 Creative Monkey Fun
• 1x Brick Curved, 3x1 with 1/3 Inverted Cutout in Medium Nougat (6433732 | 70681) - also in 43226 Disney Duos and 75351 Princess Leia (Boushh) Helmet
• 12x Plate 2x3 in Light Nougat (4496986 | 3021) - seen in Dobby the House Elf and 76393 Harry Potter & Hermione Granger 

The following have been seen in three other sets: 

• 1x Plate Round 4x4 with 2x2 Round Opening in Green (6405622 | 11833)
• 1x Plant, Plate 1x1 Round with 3 Leaves in Red (6372723 | 32607) 
• 2x Brick Round 1.5x1.5 Dome Top [Plain] in Sand Green (6400309 | 37840) 
• 1x Croissant in Dark Orange (6424035 | 3346) 

Printed parts in the LEGO Friends Botanical Garden

The printed elements are all currently unique in this set except where specified:

• 1x Tile Round 1x1 with Orange Slice print in Flame Yellowish Orange/Bright Light Orange (6435103 | 103352)
• 2x Animal, Bird, Duck / Duckling with Black Eyes, Orange Beak, Spots print in Dark Orange (6435110 | 103359)
• 2x Insect, Butterfly with Lavender/Lime Colors, Black Trim print in Bright Light Yellow (6420457 | 101531) - in two other sets, 21338 A-Frame Cabin and 80110 Lunar New Year Display 
• 2x Tile 1x2 with Koi print in Trans-Light Blue (6435012 | 103319)
• 3x Insect, Butterfly with Dark Blue Wings, White Spots print in Black (6435109 | 103358)

Minidolls in 41757 Botanical Garden

The set includes three minidolls. The notable elements of each character are detailed below:

Liann

• 1x Minidoll Torso Girl with Coral/Bright Light Orange Shirt, Dark Blue Trim print, Warm Tan Arms and Hands in Warm Tan (6448237 | 73141) - unique in this set
• 1x Minidoll Hips and Wide Pants with Medium Lavender Shoes print in Sand Blue (6416452 | 101117) - in 3 other sets from 2023

Niko

• 1x Hair Mid Length, Parted in Black (6420572 | 3277) - also in 3 other sets 76416 Quidditch Trunk, 41744 Sports Centre and 21339 BTS Dynamite
• 1x Minidoll Head with Black Eyebrows, Reddish Brown Eyes, Open Mouth, Dark Tan Lips in Warm Tan (6416616 | 101222) - seen in 41744 Sports Centre and 41731 Heartlake International School 
• 1x Minidoll Torso Boy with Sand Blue Jacket, Blue Shirt, White Color print, Warm Tan Arms and Hands in Warm Tan (6441569 | 73161) - also in 41731 Heartlake International School 
• 1x Minidoll Hips and Trousers with Back Pockets with Reddish Brown Shoes print in Medium Stone Grey/ Light Bluish Gray (6429790 | 35584) - appears in 41741 Dog Rescue Van

Adi

• 1x Minidoll Head Thick Black Eyebrows. Reddish Brown Eyes, Dark Red Lips print in Medium Nougat (6416338 | 101091) - also in 41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores
• 1x Minidoll Torso Girl with Coral Overall, White flower, Bright Light Yellow Shirt print, Medium Nougat Arms and Hands in Medium Nougat (6448316 | 73141) - unique to this set
• 1x Minidoll Hips and Short Skirt with Medium Nougat Legs, Gold Sandals print [Thin Hinge] in Vibrant Coral/ Coral (6430535 | 2241) - also in 41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores

The model

Construction begins with the garden pond, then the waterfall side of the hothouse, the larger wing and finally the impressive dome at the top.

The tree growing in the hothouse is surrounded by a seat which the minidolls can use to chill out while enjoying the surrounding flora. There's also a little picnic scene if they get peckish. The model looks very nice from the front, and there is also plenty of access for play at the rear. 

The lovely pond is fed by the waterfall from a terrace on the upper level of the hothouse. Two little ducks are swimming happily among the lillypads.

The four butterflies which live in the hothouse can be made to flutter around in a circle by turning them on their mount, which is a fun play feature. 

I was disappointed from a MOCers perspective that the set only contains two of the transparent quarter-dome pieces - but thankfully three more will be included in a cheaper set, Igloo Holiday Adventure (due on 1 September) if you don't want to buy a second copy of the Botanical Garden or wait for the secondary market. However, I have already seen plenty of images of MOCs online using multiple copies of this release, so I suspect that may be the plan for quite a few AFOLs.

The cacti and succulents growing inside have been well represented by some unusual elements. As you build the model, the instructions show images of the real flowers so that you know what each represents. Some are also replicated on the back of the box art. I did love the recolour of the minifig Neckwear Fur Collar which is used as Bonsai foliage.

Apart from the lack of four dome pieces, the other aspect of the build which bothered me was the light bluish grey stripes which appear at this corner of the greenhouse. It's due to the 2/3 height bricks being used in the corner column, and because tiles have a groove at the bottom, you can see the grey showing through at the edges. I assume the 2/3 bricks were included in grey so that they are not confused with regular 1x1 white bricks, but since this is aimed at a 12+ audience I would have hoped this was not necessary. I will probably change out the grey for white in my own model.

When the set was first revealed, I had feared that it would be more expensive, but with a price to part value of 7.0p / 7.5c / 7.9c, it feels like it offers reasonably good value for money. The design is very stylish, and if you want to close in the whole model, using two sets provides a nice opportunity for expansion if you have the space available in your city. There are also a decent selection of new and rare parts for those who like to use it as a parts pack.

READ MORE: Is there such a thing as a LEGO® Technic model that is just too big? Meet the LEGO Liebherr

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