Summer Tropical Flower Show    
June 6 - September 27
Hours: All Conservatory hours
Where: Show House
Cost: Free

Discover the beauty of the tropics this summer at the free annual Summer Tropical Flower Show. The Tropical Garden Show offers an assortment of tropical plants, featuring various begonias and hibiscus.   

Little Green Thumb Wednesdays

Wednesdays, May 6 - October 28

Hours: 3 pm to 6 pm (drop in anytime!)

Where: Demonstration Garden (if inclement weather, activities will move to the Children’s Garden)

Cost: Free! Just drop by!

Each week, kids can plant pretend vegetables in our soil box, use play wheel barrels, or participate in other green thumb-related fun. We will also be hosting other fun drop-in activities - just check our website for regular updates. This is a great activity time for toddlers as well as older school-age children. No registration required, just drop in and visit us!

Get Gardening - Adult Greening Workshops

Wednesday Evenings and Saturday Mornings

May 16 - October 28

See following for time and cost information 

  

Master Composting Series 2009

One Saturday a Month, May 23 - October 17

Hours: 1 pm – 3 pm

Where: Demonstration Garden
Cost: Free! Just drop by!

Join the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners for a Master Composting Demonstration Series this summer. Learn everything you need to know to successfully compost at home!

    *Special Event - On-going demonstrations will last 11 am – 3 pm.

Wilderness Wednesdays

Third Wednesday of Every Month

Hours: 3 pm to 6 pm (drop in anytime!)

Where: Demonstration Garden or City Garden - just look for the big REI tent!

Cost: Free! Just drop by!

Join our special outdoor host, REI, as they set up camp on the grounds of the Conservatory. REI staff will be on hand to share positive messages about enjoying the outdoors and exploring your wild side. Activities include family “sleeping bag yoga” lessons, tricks and tips for orienting and trail marking, and other fun ideas for exploring nature’s playground.

Wild Wednesdays

Hours:3 pm to 6 pm (drop in anytime!)
Where: Sugar from the Sun Room
Cost: Free

Throughout the season, we are celebrating “wild things” with live animal presenter Scott Heinrichs. Come out and ask Mr. Heinrichs questions about each animal and get a close-up look at some fascinating critters. Additional fun - such as scavenger hunts and animal-related activities - will also be available.

Bees at Work

Hours: 10:30 am - 11:30 am (drop in anytime!)
Where: Demonstration Garden, near the beehive
Cost: Free

Each Tuesday and Saturday morning this summer, our volunteer beekeepers will be checking the hives and will be on hand to explain what our busy friends are doing. Fun educational tools are utilized in this weekly show-and-tell. Stop by and see what all the buzz is about! Dependent on weather - please check the sign in front lobby for daily program status.

Summer Under the Stars

Hours: 6 pm – 9 pm
Where: Bluestone Terrace
Cost: $10 per person (Tickets can be purchased at the door.)

After months of being held captive by the cold, Chicago is coming alive as the warm summer air starts to flow through the city. In celebration of the season, Garfield Park Conservatory is hosting their Music and Dancing Under the Stars Series, continuing its legacy as one of the city’s most organically decorated and calming venues for a variety of cultural events.

Every Wednesday during the month of July, Garfield Park Conservatory will invite music lovers to enjoy their evenings with friends and family as they dance the night away surrounded by the beauty of the outside gardens of the Bluestone Terrace. These five evenings will offer a variety of arts-based events. Music, dance and more will turn our Bluestone Terrace red hot.

Jazz Under the Stars

Friday, July 17

Hours: 6 pm - 10:30 pm

Where: Bluestone Terrace

Cost: $40 members of the Conservatory or Westside Reunion Committee/$50 non-members. (Tickets can be purchased at the door or in our Gift Shop in advance.)

July is time for our annual Jazz Under the Stars! Make sure to save the date for the 7th Annual Jazz Under the Stars on July 17th. The Bluestone Terrace will sizzle with music, dancing, friends, food and cocktails, all under a starry Chicago sky. Performing this year will be Westside’s acclaimed Howard Sandifer and Friends. Tickets cost $40 for members of the Garfield Park Conservatory or the Westside Reunion Committee, and $50 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in our Gift Shop in advance. Ticket price includes buffet dinner and one drink ticket. Jazz Under the Stars is presented in partnership with the Westside Reunion Committee.

Tree Walk ID Series

July 17 and October 16

Hours: 10am - Noon

Where: Meet in the Front Lobby of the Conservatory

Cost: Free! Just drop by!

Learn how to identify city trees through the seasons with Tree-keeper Jim DeHorn of Openlands Project. We will explore the trees of the beautiful and historic Garfield Park. Dress appropriately for weather. These walks take place rain or shine! Meet in the front lobby of Garfield Park Conservatory.

Meet the Bees: A Special Free Family Event

Hours: 10 am – 3 pm
Where: Demonstration Garden and City Garden
Cost: Free

Did you know that beekeeping is alive and well in the city? Did you know that the Garfield Park Conservatory maintains live hives and produces its own brand of honey? Come out for a free day of bee fun and learn more about this fascinating topic. July is harvest time for our summer honey, so join us for our annual celebration. Purchase honey made by Conservatory bees, listen to live music, make special bee goggles, and last but not least - get a good taste of honey!

Movies at the Conservatory

Hours: Movie begins after sundown, approximately 8 pm
Where: City Garden
Cost: Free

Bring a blanket, relax in the Conservatory’s giant backyard, and watch a free movie! This year, we will be presenting the animated hit Bee Movie, starring Jerry Seinfeld.

Inspired by Nature Photo Exhibit

Daily

Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily

Where: Community Room

Cost: Free! Just drop by!

Formerly at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the photo exhibit accompanying Julia Bachrach and Jo Ann Nathan’s book Inspired by Nature: The Garfield Park Conservatory and Chicago’s West Side is now at the Conservatory! This exhibit includes photographs, drawings and maps highlighting the history of the Garfield Park Conservatory and the West Side in honor of the Conservatory’s Centennial year. The book Inspired by Nature: The Garfield Park Conservatory and Chicago’s West Side is available for purchase in the Gift Shop. Please note: Because the Community Room is often rented to outside organizations, please contact the front desk of the Conservatory at 312-746-5100 before your visit to make sure the exhibit will be open to the public while you are here.

Origami Open House
Presented by the Chicago Area Origami Society
Second Saturday of Each Month (throughout the year)

Hours: Drop in anytime between 1 pm - 4 pm

Where: Conservatory
Cost: Free

Origami is a fascinating, fun-filled creative activity for children as well as adults. With a minimum of folds and creases, you can transform a flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional form like a swan, a boat, a flower or even a hat. So, if you're interested in creating animals, dinosaurs, flowers, decorative boxes and various other models, please join us. Every second Saturday of the month in the Conservatory’s Classroom, the Chicago Area Origami Society presents a free drop-in Origami Open House to our visitors. Please drop by — both kids and adults are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Experienced folders welcome as well. Also, though there will be a limited supply of paper available, you are encouraged to bring your own. The workshop is FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please contact Robert by e-mail at robertcubie@earthlink.net, or visit their website: www.home.earthlink.net/~robertcubie/origami
   

Morning Glories for Families

Mondays (throughout the year)

Hours: Drop in between 10 am - Noon

Where: Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden

Cost: $1 suggested donation per family

Enjoy learning together with your preschooler in this weekly drop-in activity and story time. This season’s projects include planting popcorn, bug terrariums, seed hunts, digging for worms, and much more! Each plant-related project takes 20-25 minutes, the last group is taken at 11:45 pm. [MORE]

Morning Glories for Schools

Hours: 10 am - Noon (Registration Required)
Where: Discovery Area of the Children’s Garden
Cost: Free

If you are interested in bringing a larger group or an entire class for Morning Glories story-time project, we have a new feature just for you! Morning Glories for Schools allows larger groups of preschoolers to enjoy a project together. Please contact Yadira Correa at 773-638-1766 x25 to learn more and to schedule a Thursday morning visit - registration is required.  [MORE]
 

Plant Information Clinic

Hours: Noon - 4 pm
Where: Palm House
Cost: Free

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners are available in the Palm House lobby to look at your plants or just answer questions Saturdays, Noon - 4 pm. Drop by with your plant or questions. Or you can call in your questions to (773) 233-0476, fax them to (773) 233-0910, or email questions to wolfordr@mail.aces.uiuc.edu  [MORE]