My plant-loving friend from the far western suburbs vetoed my suggestion of going to the Oak Park Conservatory during an upcoming visit to Oak Park. “I really don’t want to go into Chicago to the Garfield Conservatory,” she said. After I clarified that I meant the Oak Park Conservatory in Oak Park, she was confused. “There is a conservatory in Oak Park? I never heard of that.” I explained it was located at 615 Garfield, just south of the Eisenhower Expressway. It turns out she drove past it each time she went to Chicago.
Many local residents also don’t know about the Oak Park Conservatory. The Edwardian-style glass structure was built in 1929 for plants that villagers collected on their travels abroad. It fell into neglect for a number of years until local residents preserved it in 1970.
For me, entering the Oak Park Conservatory feels like traveling to far-off places — without leaving Oak Park. I especially like strolling the walking paths in the midst of winter and entering tropical environments. The three showrooms — Mediterranean, Tropical, and Desert — support the different climate requirements of the individual plants.
How many plants can you find there? If you guessed 300, you’re way too low. The number is close to 3,000 plants. The conservatory also grows around 20,000 bedding plants every year, used for planting in parks and other sites in Oak Park. In addition to the three indoor showrooms, there is an outdoor discovery garden.
During our recent visit to the conservatory, my friend was delighted to hear parrots, Sarah and Skipper, chatting away. George, the ancient, beloved, talkative, double yellow-headed amazon parrot, passed away in August 2023.
When I asked Patti Staley, the conservatory’s director of horticulture, about her favorite things, she answered, “We are a respite in a busy world. This is a passive place that you can visit, connect with plants, and just relax and enjoy being surrounded by plants from different regions of the world. We have special events and plant sales throughout the year. We offer free gardening lectures and tours for all ages.”
She also told me she enjoys hearing stories from adult visitors about their memories of visiting the conservatory as children.
The Oak Park Conservatory is free, with a box for donations. More information, including hours, special programs, and rentals, can be found on their website at www.oakparkconservatory.org or by calling 708-725-2400.
Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who wrote stories for Wednesday Journal in 2023 on the Oak Park Farmers Market. Previously, she contributed to Chicago Parent and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.
