Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Fall Programs, Events

The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance announces its fall programs in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden and the Demonstration Garden in the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Most of these programs are free and geared toward families with children.

KID & FAMILY FUN

Weekend Family Fun FREE

Location: Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden (the Demonstration Garden will also be open with activities through October, weather permitting)

Date: Saturdays & Sundays through December 17

Celebrate harvest time with your family at the Garfield Park Conservatory! This fall, we will host family activities in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden Discovery Areas between the hours of noon and 3:00 pm. Dig in our soil pool, go on secret plant hunts, harvest vegetables or drop in on our activity time to do a hands-on project (available 1:30-3:00pm). Our Demonstration Garden Activity Area will be open, weather-permitting, until November 1.

Date: Saturdays & Sundays through December 17

Location: Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden Discovery Area or Demonstration Garden

Ages: All

– Rainforest Residences

Date: Sat., September 23 & Sun., September 24

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Using special plant cuttings from around the conservatory, make your own mini rainforest to take home. Learn about rainforest plants and their adaptations.

Demo Garden: Harvest Scavenger Hunt

– Fossil Fun

Date: Sat., September 30 8 & Sun., October 1

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Spend the afternoon as a paleontologist. Dig for fossils and make your own fossil specimens to take home.

Demo Garden: Veggie Sampler with Herb Dip

– May the (Flower) Force Be with You

Date: Sat., October 7 & Sun., October 8

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Rest a flower bulb on a bed of colorful marbles, take the sleeping bulb home, and force it awake and into bloom by putting it in your fridge!

Demo Garden: Sunflower Bird Feeders

– Cider at the Conservatory

Date: Sat, October 14 & Sun, October 15

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Get into the spirit of fall by making your own fall apple cider. Create a mulling bag from cloves, allspice, and cinnamon to steep in hot apple juice when you get home.

Demo Garden: Chive Blossom Dressing

– Seed Soup Toss

Date: Sat., October 21 & Sun., October 22

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Celebrate the harvest season by sorting out seeds into a perfect take-home soup-making kit. Before you leave, be sure to toss your soup in our fun game "pot."

Demo Garden: Pesto

– Spooky Spider Plant

Date: Sun., October 29

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Decorate a terrarium with spider webs. Then plant this newly decorated home with a green plant resident.

Demo Garden: Fragrant herbal bouquets and Smudge Sticks

(Last Demo Garden day)

– Winter Rye Worms

Date: Sat., November 4 & Sun., November 5

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Using socks, buttons, rye seed, and soil, design a special sprouting sock worm and watch it grow late into the fall. See if you can keep it going all winter long.

– Bamboo Wind Chimes

Date: Sat., November 11 & Sun., November 12

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Some of the plants in the conservatory are thought of as "renewable resources" and the bamboo plant is one of them. Using stems of bamboo, we will make a special winter wind chime that will help ring in the spring.

– Herbal Soap

Date: Sat., November 18 & Sun., November 19

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Create your own block of soap, using herbs from the conservatory’s very own Demonstration Garden. Next time you wash your hands, you’ll smell of lavender, chamomile, or peppermint!

Date: Sat., November 25 & Sun., November 26

– Make a Winter Orange-ament

Date: Sat., December 2 & Sun., December 3

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Learn about the different parts of an orange and eat a slice, then design a special ornament to hang in your winter window.

– Conservatory Lucky Charms

Date: Sat., December 9 & Sun., December 10

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Design a charm pendant that celebrates something special about each conservatory room. Take home this educational jewelry so you can remember all the new things you learned.

– Grow a Holiday Gift Tag

Date: Sat., December 16 & Sun., December 17

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Create a unique tag for all those gifts this holiday season that your friends can plant in the spring! Create a paper tag with seeds inside to tie to a gift for that special someone.

More Free Family Fun

Sleuthing Thursdays FREE

Location: Throughout the conservatory (start in front lobby)

Search for different plants in the Conservatory using specially designed scavenger hunts. When you’re done, you’ll get a prize. Pick up scavenger hunt sheets and prizes in the conservatory lobby. There are a variety of hunts to choose each week.

Family-focused Events

Creatures of the Night FREE

A family-focused education event celebrating nocturnal plants and animals. This event will consist of live animal presentations, "learn a trick and get a treat" stations, and hands-on nocturnally-oriented education activities

Location: Horticulture Hall

Morning Glories FREE

Location: Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden or Demonstration Garden

Date: Monday mornings

Enjoy learning together with your preschooler in this weekly drop-in activity and story-time. This fall’s projects include harvest hunts, rainforest residences, hungry caterpillars and much more!

For more information about family programs, please contact Kelly Katzman, Family Programs Facilitator, at 773-638-1766 ex. 23.

Garfield Park Conservatory Hours

The Garfield Park Conservatory is open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is always free. Free parking is available.

Directions

Garfield Park Conservatory is located just fifteen minutes west of downtown. From I-290, exit Independence Avenue (3800 west) and travel north. Turn east onto Washington Blvd. Turn north onto Central Park Avenue (3600 west). Our parking lot will be on your left, just before you reach the conservatory. Alternatively, take the CTA Green line and exit at Conservatory/Central Park Drive.

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance