Michael and Lisa Higgins have visited the Conservatory dozens of times over the past three decades. But no trip was more memorable than April 26, 2003, when they were married in front of some 50 guests in the Mediterranean Room.
“The room was full of snapdragons and the Ponderosa lemon tree was in bloom,” Lisa recalled. “Our guests all commented on how beautiful it was.”
The Oak Park couple dropped by on Dec. 12 to reminisce and make a donation to Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory.
The couple had considered saying their vows in the lush Tropical Room, but worried that George, the conservatory’s famously chatty parrot, might have been a distraction.
Lisa retired in December from College of DuPage, where she was a professor of English and director of the Honors Program. Michael was a journalist for many years, covering legal affairs for the Chicago Tribune and ABA Journal. He now writes stage plays.
The couple plans to write and travel. They’ll be moving to the Cleveland area to be closer to Michael’s parents. “The conservatory is full of great memories,” Lisa said.
