Learn and Grow: Companion Planting 101
2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
How do others make their containers of annuals look so great? Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Plant Sale Committee Members for tips on how to match up plants with complementary colors, textures, and heights to design a container you’ll be proud of. Plants from the Annual Plant Sale will be showcased.
Register here.

Docents in the Showrooms
2025-04-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Every Sunday from 1-3 pm: When you visit the Oak Park Conservatory, ask our volunteer for information about plants growing in our showrooms. Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory volunteer docents share their knowledge about our collection and welcome your inquiries. This is a new free service for the community. All ages. Free.

TET (Toddler Exploration Time): 2024/2025
2025-05-16 09:30 - 11:15 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Young learners (18 months – 5 years) will be delighted with stories, lessons, and crafts led by FOPCON’s education docents at the Oak Park Conservatory. Each month is a different topic. Advanced registration for 9:30-10:15 or 10:30-11:15 is required. Limited to 30 children and their caregivers. FREE.
Themes:
Friday, May 16, 2025. Blooming. Register HERE for 9:30. Register HERE for 10:30.*
*Note: Registration for May has a different format. Access the correct time for your session, and select date on the calendar.

Garden Lecture: Pollinator Perennial Gardening
2025-05-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Do you want to attract more pollinators to your garden? Incorporating perennial plants that attract birds, bees, and butterflies will increase your garden’s biodiversity and enhance its beauty. Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to learn about gardening with pollinator plants. A Zoom link will be sent out to participants on the day of the lecture. Register here.

31st Annual Garden Walk
2025-06-22 10:00 - 16:00 | IL
Join Us for the 31th annual Garden Walk in Oak Park and River Forest. Enjoy an exciting self-guided tour featuring unique private and public gardens. The walk will take place rain or shine. Advance tickets will be available on May 15 until 5:00 PM on June 21, for $20.
Members of FOPCON and GCOPRF are eligible for discounted tickets until 5:00 pm on June 21. FOPCON members should email director@fopcon.org to receive the code. Children 12 and under are free. Participants must provide their own transportation.
Online purchases will end at 5:00 pm on June 21. All tickets are $25 on the day of the event (cash, credit, debit or check). On Sunday, June 22 you may purchase tickets in person at the Oak Park Conservatory or the Cheney Mansion from 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM.
This is a joint venture of the Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest (GCOPRF) and the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON) and benefits the missions of both groups.
For more details visit our Garden Walk page.

Uncorked June 2025
2025-06-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Summertime is the best time to enjoy an evening of music and drinks at the Oak Park Conservatory. Celebrate summer in the Rubinstein Garden with friends under the night sky. Admission includes two drink tickets, an appetizer, and a guided tour of the showrooms.
Tickets are $25. Advance sales only. Tickets will not be sold at the door. FOPCON members receive a 20% discount. Contact operations@fopcon.org for a discount code before registering. Tickets are $25 ($20 for FOPCON Members). Ages 21+
Register HERE. Vendors: Happy Apple Pie Shop & Olive and Well. Music by AcoustiCats.
Upcoming dates:
July 25: Register here. Vendors: Broken Tart & Crumb Crusher Cupcakes. Music by Tim Lowery Trio.
August 22: Register here. Vendors: Empanadus & Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. Music by James Robinson-Parran.
September 26: Registration coming soon. Vendors: Taco Mucho & BlackOut Bakery. Music by The Replays.

Garden Lecture: Succulents & Cacti 101
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Succulents and cacti are remarkable and fascinating houseplants. Their varied native habitats, ranging from the desert to the rainforest, result in challenges for the Midwestern grower. But with their wide range of sizes, their fun, funky forms, and their occasional colorful and unique blooms, they are worth the effort! Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to learn about succulents and cacti for your home. A Zoom link will be sent out to participants on the day of the lecture. Register here.

Uncorked July 2025
2025-07-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Summertime is the best time to enjoy an evening of music and drinks at the Oak Park Conservatory. Celebrate summer in the Rubinstein Garden with friends under the night sky. Admission includes two drink tickets, an appetizer, and a guided tour of the showrooms.
Tickets are $25. Advance sales only. Tickets will not be sold at the door. FOPCON members receive a 20% discount. Contact operations@fopcon.org for a discount code before registering. Tickets are $25 ($20 for FOPCON Members). Ages 21+
Register HERE. Vendors: Broken Tart & Crumb Crusher Cupcakes. Music by Tom Lowery Trio.
Register for the upcoming dates:
August 22: Register here. Vendors: Empanadus & Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. Music by James Robinson-Parran.
September 26: Registration coming soon. Vendors: Taco Mucho & BlackOut Bakery. Music by The Replays.

Garden Lecture: Planting Bulbs for Spring Blooms
2025-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to learn about the basics of planting fall bulbs for spring blooms at this free, virtual event. Participants will learn when and how to plant bulbs, how to select bulbs for your garden, and how many you need for full effect. Ask your questions on growing bulbs and how to get started. A Zoom link will be sent out to participants on the day of the lecture. Register here.

Uncorked August 2025
2025-08-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Summertime is the best time to enjoy an evening of music and drinks at the Oak Park Conservatory. Celebrate summer in the Rubinstein Garden with friends under the night sky. Admission includes two drink tickets, an appetizer, and a guided tour of the showrooms.
Tickets are $25. Advance sales only. Tickets will not be sold at the door. FOPCON members receive a 20% discount. Contact operations@fopcon.org for a discount code before registering. Tickets are $25 ($20 for FOPCON Members). Ages 21+
Register HERE. Vendors: Empanadus & Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. Music by James Robinson-Parran.
Register for the upcoming dates:
September 26: Registration coming soon. Vendors: Taco Mucho & BlackOut Bakery. Music by The Replays.

Fall Plant and Tool Exchange
2025-09-07 09:30 - 11:30 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join other gardeners and share your favorite plants and tools at the Fall Plant and Tool Exchange. Save your garden plastic pots and drop them off at our Garden Pot Return so they can be reused and kept out of landfills. Please bring at least one plant to participate in the plant exchange. Ages 18+
Drop Off, 9:30-10:30A
Pick Up, 11:00-11:30A
Register here.

Gardening Lecture: Growing Garlic
2025-09-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Garlic is usually harvested in July, but did you know that it is planted in the fall? Join us as we learn about this easy-to-grow crop: what type of garlic to grow, when and how to plant it, and how to harvest your bulbs and scapes. Register here.

TET (Toddler Exploration Time): 2025/2026
2025-09-19 09:30 - 11:15, 2025-10-17 09:30 - 11:15, 2025-11-21 09:30 - 11:15 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Young learners (18 months – 5 years) will be delighted with stories, lessons, and crafts led by FOPCON’s education docents at the Oak Park Conservatory. Each month is a different topic. Advanced registration for 9:30-10:15 or 10:30-11:15 is required. Limited to 30 children and their caregivers. FREE.
Themes:
September 19, 2025. Fall Seeds.
October 17, 2025. Night Flyers.
November 21, 2025. Treeing Around.
January 16, 2025. Frosty.
February 20, 2025. What’s That Sound?
March 20, 2025. Pitter, Patter, Splash.

Registration Links:
September – November 2025:
Register HERE for 9:30.
Register HERE for 10:30.

January – March 2026:
Register HERE for 9:30.
Register HERE for 10:30.

Uncorked September 2025
2025-09-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Summertime is the best time to enjoy an evening of music and drinks at the Oak Park Conservatory. Celebrate summer in the Rubinstein Garden with friends under the night sky. Admission includes two drink tickets, an appetizer, and a guided tour of the showrooms.
Tickets are $25. Advance sales only. Tickets will not be sold at the door. FOPCON members receive a 20% discount. Contact operations@fopcon.org for a discount code before registering. Tickets are $25 ($20 for FOPCON Members). Ages 21+
Registration Full. Vendors: Taco Mucho & BlackOut Bakery. Music by The Replays.

Gardening Lecture: Author Talk, Mysterious Moths
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Though seldom seen due to their nocturnal nature, moths are every bit as beautiful and charismatic as their butterfly cousins. Their role as pollinators is essential to the survival of many of our plants, especially orchids. Most importantly, moths and their caterpillars are food for birds, bats, and countless other animals. We will take a photographic journey into the intriguing world of moths, exploring which of our native plants are most enticing to these lovely Lepidopterans. We can all greatly benefit the ecosystem around us by “moth gardening” in our yards! We are excited to host Chelsea Gottfried, co-author of Gardening for Moths, for this program. This lecture is co-sponsored by West Cook Wild Ones. Register here.
Chelsea Gottfried is a naturalist from Crawford County, Ohio. In 2020, she founded Forest Friends, a nature-based preschool where children learn and explore in nature. An avid native plant gardener and a passionate entomologist, Chelsea’s areas of expertise include moths, bees, dragonflies, and damselflies. She enjoys capturing up-close images of insects and flowers using macrophotography. Her first book, Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide, which she co-authored with Jim McCormac, was released in 2023 and features many of her photographs.

Gardening Lecture: Houseplant Pest Management
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Pests aren’t only in our gardens – they often end up on our houseplants, as well. Join us as we learn about how to prevent pests from showing up, identify them if they do, and how to effectively treat them and keep them from spreading. Register here.

Winter Greens Open House
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
On Saturday, Nov 15, join us for a winter greens open house! Live demos of creating holiday containers and wreaths will be going on throughout the day. Refreshments will be served. No registration required.
Nov 14-Dec 21, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Shop the Oak Park Conservatory’s Winter Greens Market for a selection of winter greens for your home. An array of fresh greens including balsam, fir, boxwood, winter berries, magnolia tips, spruce tops, and more will be available along with many other natural items for your winter decoration needs.

TET (Toddler Exploration Time): 2025/2026
2026-01-16 09:30 - 11:15, 2026-02-20 09:30 - 11:15 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Young learners (18 months – 5 years) will be delighted with stories, lessons, and crafts led by FOPCON’s education docents at the Oak Park Conservatory. Each month is a different topic. Advanced registration for 9:30-10:15 or 10:30-11:15 is required. Limited to 30 children and their caregivers. FREE.
Themes:
January 16, 2025. Frosty.
February 20, 2025. What’s That Sound?
March 20, 2025. Pitter, Patter, Splash.
April 17, 2026. Spring Fling.*
May 15, 2026. Busy Bees.*

Registration Links:
January – March 2026:
Register HERE for 9:30.
Register HERE for 10:30.
*Registration for April and May available March 2026.

Gardening Lecture: Winter Sowing
2026-01-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Winter sowing is becoming a more widely known method of growing healthy seedlings, and we can start winter sowing now! Join us as we learn about what equipment you’ll need, how to set it up, and the timing for growing a variety of seeds. Register here.
Do not miss the upcoming Seed Swap, and get your garden started! Details here.

Seed Swap
2026-01-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join us at the Oak Park Conservatory to honor the great U.S. tradition of swapping seeds with neighbors. Browse a selection of herbs, vegetables, floral, perennial, and native seeds. We will have expert gardeners on hand to guide you in getting your garden off to a good start! Please label your seed donations with the variety, source, and year when possible. Note the first hour is open to FOPCON Members only.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | FOPCON Members
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm | General Public
Join our upcoming lectures to learn the winter sowing essentials. Details HERE.

Gardening Lecture: Building a Drought-Tolerant Garden
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
We can’t change the amount of rainfall we receive, but we can adapt the way we garden. Join us as we learn about drought-tolerant gardening: what are the best plants to grow, and how can we make the most effective use of the rainfall we do receive. Register here.

Learn and Grow: Preparing for the Growing Season
2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for our popular Learn & Grow gardening lecture series in person at the Conservatory. We will help you prepare for the gardening season and highlight plants available at our Annual Plant Sale. Programs are for all gardening levels. Registration is required for these free programs. Ages 18+

Apr 8: Preparing for the Growing Season
Ready, set, grow! It’s time to get back into the garden, but there’s a lot to do besides deciding which plants you’re interested in. Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to learn how to prepare your soil, tools, pots, and compost to get the most out of the upcoming season. Register here.

Learn and Grow: Tomatoes 101
2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for our popular Learn & Grow gardening lecture series in person at the Conservatory. We will help you prepare for the gardening season and highlight plants available at our Annual Plant Sale. Programs are for all gardening levels. Registration is required for these free programs. Ages 18+

Apr 15: Tomatoes 101
Tomatoes are the most popular crop to grow, yet even experienced gardeners can still struggle to do it successfully. Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory to learn about the essentials for soil, sun, and water, as well as the basics of caging, pruning, and fertilizing. Register here.

Learn and Grow: Container Gardening with Annuals
2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for our popular Learn & Grow gardening lecture series in person at the Conservatory. We will help you prepare for the gardening season and highlight plants available at our Annual Plant Sale. Programs are for all gardening levels. Registration is required for these free programs. Ages 18+

Apr 22: Container Gardening with Annuals
How do others make their containers of annuals look so great? Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for tips on how to match up plants with complementary colors, textures, and heights to design a container you’ll be proud of. Plants from the Annual Plant Sale will be showcased. Register here.

Spring Plant and Tool Exchange
2026-05-17 09:30 - 11:30 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Plant swap at the Conservatory! Join other gardeners and share your favorite plants and extra tools at the annual spring exchange. Please bring at least one healthy plant from your garden or a house plant to participate in the swap. Be sure to label your plants. You can bring as many as you like! Advanced registration is required. Register here.
Drop Off, 9:30-10:30 am
Pick Up, 11:00-11:30 am

Help keep plastic pots out of our landfills – save your garden plastic pots from the Annual Plant Sale and return them for reuse.

Uncorked 2026
2026-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Summertime is the best time to enjoy an evening of music and drinks at the Oak Park Conservatory. Celebrate summer in the Rubinstein Garden with friends under the night sky. Presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory. Your registration will include two glasses of wine, beer, or a non-alcoholic beverage, an appetizer, and a guided tour of the showrooms.
Tickets are $25. Advance sales only. Tickets will not be sold at the door. FOPCON members receive a 20% discount. Contact operations@fopcon.org for a discount code before registering. Tickets are $25 ($20 for FOPCON Members)
Details:
June 26: Featuring music by Petra van Nuis. Food provided by Cafe Cubano. Artisan: Aunt Diana’s Old Fashioned Fudge. Register here.
July 24: Featuring music by Meisha Herron. Food provided by Happy Apple Pie Shop. Artisan: Todd and Holland. Register here.
August 21: Featuring music by Rosemary Szurko Trio. Food provided by Taco Mucho. Artisan: Karma and Spice. Register here.
September 18: Featuring music by The Replays. Food provided by Grape Leaves. Artisan: River Forest Chocolates. Register here.
