Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

Story Time at the Conservatory
2025-12-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-07 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-14 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-28 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-04 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-11 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-18 10:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) and 1 more date | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Every Wednesday enjoy stories, songs, and puppets led by our volunteer docents at the Oak Park Conservatory. Enjoy story time in the garden during the summer months.
NEW: Bilingual Story Time on the first Wednesday of each month.

This program is presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory. Free with a suggested $5 donation at the door.

Registration links:
January : Register here.
February : Register here.
March : Register here.

For Bilingual Story Time sessions: (Feb 4, Mar 4)
February – March: Register here.

Registration links for Spring/Summer coming on March 2026.

Plant Help Desk
2025-12-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-04 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-18 13:00 - 15:00 and 4 more dates | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Every Wednesday from 1-3 pm: Plant Help Desk at the Oak Park Conservatory. Bring your plant questions and issues to our Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory volunteer expert who will help you on the spot. Bring a plant to be repotted too. Email inquiries to oakparkconservatory@pdop.org or call 708-725-2456, ext. 2. This is a new free service for the community.

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.

Story Time at the Conservatory
2026-03-04 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-03-18 10:00 - 10:30
Every Wednesday enjoy stories, songs, and puppets led by our volunteer docents at the Oak Park Conservatory. Enjoy story time in the garden during the summer months.

Bilingual Story Time on the first Wednesday of each month.

This program is presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory. Free with a suggested $5 donation at the door.

Registration links:
March : Register here.
April : Register here.
May : Register here.
June : Register here.
July : Register here.
August : Register here.

For Bilingual Story Time sessions:
March: Register here.
April – August: Register here.

Musical Story Time at the Conservatory
2026-03-11 10:00 - 10:30 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Musical Story Time will feature 30 minutes of music, instrument exploration, singing, and stories for toddlers, babies, and caregivers. Featuring a trio of musicians from the Oak Park Farmers Market Band. Please reserve your spot today!
Register HERE.

TET (Toddler Exploration Time): 2025/2026
2026-03-20 09:30 - 11:15
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, 2026. Frosty.
February 20, 2026. What’s That Sound?
March 20, 2026. Pitter, Patter, Splash.
April 17, 2026. Spring Fling.
May 15, 2026. Busy Bees.

Registration Links:
March 2026:
Register HERE for 9:30.
Register HERE for 10:30.
April – May 2026:
Register HERE for 9:30.
Register HERE for 10:30.
