Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

2025 Annual Member Meeting
2025-06-12
Join us for our Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Annual Meeting and a summer celebration of dried flowers. Friends member and flower enthusiast Gigi Rowe (Pickle Hill Parties) will talk about easy ways to dry flowers at home, the many ways to use them, and members will create one of their choice of flower craft or artwork to take home.

This event is for FRIENDS MEMBERS ONLY in person at the Oak Park Conservatory. Space is limited. A sign up/RSVP will be emailed to members.

Plant Help Desk
2025-06-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-04 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-23 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) and 2 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.

Story Time at the Conservatory
2025-06-11 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-06-04 10:00 - 10:30 | 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:
June : Register here.
July : Register here.
August : Register here.
For all Bilingual Story Time sessions, register here.

Discovery Garden Exploration Time 2025
2025-06-05 10:00 - 12:00
Explore summer in the Discovery Garden! Enjoy hands-on activities led by our garden docents outside. Learn about native Illinois ecosystems and have fun playing in the garden!
June: Pollinators.
July: Water Play
August: In the Dirt
FREE. Register for all sessions here.

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.

Story Time at the Conservatory
2025-05-28 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-05-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-05-14 10:00 - 10:30 | 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:
May : Register here.
June : Register here.
July : Register here.
August : Register here.
For all Bilingual Story Time sessions, register here.

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.

Story Time at the Conservatory
2025-04-30 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-23 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-16 10:00 - 10:30 | 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:
April : Register here.
May : Register here.
June : Register here.
July : Register here.
August : Register here.
For all Bilingual Story Time sessions, register here.

Docents in the Showrooms
2025-04-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-13 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-06 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.

2025 KidsFest
2025-04-27 10:00 - 12:30 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
Join us for KidsFest, the popular family event sponsored by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory.
Help us celebrate Earth Day with live raptors! Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education is our featured presenter. Celebrate the wonders of our planet with activities from our partners: Trailside Museum, University of IL Extension, Brookfield Zoo, and the Oak Park Public Library.
Learn more here.
Tickets are required for this free event.
10 am: SOLD OUT
10:30 am: SOLD OUT
11 am: SOLD OUT
11:30 am: SOLD OUT
Noon: SOLD OUT

Learn and Grow: Companion Planting 101
2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:00 | 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.

TET (Toddler Exploration Time): 2024/2025
2025-04-11 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, April 11, 2025. Leaving The Nest. Register HERE for 9:30. Register HERE for 10:30.*
Friday, May 16, 2025. Blooming. Register HERE for 9:30. Register HERE for 10:30.*
*Note: Registration for April and May have a different format. Access the correct time for your session, and select date on the calendar.

Learn and Grow: Setting your Veggie Garden up for Success
2025-04-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield, Oak Park, IL, 60304, United States
How can you help your veggie garden be successful, starting with veggie seedlings now and planting more later in the year? Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for info on prepping the beds, planting and tending the initial plants, and creating a succession planting plan for additional crops throughout the growing season.
Register here.
