Garfield Park Conservatory: A Planet of Plants Under Glass
A structure built more than 100 years ago inside the Garfield Park area of Chicago. The idyllic Garfield Park Conservatory bursts with species that have attained more than 300 years of age. The botanic gardens grow an array of plants and flowers in some of the most natural landscapes under glass.
Walking into the conservatory, visitors are directed to the humid Palm House, which supports palm trees from all over the world. Various warm-weathered plants and trees hover over a trickling waterfall. The scheelea is the oldest palm tree at the conservatory, but the double coconut palm grows from the largest seed in the plant kingdom, weighing in at about 50 pounds. The stunning tree matures on the Seychelle Islands off Africa, and every part of the tree is used for something. Other palms include the toxtail, the spindle and a banana tree growing actual bananas.
The Fern Room is one of several different regions in the building. Like the Palm House, it’s humid and filled with greenery of mosses and, of course, ferns. The cycads are the oldest ferns dating back to 300 years ago. They hail from India and Thailand.
The Aroid House is home to a koi pond filled with yellow lily pads and what people consider to be houseplants. The Desert House gives visitors an education on the arid parts of the world and features agave plants, cacti and succulent overgrowth. A sign claims that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti, because the former stores water.
Outside, a plethora of green space sprawls over 4.5 acres of land. A city garden grows watermelon and cabbage, another garden grows even more plants and flowers, lily pads float in a small pond and table and chairs are situated outside for visitors to soak in the quietude of the area. Around the corner, a labyrinth made from the grass is rife for playing in as is the children’s garden where they can learn about horticulture.
HelloChicagoTip: In late June 2011, the conservatory was severely damaged by a large hail storm, so conservatory leaders are asking for donations to help fund an extensive repair effort before it's too late for many of the rare plants. Go directly to the Garfield Park Conservatory donation website or call Sheila Quinn at 773-638-1766, extension 13, to make an urgently-needed gift.
Posted on Jul 5, 2011 by Garin Pirnia
