Oak Park Conservatory

10/09/2026

The Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)

The Conservatory has several of these spectacular spherical cacti of varying size and age. Fun fact: The largest two are at least 40 years old! They are unfortunately endangered in the wild, although widespread in nursery cultivation and desert gardens.

This is a “monotypic” cactus, the only species in its genus. Usually a solitary plant, occasional specimens can offset at the base. Flowers appear only in plants that are at least 20 years old. They occur in rings around the apex of the plant in late spring/early summer.

Come to the Conservatory to view the Golden Barrel Cactus! We're open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00A-4:00P. oakparkconservatory.org/gardens

10/07/2026

Decorations are beginning to pop up for our beloved community Halloween tradition, Fright at Night! 🦇💀🕷️ We're excited to be celebrating our 15th anniversary of this event!

Enjoy a 20-minute guided tour through the Conservatory where you will discover all kinds of creepy curiosities. Each display garden will be decorated in a different theme, including a Haunted Mediterranean Garden, Jungle After Dark, Lost in the Southwest, and Dark on the Prairie. After the tour, there will be carnival games to play, prizes to win, and a cozy firepit to enjoy!

As the Conservatory darkens, the scarier the decorations will look, making the later entry times better for the older kids and the early entry times for younger children. Entry is every 30 minutes, starting at 5:00P with the last entrance at 7:30P. Everyone needs a ticket to enter. All proceeds support the Oak Park Conservatory.

Costumes are encouraged, but not required! Let's have a Boo-tacular time! Purchase your entry tickets here: bit.ly/frightatnight2026

10/02/2026

We had a blast having so many of you at the Conservatory over the weekend for Fall Fest! We loved sharing and educating about all kinds of different animals including the sloth, armadillo, bats, snakes, and more. Thanks for spending your afternoon with us! We'll see you again next year.

10/01/2026

Happy October! 🎃 Let's have a scary good time at the Conservatory.

Join us for our 15th anniversary of Fright at Night on Friday, Oct 16. Come in costume and enjoy festive decorations, carnival games, and more seasonal fun. Registration is required and admission is every half hour. Find more information and sign up here: bit.ly/4ypVvmw

Or, get into the Halloween spirit with our free poisonous plant display! This month, take a self-guided tour of our collection of poisonous plants and learn about some of their myths and legends. Available Tuesday-Friday, Oct 1-31 from 10:00A-4:00P.

Our mission: In partnership with the community, we enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through parks, programs and facilities.

09/26/2026

What if your backyard could help save the planet? With a few thoughtful changes, your yard can become a vibrant refuge for pollinators, birds, and bugs — and a surprisingly powerful force for conservation. In this inspiring and practical talk, conservation educator and author/photographer Danae Wolfe, shares how reimagining your outdoor space can support biodiversity and build climate resilience. You’ll leave with a fresh perspective and the tools to transform your patch of earth into something wilder, wiser, and more alive.

This is a virtual event, registration is required. A zoom link will be shared with participants before the start of the lecture. Join us Thursday, October 8 from 7:00-8:00P for Grass Isn't Greener - Nurturing Nature at Home. Register here:

09/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who shopped online for our annual Fall Mum & Bulb Sale! Though our online store is now closed, you can still shop in-person while supplies last. We have hearty mums that are close to blooming and bulbs ready for your spring gardens. Come on by Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00A-4:00P to shop and support local!

09/22/2026

Last year at Fall Fest! It's always so much fun learning about animals and seeing them up close and personal. We'll be doing it again this year! Come to the Oak Park Conservatory this weekend, Sunday, September 27 and meet live animals. We'll also have pumpkin carving demonstrations and activities in the Discovery Garden. Then pop on over to Rehm Park for fun carnival games and rides! It's going to be a blast. pdop.org/upcomingevents/fall-fest

Fall Fest
Sunday, Sept 27 from 11:00A-2:00P
Rehm Park & Oak Park Conservatory

Thank you to our Presenting Community Outreach Sponsors:
Battistoni | Beam | Polivka Orthodontics and Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

09/18/2026

Our Fall Mum & Bulb Sale is now OPEN for in-person shopping! Come to the Conservatory Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00A-4:00P to shop the sale. Plan for your spring garden and shop our variety of bulbs, or add vibrant color to your porch, balcony, or garden for fall with our mums!

You can also shop online here: app.amilia.com/store/en/park-district-of-oak-park/shop/products?selectedTags=2931936&selectedTags=2931935

Thank you for supporting local!

09/13/2026

The Conservatory is a magical oasis and the perfect place to celebrate your child's nature-themed birthday party! From spotting our Koi fish swimming in the pond, saying hello to our two parrots, or seeing some truly magnificent plants, we offer a unique and beautiful setting for celebrating.

Our party packages include 2-hours of private use of our party room, staff-led activities, a terrarium planting kit for each guest, supplies to make a bird toy for our parrots, a fun scavenger hunt activity, and access to the showrooms and gardens. We have availability October-December.

Book Now! oakparkconservatory.org/birthdays

09/11/2026

Imagine your garden full of all this color! Believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about your spring garden. Bulbs need a chilling period over the winter to establish a healthy root system in order to bloom come springtime. The Chicago freezing winter weather acts as a natural refrigerator that triggers a chemical signal inside the bulb, telling the immature flower bud to grow. You'll want to plant your bulbs in later September through early November, making sure they go in the ground when soil temperatures drop to 55 degrees or cooler. This means in Chicago, air temperatures generally need to average in the 50's to low 60's consistently for about 7 to 10 day.

Now is the perfect time to purchase your bulbs so you're prepared for that perfect weather! You can purchase these and more during our Fall Mum & Bulb sale, going on now. Shop online or shop in-person beginning Friday, September 18.

In order of appearance:
- Tulip 'Foxy Foxtrot '
- Tulip 'Neglige'
- Crocus 'Species Mixed'
- Tulip 'Bingo'
- Chionodoxa 'Blue Giant'

Purchase your mums and bulbs here: app.amilia.com/store/en/park-district-of-oak-park/shop/products?selectedTags=2931936&selectedTags=2931935