Park District of Oak Park

72 Conservatory Manager: Scott Stewart 615 Garfield Avenue in Oak Park Ph: (708) 725-2400 www.oakparkconservatory.org Open Hours: Tu-Su, 10am-4pm M, 2-4pm Tours of the Conservatory Join us for tours of the Conservatory led by trained docents. Learn about the flora and fauna in our Fern, Tropical and Desert showrooms, and our changing seasonal displays. Group Tours Group tours are available for children and/or adults. Please complete your tour application at fopcon.org Plant Clinic Come in to our plant clinic on Mondays from 2-4pm. Our staff will help with gardening questions, plant identification or disease diagnostics. We also offer a potting service. Party and Meeting Venue Make your next celebration the envy of all. The Oak Park Conservatory is the ideal location for small weddings, parties, meetings and family celebrations. We can accommodate 40-50 people in the Conservatory Center and your guests will enjoy the unique ambience of our Tropical, Fern and Desert rooms. Call (708) 725-2400 for more details. Oak Park Conservatory Photography Policy Professional photographers are welcome to use the Oak Park Conservatory facility for photo shoots once the proper permit application has been completed. To acquire a permit application, call the Oak Park Conservatory at (708) 725-2400. Tripods are not allowed when the Conservatory is open to the public. Conservatory Gift Shop Open Su & Tu-Sa from 10 am-4 pm Shop local and support local artists, photographers, and businesses this winter season at the Oak Park Conservatory. Visit our Gift Shop in the Conservatory Center for handmade and unique items. We have a large selection of one of a kind items ranging from children's toys, to jewelry, to art. The Gift Shop is open from 10am-4pm daily, except Monday. Holiday Open House Sa & Su, Dec 6-7 from 10 am-4 pm Come enjoy the Conservatory dressed in its holiday finest with poinsettias, paperwhites, amaryllis, and many other holiday favorite plants and flowers. Plus, find unique and special gifts in our Gift Shop. Special sale prices this weekend only! Winter Extended Hours The Conservatory will be open from 10 am-4 pm on the following Monday school holidays: • Dec 22 • Dec 29 • Jan 5 Second Sunday Tours 1:30 - 2:30PM, Second Sundays, Oct - Mar $5/adults; $3/senior; $2/child. Call 725-2400 to register Discover the Exploration Station: FREE PROGRAM Saturdays from 10 am to noon, and Sundays from 1:30-3:30pm, September through May. Come try hands-on activities at the Exploration Station created by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory. There will be a new topic each month highlighting special aspects of the Conservatory for both adults and children. Also open on Monday school holidays! KidsFest – FREE EVENT Sunday, March 1, 2015 from 10 am – 2pm Join us in celebrating the "Happy BirdDay" of George, our double yellow-head Amazon parrot, who lives in the Conservatory's tropical room. This annual family event presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory is free and includes hands- on educational activities for children and a chance for them to explore a tropical rain forest and other eco-climates. Get a jump on springtime by enjoying some of the early spring flowers on display at the Conservatory. Toddler Exploration Time – FREE 3rd Friday of the month, Sept-May 10:30-11:15am (18-30 month olds) 12:15-1:00pm (3-5 year olds) This special interactive time for you and your child will open up the natural world as you explore together the wonders of nature at the Oak Park Conservatory. You and your child will interact during guided activities, facilitated by Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory docents, and highlighting a different topic each month. Come ready to have fun and learn about nature with your child. Space is limited to 15 children and their caregivers for each event, first come first served! Upcoming Dates & Topics include: Jan 16: Plant Play Feb 20: Plants to Eat FACILITY: OAK PARK CONSERVATORY Meet the Conservatory Staff Scott Stewart has been Manager of the Oak Park Conservatory since December 2013. Scott has come to the Park District with teaching and administrative experiences at Morton College and Kankakee Community College. He has a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry, and a doctorate in environmental horticulture. Have a question about orchids, palms, native Midwestern plants, native plant landscapes, or seed germination? Contact Scott at 708-725-2450 or scott.stewart@pdop.org. A Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park Mar 20: Buzz Bees Buzz Apr 17: The Magic of Seeds • Jan 19 • Feb 16 • Mar 2 JOURNEY WORLDS AWAY in your own backyard

• Cover