Garfield Park Conservatory

"Step into the humid, glass-enclosed domes of Garfield Park where the air is clean thanks to thousands of jewel-toned plant specimens filtering toxins throughout. The space is fashionably untamed across its verdant showcase of flora from wet and dry environments, and those between. Spread across twelve acres, there's abundance year-round, from the colorful spring flower show to permanent indoor exhibits and holiday displays. Plant and garden enthusiasts should make the conservatory—easily accessed by Green Line—one of their stops." - Nicole Schnitzler

"One of the largest conservatories in the nation, featuring extensive greenhouse space and outdoor gardens." - Meena Thiruvengadam Meena Thiruvengadam Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Stree

"In a city filled with giant, nearly identical beanstalks made of cement, finding the right place to take in a breath of fresh air can be exhausting. And in Chicago there’s one green space where you can breathe easy with the added benefit of taking in the grandeur of the world’s finest flora. The community-run Garfield Park Conservatory harbors various gardens and also acts as both a study space and an artistic collection. Upon entry, the Palm Garden welcomes visitors with a gush of moist, humid air and striking shades of green. The Show House, filled with exotic flowers and colored glass, acts as nature’s art gallery. Every year different plants are showcased in new arrangements, all of which were grown at the conservatory. The conservatory also offers light shows for each garden, uniquely connected to the nature of that plant, or group of plants, and how light affects plant anatomy. There are several indoor gardens to visit in the greenhouse, but it’s the outdoor public garden that attracts flocks of visitors, plant enthusiasts, and botanists.  This sanctuary is open 365 days a year and has 30 available exhibits at a time. Beyond the environmental education and aesthetic spectacle, the Garfield Conservatory is just another place to get back to nature. And once you have, you will want to keep coming back." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"The Garfield Park Conservatory has partnered with the Kimpton Gray Hotel to produce plant-themed rooms, inspired by popular collections at the conservatory. The conservatory helped conceive and oversee the design of the rooms, suggesting plant species best suited for each room based on environment and seasonality. Guests receive tickets to attend the Fleurotica fashion event hosted at the conservatory." - Michelle Baran