Lincoln Park Conservatory: Sweet Gnome Chicago
Hello, yardeners! This weekend was extra special for me as I was in Chicago celebrating not just my partner's birthday but also our anniversary. Before leaving town we made a point to stop at the Lincoln Park Conservatory for their enchanting spring show, "Sweet Gnome Chicago"?
Lincoln Park Conservatory History
Nestled between the city of Chicago in Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park is one of Chicago's most significant public parks, featuring the Lincoln Park Zoo, Conservatory, outdoor sculptures, picnic areas, and walking trails. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a prominent greenhouse and botanical garden. This historic greenhouse, constructed in the late 19th century, is known for its impressive collection of exotic plants, including palms, ferns, orchids, and other tropical plants. The Conservatory is designed in a Victorian Gothic style, featuring a large glass dome and intricate ironwork, providing a year-round home for its plant collections.
The Rooms
The Conservatory consists of several rooms, each designed for a different type of plant.
Palm House
Upon entry, we emerge into the Palm House which showcases tall palm trees in addition to many other tropical plants. The Calabash tree and Bismark Palm were my favorite specimens in this room. The Calabash tree was specifically entriguing with its flowers originating from the tree’s trunk instead of its branches.
Fern Room
Winding around the path you will eventually make your way to the Fern Room. This room is designed to emulate the lush, green world of the Carboniferous Period, complete with ferns and cycads; It felt like I was walking onto the set of Jurassic Park. This room was moist but cooler than the palm room. I had never seen a tree fern nor did I know a fern could grow 10 feet into the air; that was my favorite plant in this room.
Orchid House
On the opposite side of the Fern room, you will find a set of doors that will bring you into the Orchid House. The Orchid House displays a stunning variety of orchids and bromeliads, many in full bloom. I really enjoyed the collection of Vanilla orchids growing up the wall as I entered the room.
Show House
Passing through the Orchid room you will eventually make your way into the Show House which rotating floral exhibits that change with the seasons or for special occasions. We arrived opening week of their spring showcase titled Gnome Sweet Chicago, I will give you three guesses on why it was called this…. The whole greenhouse has gnomes placed throughout for decoration, but this room had the highest concentrations of gnomes. This room was much cooler than the rest of the rooms and had a really nice collection of spring flowers including tulips, azaleas, camilla and many more. This room circles around and you wind up back in the Palm Room just 10 or 15 feet away from where you entered the Fern Room.
Our Experience
The docents truly made our visit memorable. Their passion for the conservatory's history and the plants enriched our experience. If you are in Chicago, I highly recommend checking out the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Entry does require a reservation, though donations are encouraged entry into the conservatory is free.