Garfield Park Conservatory

The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden is located inside the Garfield Park Conservatory, and is open every day of the year to all visitors! Visit our Families page for information about family-friendly activities offered in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden.

Inside this botanical wonderland, a gigantic vine beckons children to trace it from root to blossom, while a 7-foot-tall seed waits to be climbed. Here, the curious can unravel the many mysteries of plant life, and the adventurous can hunt for some of the most unusual specimens found in the Garfield Park Conservatory. Young explorers will encounter the Sensitive Plant, so shy that it cringes when touched, and the Balsa Tree, which emits a hollow sound when the trunk is tapped.

Up on the mezzanine, children can ride down the twirling stem of a green slide. Young toddlers and babies are invited to explore the colors and textures of soft-form blocks and play rings in the special permanent Crawling Area.

The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden is open during Conservatory Hours 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily; Wednesdays till 8:00 pm.

Originally called the New Holland House (where Australian plants were highlighted) and later called the Economic House, The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden did not arrive in the far southwest greenhouse until the year 2000. Billed as part playground, part children’s museum, and part greenhouse, the interactive displays and child-centered programming that happen in this space revolutionized the concept of indoor conservatories and their educational possibilities. Our Children’s Garden celebrates the beginning of plant life and the importance of childhood by playfully highlighting concepts like seed germination, pollination and growth.

Our Very Own Orangerie

Before conservatories became popular public spaces in the late 1800’s, kings and queens of Europe had their own private greenhouses for growing rare tropical fruit. Exotic citrus trees were very popular with royal families, and so it is not surprising that these greenhouses were called “orangeries.” Nowadays, modern agriculture and supermarkets have made oranges commonplace. But it is stlll a treat to see them actually growing as they may have hundreds of years ago in a royal greenhouse. Get a little peek at conservatories of the past by stopping by our orange tree in the Children’s Garden.

Under the Sacred Fig

It is said that Siddhartha (the founder of Buddhism) was sitting under a sacred fig tree in India when he became “enlightened Though his “awakening” occurred over 2000 years ago, many people are still finding a sense of spiritual restoration by communing with plants. We encourage you to slow down and take a few peaceful breaths as you pass under the canopy of the sacred fig tree In the Children’s Garden.

Interactive Exhibits

A gigantic vine beckons children to trace it from root to blossom, while a 7-foot-tall seed waits to be climbed. Young explorers will encounter the Sensitive Plant, so shy that it cringes when touched, and the Balsa Tree, which emits a hollow sound when the trunk is tapped. Up on the mezzanine, children can take a ride down the twirling stem of a green slide. Young toddlers and babies are invited to explore the colors and textures of soft-form blocks and play rings in the special permanent Crawling Area.