Garfield Park Conservatory



If you live in Chicago, then I hope you are familiar with the Garfield Park Conservatory. I live in Evanston, just north of the city, but when lived in Chicago proper, the conservatory was one of my favorite places to go, especially in winter. It provided respite from all sorts of urban stresses, and satisfied cravings to connect with nature. It was designed by architect Jens Jensen in 1906. The fern room is amazing. It houses cycad trees over 150 years old, has a waterfall and everything is covered in ferns and mosses. It's a slice of botanical heaven in the heart of the city.

Last month Chicago was hit by a hailstorm and the conservatory sustained terrible damage. Much of the glass windows were shattered, sending shards of glass in to plants. There are photos of the damage on the their website that could make you weep. I am working on a few paintings to benefit the reconstructions efforts of the conservatory. These are first two here. Both are homages to the fern room. One is a maidenhair fern, the other a cycad tree. Both are up in the STORE.

100% of the sales will be donated to the Garfield Park Conservatory. So come on people, get a sweet little painting and help a great cause!

Comments

  1. i love these paintings and totally understand the idea of a green oasis in the midst of winter. I dream of having such a place in the center of my home. I do hope you will make some more of these or at least sell some prints in your shop to aid the conservation effort

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  2. Love that you're doing this, Diana! If we had a single inch of wall space left, we'd be buying one of these lovelies up tout de suite, but instead we'll donate directly to Garfield Park. Such an important institution to preserve. It's always been on high rotation for us w/out-of-town visitors. We hope they can save those venerable ferns.

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  3. Thanks, Christy! Agreed, the conservatory is a very important and cherished institution. And Margie, I too dream of having a green oasis as part of my home; I have green house fantasies.

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  4. Little but lovely conservatory. Most of the people build a huge conservatory, but a few think about these little conservatories.

    victorian conservatory

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