Conservatory

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, September 12 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Additional Details

Barks and Brews 2: Electric Boogaloo 

Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Additional Details

Conservatory Kids Story Time – August 6, September 3, October 1 & November 5 | 10:30-11:00 AM
All are welcome for story time at the Friendship Park Conservatory! Bach 2 Rock Arlington Heights will be assisting with music and dancing fun.

No registration needed.

Leaves, Seeds, and Twigs! (Ages 5-9) – Wednesday, November 4 | 4:45-6:00 PM
Gather leaves, seeds, and twigs with us as we learn why leaves change color, their purpose on trees, and identify different leaves and tree seeds! We will use what we collect to make a fall craft to take home. Please dress for the weather!

Thanksgiving Break Camp (Ages 5-11) – Monday/Tuesday, November 23 & 24 | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM
Join us during your Thanksgiving Break for two fun filled days spent creating nature based crafts, exploring the outdoors (weather permitting), STEM activities, and playing games with our Instructors. Campers should be prepared for both indoor and outdoor activities and bring a water bottle and snack.

Current Class Offerings

Mah Jongg (Ages 18+)
Wednesday, September 30-October 28 | 1:00-3:00 PM
Learn the fundamentals of American Mah Jongg in this beginner-friendly course. Over 5 weeks, you will learn everything you need to know to play Mah Jongg like a pro! We will supply everything needed to play. Included in registration fees is the cost of your 2026 Mah Jongg Hands and Rules Card, which will be yours to keep after the course. Please note: Individuals are welcome and encouraged to register; however, play requires groups of 4.

Garden Walk and Bouquet Build (Ages 18+) – Wednesday, September 9 | 5:45-7:00 PM
You won’t believe how many common garden annuals and native perennials can be used for cut flower bouquets. Walk with us around the Conservatory grounds, learn about our process for our flower beds, and take home a bouquet of hand cut flowers. Please dress for the weather.

Start Sourdough: Designed for Beginners & Aspiring Home Bakers (Ages 18+)
Tuesday, October 20 | 5:30-7:30 PM
Sunday, November 8 | 10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Instructor Grace Leon of Rooted Provisions
Discover the art of sourdough baking in this hands-on class designed for beginners. You’ll learn the fundamentals of maintaining a healthy sourdough starter, mixing and fermenting dough, and baking a loaf. Led by Grace Leon of Rooted Provisions, this class will give you the skills and confidence to begin your own sourdough journey.
Each participant will leave with their own sourdough starter, a dough to bake at home, recipes and resources, and the knowledge to continue baking sourdough with confidence. Please Note: Participants must bring their own large mixing bowl (9-inch diameter or larger) and a spatula/mixing spoon. All other supplies will be provided.

Fall Planter (Ages 18+)
Wednesday, September 23 | 5:45-7:00 PM
Saturday, September 19 | 10:00-11:15 AM
Get ready to create another beautiful homegrown planter at the Friendship Park Conservatory Greenhouse. We’ll use an array of fall favorites to add some charm to your porch or patio with a planter designed to thrive in our zone’s autumn temperatures. Bring your gloves, we will supply the pots, soil, plants, and tools.

Pressed Flower Art (Ages 18+) – Wednesday, November 11 | 5:45-7:00 PM
In this class, science meets art (as it so often does). We will collect and identify specimens from the grounds of the conservatory for labeling taxa and pressing for keepsake and reference, creating a unique herbarium for each student. Participants will take home their herbarium pressed inside their own reusable plant press. Note: herbarium may take 3-4 weeks to dry.

Tulip and Bulb Planter (Ages 18+) – Wednesday, October 28 | 5:45-7:00 PM
Learn how to get spring bulbs blooming for a colorful indoor display in a process known as “forcing”. Participants will pot up bulbs to take home for a dormant chilling period before their plants begin sprouting in February. We will supply the bulbs, soil, and pots. Note: participants will need a location at home where temperatures stay around 35-40 degrees (refrigerator, unheated garage, etc).

Current Class Offerings

Interested in volunteering? Join us at Hill Street Nature Center! Volunteer work may include: pulling invasive species (i.e. garlic mustard, creeping Charlie, teasel, etc.) and picking up trash as needed. Friendship Park Conservatory staff on-site to supervise and direct volunteer duties. Bring gloves, water and any sun protection or bug spray you might need, depending on the weather. Bags provided by MPPD.

Dates (9:30-11:30 AM):
-Saturday, August 1 – Cancelled due to forecasted poor weather conditions. 
-Tuesday, August 18

Please fill out the Volunteer Agreement if interested in attending.

Volunteer Agreement

This artist-in-residence program involves selecting an artist who will have their work showcased at the Conservatory for a set period of time. For the purpose of this program, the selected artist should have a connection to the Conservatory, Park District, Mt. Prospect Community, or create art that stimulates interest and appreciation for horticulture and the environment.

The aims of this program are as follows:
-Offer opportunities to local artists to showcase their work
-Provoke interest in new art forms
-Build stronger ties with the local community
-Highlight the Conservatory through new lenses of art and appreciation
-Encourage exposure to new ideas and understanding of our shared community and experiences

Artist residencies will last 8 months or as determined by the needs of the Conservatory with 1 residency period per year ideally spanning from May thru December. Prospective artists will apply for the residency and will be selected by a panel of Park District Judges and announced in March. Residency will entail display of the artist’s work in the Conservatory foyer space and include a biography of the artist’s history and artistic process. Opportunities such as artist demonstrations, using the headhouse as a workspace, or tabling at in-house events may also come up on occasion. The application process includes examples of work, explanation of process, and outlining the artist’s connection to the aims of the program. Artists will submit to a background check and will be classified as a volunteer. After selection, artists will submit their display pieces for approval.

Application