Family Make-&-Take Sessions

January 9-10
Grow a Miniature Money Tree
Bring some good luck into your new year with a Money Tree! This fast-growing tree makes a great houseplant and brings wealth and good luck to a home. Before you leave, be sure to find the big Money Tree growing inside the Conservatory.

January 16-17
Prehistoric Plants: Fossil Fun
What kind of plants lived when the dinosaurs roamed the earth? Get an up close look at real fossils, then make your own model specimen to take home.

January 23-24
Sugar and Spice Necklaces
Discover the more fragrant plants in the Conservatory’s collection, including cinnamon and orange trees. Then, make a necklace using parts of these plants to take home. Participants will also learn about the function of each plant part.

January 30-January 31
Herbal Tea Bags
Feeling the winter blues? Make your own herbal tea bags to take home; brew this homemade tea, sip it up, and feel better in no time! Participants will learn to identify both the herbs used in this activity, and their corresponding plant parts.

February 6
Sweet Saturdays
Special event today! All activities will be taking place in Horticulture Hall 11am-4pm. Join us for a celebration of the plants that bring us our favorite sweets-chocolate, gummy bears, gum, cinnamon candy and more! Take this opportunity to learn where sugar really comes from and how plants create their own natural sugar to fuel their growth! See the Special Events section of the website for more details.

February 7
Cinnamon Heart Necklaces
Adorn yourself with a great-smelling Valentine necklace using a plant we can find right here in the Conservatory. Be sure to visit our cinnamon tree in the Sugar from the Sun Room.

February 13
Sweet Saturdays
Special event today! All activities will be taking place in Horticulture Hall 11am-4pm. Join us for a celebration of the plants that bring us our favorite sweets-chocolate, gummy bears, gum, cinnamon candy and more! Take this opportunity to learn where sugar really comes from and how plants create their own natural sugar to fuel their growth! See the Special Events section of the website for more details.

February 14
Chocolate Chuckers
Wouldn’t it be great if chocolate grew on trees? Well, actually it does! Learn how chocolate is made from the seeds of the Cacao tree, growing right here in the Conservatory. Then, make a great smelling bean bag using chocolate hulls.

February 20-21
See-through Seed Bracelets
Come add a seed bracelet to your jewelry box by making a special see-through-seed bracelet in this seed exploration activity.

February 27-28
Desert Terrariums
Learn about the amazing plants that grow in this harsh, hot and dry place. Then make a terrarium filled with succulents and a toy lizard to take home.

March 6-7
No Programs
No regular make-and-take program will be held today. Instead, visit us at Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower and Garden Show! Programs will be held off-site for this special event. Go to www.chicagoflower.com for more information.

March 13-14
No Programs
No regular make-and-take program will be held today. Instead, visit us at Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower and Garden Show! Programs will be held off-site for this special event. Go to www.chicagoflower.com for more information.

March 20-21
Plant Gems
Air, water, and sunlight combine together to make magic inside of a leaf! Learn about what a plant needs to grow by making beautiful glass gems using plant pictures.

March 27-28
Plant Part Potpourri
During this make-n-take, mix together fragrant roots, stems, seeds, flowers, fruits, and leaves, while learning about the function of each these separate plant parts.  Then sprinkle them into a special potpourri pouch to tuck in your sock drawer when you get home.

April 3-4
Grow a Pea Pod in a Snap
Get ready for spring and plant a pea seed to take home. Did you know that when you eat peas, you are actually eating seeds? Learn this and more fun facts, including the life cycle of a pea plant. Plant this cool weather crop now and get ready for yummy summertime snacks in June!

April 10-11
Sugar and Spice Necklaces
Discover the more fragrant plants in the Conservatory’s collection, including cinnamon and orange trees. Then, make a necklace using parts of these plants to take home. Participants will also learn about the function of each plant part.

April 17-18
Dinosaur Terrariums
Learn about what plants were growing during the time of the dinosaurs. Create a miniature replica of the Conservatory's Fern Room, using rocks, moss and ferns.

April 24
No Programs
No regular make-and-take program will be held today. Instead, join us for our annual Green and Growing Fair at the Conservatory! The 18th annual Greening and Growing Fair, hosts a variety of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and family activities to get your green thumb up and running. Activities will take place from 10am-3pm throughout the Conservatory.

April 25
Plant a Pizza Garden
Grow your own pizza by planting ingredients in a take-home container-basil, tomatoes, green peppers, and more! Also, learn about plant parts and define the parts used in pizza.