THE LIVING CLASSROOM

by Norma Senn

Plants important to man are stressed in conservatory plantings.

The current national interest in the environment is reflected on the local level with increased demand for natural history programs. While there are forest preserves nearby, Oak Park itself does not have any wilderness tracts to offer its residents. Instead, many Oak Parkers are turning to gardens and houseplants for relief from their urban settings. Since many have never gardened before, their interest is occasionally dampened by lack of accessible information and practical experience. Recognizing the problem, the Park District of Oak Park has provided the facilities and staff to help answer their need. The Park District Conservatory is being converted to a community learning center in plant science for all ages.

The Conservatory was designed and built in 1929 during the heyday of public conservatory construction. For most of its life the Conservatory has been used to propagate bedding plants for the local parks and to house splashy, seasonal flower displays such as fall Chrysanthemum shows and Poinsettias at Christmas. Within the last 3 years, due to budgetary changes, school board cooperation, and citizen pressure, the Conservatory has been converted to an educational facility. The three main show houses are maintained in permanent plantings and are open to the public. In these, much of the plant material grown is chosen because of its economic importance to man. The two smaller greenhouses are set up as classrooms and include misting beds, heating cables, and stock plants, all necessary for studies in plant propagation.

Discussion of experimental results leads to better understanding of plant growth requirements.

School children now have the opportunity to learn some of their first lessons in plant science in a greenhouse. Few schools have the money to build or the know how to maintain even a small, classroom greenhouse. Consequently, most plant science projects are unfortunately limited to window sills or small fluorescent light gardens. The Conservatory provides teachers and students with excellent facilities to study plants. The children feel privileged and excited to be studying in a greenhouse and enter the program with enthusiasm.

The basic program offered is aimed at third grade children although it is easily adapted to any age group. The children learn by doing and by discussion. For example, after planting vegetable seeds the children subject them to a series of different environmental conditions such as low temperatures, no light, or no water. From the experimental results the children draw their own conclusions about plant growth requirements. When the surviving plants are taken home the proud grower has the knowledge to properly tend his plants.

Perhaps the favorite trip to the greenhouse is the special tour through the show houses. The children love the jungle-like atmosphere where they see such things as banana trees, sugarcane, orange and lemon trees. Frequently a child will express surprise that oranges really come from trees and not from supermarkets. Mimosa pudica, the Sensitive Plant, which closes its leaves when touched is the greenhouse's most popular plant.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 November/December, 1974

Children love the jungle-like atmosphere of the main conservatory showhouse.

Students from an experimental high school program and three local junior colleges also uses the greenhouse for beginning courses in plant propagation. At most schools greenhouse space is not available for undergraduate lab sessions. These students have an opportunity to observe and even help in the actual running of the greenhouse. Several students from these classes have decided to pursue careers in horticulture.

A hobby course in home gardening for adults also meets at the Conservatory. Instruction is provided on growing and caring for their houseplants and gardens. Many of the participants are planting seeds and taking cuttings for the first time in their lives and they are as excited as the children at the results.

Many of the state's larger park districts own greenhouses that receive various levels of use by the community. As a result of careful park district planning and some fiscal support from the local school districts, use of the Park District Conservatory has increased dramatically. The Park District of Oak Park Conservatory now plays an important role in presenting educational opportunities that are both an asset to the community and a valuable addition to existing programs.

(Editor's Note: Norma Sewn, is Director of the Park District of Oak Park Conservatory.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 November/December, 1974