The 10 acres of outdoor gardens include the City Garden, Demonstration Garden, Bluestone Terrace, Sensory Garden and Artist’s Garden.
Artist's Garden
Garden Nouveau, the 2022 Artist’s Garden exhibit will open Wednesday, July 6! For this exhibit, the Artist’s Garden will have many of the motifs seen throughout the architecture and design of Art Nouveau. Garden Nouveau will showcase many of the flowers Élisabeth Sonrel, an artist known for magnificent posters and watercolors, painted such as lilies, roses, hydrangeas, oleanders, and more.
City Garden
This space is designed to challenge prevailing notions of what a major public garden is supposed to be. It includes lily pools, a gravel garden sprinkled with blue glass, and a stand of aspen trees whose leaves flutter with every breeze.
Sensory Garden
Raised beds include seasonal flowers and the carnivorous plant bog. To the west, there is a labyrinth to stroll for moving meditation. In summer 2022, the beehives are located on the southern end of the campus, to the west of the parking lot.
Demonstration Garden
Visitors can learn about community and organic gardening in Chicago in this beautiful city lot-sized working garden. Find space-saving and above-ground growing methods, composting information and a wide variety of flowers, herbs and vegetables. The produce grown here is donated to the Garfield Park Farmers Market and local food pantries.
Bluestone Terrace
The Bluestone Terrace is located just beyond the Desert House doors, anchoring the City Garden and Demo Garden.
Play & Grow Garden
Kids 0 – 8 can experiment with pebbles, make mud pies, walk the stump obstacle course, or make music on a wooden xylophone. The garden is open seasonally. Children must be supervised in the garden.