Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory Offers Beautiful Blooms, a Stunning Waterfall, and Short Outdoor Strolls

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, conservatories, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK

“Sir, did you see that the Birds of Paradise are blooming,” a friendly worker at Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory (225 N. Gougar Road, Joliet, IL 60432) told me with pride.

I turned from the waterfall that’s located in the Tropical Room of the beautifully maintained conservatory to view the distinctive iridescent flowers that resemble an exotic bird peeking out from behind leaves.

“Wow. I remember seeing those on my honeymoon in Hawaii,” I replied. “They’re beautiful. I’ll have to send a photo to my wife.”

The worker showed me a few more Birds of Paradise, and then he went back to work in another room—leaving me to savor their beauty and take some photos. My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next week, so seeing the flowers (which are actually native to South Africa) soon after I arrived was a good omen. 

The three-acre Bird Haven Greenhouse & Conservatory sits on a 660-acre site, which is comprised of Pilcher Park and Higginbotham Woods. I’d just left Pilcher Park (look for an article on this beautiful spot soon) and decided to check out the facility. There is a paved trail from the Pilcher Park Nature Center that takes about 30 minutes to walk. You can also drive (5 minutes) to the conservatory—which was my choice due to time constraints. 

I was alone as I strolled around the conservatory, which is operated by the Joliet Park District. The Tropical House has a visually stunning (and loud) waterfall, which empties into a koi pond. The colorful fish shimmering beneath the water reminded me of the bold colors of a Paul Gaugin painting. As I walked through the various rooms, I spotted Canna Lilies, Angel’s Trumpets, Banana Trees, Cock’s Comb, and other colorful plants. I felt a deep sense of peace and happiness at seeing the beautiful and sometime unique plantings. But that’s what nature does for us if we open our hearts and minds to it.

Despite its name, you won’t find any birds at the facility. In 1927, the land was donated to the Joliet Park District, which subsequently named it “Bird Haven” because it had earmarked the land for use as a bird sanctuary. In 1929, Bird Haven Greenhouse was erected on the site. If you’re looking for birds, there are plenty in the area. eBird reports that nearly 175 bird species have been recorded at nearby Pilcher Park.

Visitors will also discover a showroom (which is used for seasonal shows), a beautiful Cacti Room (with Barrel, Fish Bone, Rattail, Wheel, and other cacti; agave; and other plants), and outdoor walkways and gardens. I can only imagine how wonderful it feels to walk amidst the plants and flowers when temperatures outside are below freezing and a half foot of snow blankets the ground. I enjoyed visiting this small, but charming, nature spot, and I hope that you’ll visit soon.

Before You Go

Admission is free.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Phone: 815/741-7278

From the park district: “Please note that the greenhouse may be closed without notice if the temperature outside is 90 degrees F or above, if there is lightning within 10 miles of the greenhouse and due to other inclement weather and unforeseen circumstances.”

This Italian Renaissance-style facility was designed by Lord and Burnham Company, which also designed the Central Park Greenhouse in New York City.

There is ample parking at the facility.

The facility also hosts private events.

Copyright (text/photos): © Andrew Morkes, except quoted material

Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.

In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM Careers, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series). Many titles that I have written and edited have received positive reviews in Booklist; Voice of Youth Advocates; Library Bookwatch; CHOICE, a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries (a division of the American Library Association); and other publications.

Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written or co-written:

Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk. Additionally, six of my photographs were featured in the 2026 Beverly Art Walk.

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