Posted: February 05, 2026
On January 5, 2026, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens staff came together to deinstall Conservatory Aglow and prepare for the construction on the John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse.
The task of clearing out the Palm House and Showhouse, in addition to removing and storing a large portion of Conservatory Aglow, was completed in five days. During this time, the Conservatory was closed to the public and, after viewing the photos above, it’s clear why that decision was made.
Once the majority of plants and palms were removed from these spaces, construction began. After three weeks of construction work, with a slight delay brought on by a snowstorm, here’s a look at what the Palm House and Showhouse looked like before we started and what they look like now.
If you are curious about where the plants and palms went and how a few that will remain during construction are protected, keep following the Conservatory’s social media channels, website and newsletter for future updates.