The Lake Geneva Garden Club presents Celestial & Earthly Treasures, a GCA Flower Show to showcase the beauty and historical treasures that exist in the Geneva Lakes area. The Yerkes Astronomical Observatory was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 to 2020. Ownership was transferred to the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) in May 2020, which began restoration and renovation of the historic building and grounds.
The Yerkes 40-inch was the largest refracting-type telescope in the world when it was dedicated in 1897, historically significant in that the views from this telescope were recorded from the same vantage point for over 100 years. The landscape design on the property of the observatory was completed by the Olmsted Brothers, and a modified restoration of the original plan is currently in progress. Considered the father of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted designed urban parks, schools, cemeteries, national parks, and more throughout the United States. The Olmsted Brothers also executed their landscape designs for several estates around Geneva Lake in the early 1900s.
We’re excited that “the planets have aligned” in 2022 with both the national celebration of Olmsted’s 200th birthday along with the reopening of the newly restored Yerkes Observatory.

The flower show is open to the public and free of charge on Saturday, July 23 from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday, July 24 from 10 am – 2 pm.