Explore Shopping Destinations and Public Gardens Around Chicagoland and the MidwestP

ublic gardens are a national treasure, and here in the Midwest, we are lucky to have more than our fair share. Not

only are there a great number of public gardens in our region, but the diversity displayed by these gardens is amazing. Some specialize in a single element such as roses. Others make you feel as if you’re in a botanical paradise beyond your wildest dreams. Some public gardens, as well as some nurseries and garden centers, offer relatively small dis-play gardens, while others encompass hundreds of acres. All share one thing in common: The ability to transport you, if only for a short time, back to the essence of nature and all of its wonders.

GARDENSGloriousof the Midwest

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Cantigny Gardens

Created by renowned landscape architect Franz Lipp, Cantigny Gardens is a Midwest horticultural masterpiece with stunning year-round beauty. Enjoy more than 30 acres of annual and perennial flowers, ground covers, flowering bulbs and a variety of native trees and shrubs. Highlights include the terraced Rose Garden and the inspiring Idea Garden. The gardens are part of Cantigny Park, located 35 miles west of Chicago and just minutes from The Morton Arboretum. Cantigny is the former estate of Robert R. McCormick and occupies 500 acres in all. The grounds include a restaurant and gift shop. Admission is just $5 per car.

1s151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL (630) 668-5161 • www.cantigny.org

Hornbaker GardensA botanical gardens, arboretum, and garden center in one location! Stroll through the exten-sive display gardens featuring mature plantings of hostas and other perennials in both sun and shade environments, a collection of unusual trees & shrubs, water features, and garden art. Shop from our large selection of hostas, daylilies, trees & shrubs, grasses and much more!

22937 1140 N Ave., Princeton, IL • (815) 659-3282 www.hornbakergardens.com

16W658 S. Frontage Road, Willowbrook, IL • (630) 655-8283

www.thehiddengardens.net

The Hidden Gardens

Located on the acreage of a vintage farm, The Hidden Gardens offers a wide variety of plant material. We take special pride in our selection of specimen plants including Japanese maples, dwarf conifers, bonsai and more. Check our website for upcoming bonsai classes and events!

CHICAGOLAND GARDENING • JULY/AUGUST 2014 33

Rich’s Foxwillow Pines Nursery

Specialized nursery with display gardens. Unique trees, both dwarf and full-size. Great foliage colors and textures. Ex-ceptional choices in pyramidal, weeping, narrow, mounding or irregular shapes. Conifers, Japanese maples, paperbark maples, European beeches, ginkgos. Hundreds of cultivars of pines, spruces, larches, firs, dawn redwoods, hemlocks.

11618 McConnell Road, Woodstock, IL • (815) 338-7442

www.richsfoxwillowpines.com

24254 111th St., Naperville, IL • (630) 904-1066 www.lizziesgardencenter.com

Lizzie’s Garden

As a year-round working greenhouse, Lizzie’s Garden is focused on superior quality and plant performance. Lizzie’s carries container plants, hanging baskets, tropicals, potted indoor blooming plants, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and seasonal plants. Lizzie’s staff is dedicated to helping customers be happy with their plants and gardens.

With a real “getaway” feel, the Farm is a find for gardeners, nature lovers and anyone who enjoys cute, clever and unique. Besides beautiful collections of plants, the Big Barn & Potting Shed offer lovely gifts & accessories, many locally-made.

Redbud Creek Farm

2930 N. 4351st Road, Sheridan, IL • (815) 496-9400 www.redbudcreekfarm.com

8241 Millbrook Road Millbrook, IL • (630) 553-7211

www.windingcreek-nursery.com

Winding Creek Nursery

“Spend the Day in the Country” and visit our extensive 9 acre sales area filled with trees, shrubs, evergreens, and perennials. Open year round we carry “Everything for your Planting Pleasure” along with gifts for the home and garden. Make your gar-den magical with our fairy garden plants and miniatures.

The Gardens of Woodstock is more than just plants, it’s a destination. Come and stroll our meandering brick walks and patios. The garden features five waterfalls, with bubbling brooks and a pond. You will find many new and unusual plants available at our nursery. We hope to see you soon.

Gardens of Woodstock

5211 Swanson Road, Woodstock, IL • (815) 337-2509 www.gardensofwoodstock.com

Garfield Park ConservatoryThe Conservatory is one of Chicago’s premier cultural institutions with eight display houses encompassing 2 acres under glass as well as 10 acres of outdoor gardens. There is always something fun, educational and exciting happening at the Conservatory. Admission is free, suggested donation may apply for special exhibits and events. Free parking just south of the main entrance.

300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL (312) 746-5100 • www.garfieldconservatory.org

34 www.CHICAGOLANDGARDENING.com

Ever dreamed of a pond or water feature? Or do you already have on that you want to improve? Keystone Hatcheries is THE PREMIER pond specialty store to go to for advice, pond sup-plies, aquatic plants and of course gamefish, goldfish and Koi.

A UNIQUE Fish Farm & Pond Specialty Store on over 70 acres! Come see why we have quickly become a favorite amongst pond enthusiasts! As a family business for 75 years, we take great pride in our large selection of highest quality Koi & goldfish, greenhouse full of beautiful aquatic plants & large inventory of pond supplies. With two experienced aquatic biologists on staff, we are happy to help with your pond plan-ning or pond questions, big or small. While specializing in everything PONDS, we also carry a nice selection of natural granite benches and garden décor. Off the beaten path, but worth it, located just 10 miles SE of Lake Geneva in the quaint town of Richmond, IL. For those that don’t want to make the trip, simply click away! Keystonehatcheries.com offers helpful info and ships most pond products via UPS, with free shipping on orders over $50 (some exceptions). Please note: we do not ship plants or fish … for that you will need to come visit us. “Find us 10 miles SE of Lake Geneva, WI. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am to 4 pm; Saturday varies, please call; Closed Sunday.

Keystone Hatcheries LLC

11409 Keystone Road, Richmond, IL (815) 678-2537 • www.keystonehatcheries.com

Illinois1. Cantigny Gardens 1s151 Winfield Road Wheaton, IL (630) 668-5161 www.cantigny.org

2. Countryside Garden Center 5301 E. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL (815) 459-8130 www.countrysideflowershop.com

3. Gardens of Woodstock 5211 Swanson Road Woodstock, IL (815) 337-2509 www.gardensofwoodstock.com

4. Growing Place- Aurora 2000 Montgomery Road Aurora, IL (630) 820-8088

5. Growing Place- Naperville25W471 Plank Road Naperville, IL (630) 355-4000 www.thegrowingplace.com

6. The Hidden Gardens 16W658 S Frontage Road Willowbrook, IL (630) 655-8283 www.thehiddengardens.net

7. Hornbaker Gardens 22937 1140 N Ave. Princeton, IL (815) 659-3282 www.hornbakergardens.com

8. Lizzie’s Garden 24254 111th St. Naperville, IL (630) 904-1066 www.lizziesgardencenter.com

9. Lurvey Landscape Supply & Garden Center 2550 E. Dempster St. Des Plaines, IL (847) 824-7411 www.lurveys.com

10. Keystone Hatcheries 11409 Keystone Road Richmond, IL (815) 678-2537 www.keystonehatcheries.com

11. Redbud Creek Farm 2930 N. 4351st Road Sheridan, IL (815) 496-9400 www.redbudcreekfarm.com

12. Rich’s Foxwillow Pines 11618 McConnell Road Woodstock, IL (815) 338-7442 www.richsfoxwillowpines.com

13. Winding Creek Nursery 8241 Millbrook Road Millbrook, IL (630) 553-7211 www.windingcreek-nursery.com

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Lincoln Park Conservatory

Come take a stroll and let yourself be transported away by this horticultural gem along Chicago’s lakefront. No matter the time of year, Lincoln Park Conservatory is always green and lush. Admission is free. Fee parking is available. Visit the website to learn about more than 50 gardens and natural areas throughout Chicago’s parks.

2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL • (312) 742-7736

www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

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CHICAGOLAND GARDENING • JULY/AUGUST 2014 35

Chesterton Feed & Garden Center

Ten short minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan, Chesterton Feed & Garden Center is a friendly atmosphere full of unique gardening ideas. We are known for our pleasant and knowledgeable staff. So whether it be landscape plants, lawns, pets, wild bird feeding, water gardening or garden décor, we can offer you solutions and guidance. Our products, which have stood the test of time, will give you the peace of mind knowing you have chosen the best for your home and family.

400 Locust St., Chesterton, IN (219) 926-2790

www.chestertonfeed.com

315 C.R. 17, Elkhart, IN (574) 293-9699

www.lintons.com

Linton’s Enchanted Gardens

Experience Indiana’s largest home and garden center offering numerous display gardens with winding paths leading to themed structures with native and exotic specimens, perennials, trees, shrubs and ground covers grown by our Nursery. Garden art and soothing sounds of fountains and wind chimes erase the day’s cares.

Illinois (cont.) 14. Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago, IL (312) 746-5100 www.garfieldconservatory.org15. Lincoln Park Conservatory 2391 N. Stockton Drive Chicago, IL (312) 742-7736 www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Indiana16. Chesterton Feed & Garden Center 400 Locust St. Chesterton, IN (219) 926-2790 www.chestertonfeed.com

17. Linton’s Enchanted Garden 1315 C.R. 17 Elkhart, IN (574) 293-9699 www.lintons.com

Michigan18. Fernwood Botanical Garden 13988 Range Line Road Niles, MI (269) 695-6491 www.fernwoodbotanical.org

19. Gee Farms 14928 Bunkerhill Road Stockbridge, MI (517) 769-6772 www.geefarms.com

20. Pine Hill Nursery 886 US 31 North Torch Lake, MI (231) 599-2824 www.pinehill-nursery.com

21. Wedels Garden Center 5020 Texas Drive Kalamazoo, MI (269) 345-1195 www.wedels.com

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Ohio22. Perennial Plant Peddler 8755 Twp. Rd. 251 Findlay, OH (419)387-7230 pplantpeddler.com

Pennsylvania23. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens One Schenley Park Pittsburgh, PA (412) 622-6914 Phipps.conservatory.org

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Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature

Preserve

Celebrate our 50th Anniversary at Fernwood Botanical Garden, with 105 acres of beautiful gardens, walking trails winding to the St. Joseph River, an arboretum, a prairie, and a fern conservatory. Visit our Railway Garden for kids of all ages and our Stickwork Sculpture. Have lunch at our cafe and spend the day at Fernwood!

13988 Range Line Road, Niles, MI • (269) 695-6491

www.fernwoodbotanical.org

Pine Hill Nursery

A true destination, Pine Hill is North-ern Michigan’s largest nursery, featur-ing extensive display gardens, Home & Gift Shop, greenhouses, classes and workshops, children’s play area and Garden Cafe and Wine Bar. We host field trips for all ages and gladly tailor each visit to your needs. Come spend the day with us!

886 US 31 North, Torch Lake, MI • (231) 599-2824

www.pinehill-nursery.com

Gee Farms Nursery and GreenhouseGee Farms has been in the family for seven generations. Gary Gee’s passion for plants has fueled the operation’s growth into one of the largest retail nurseries in Michigan. The farm’s 400 acres are filled with numerous different co-niferous and deciduous trees and shrubs including many rare and unusual varieties.

Gee Farms is proud to invite you to visit the 13-acre arboretum on Au-gust 30, 2014 from 10am-4pm for a Garden Walk event. The arboretum is home to over 2,000 cultivars of extraordinary conifers and decidu-ous plants. Come join other plant lovers on an expert-guided tour of a beautiful garden, which also in-cludes a water feature. If you can’t make the guided tour, the arbore-tum is always open to the public. While you’re there, check out the market, full of garden accessories, tools, chemicals, and even a donut and pastry bakery. If the tour leaves you wanting more, make sure you check out what they have to offer in their 24 greenhouses and 12 acres of saleable perennials, trees, and shrubs. This is a free can’t-miss event for any plant lover! Gee Farms Nursery and Greenhouse can’t wait to show you around their farm!

Selling beauty by the yard. it’s worth the trip!

14928 Bunkerhill Road, Stockbridge, MI (517) 769-6772 • www.geefarms.com

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Allen Centennial Gardens

A botanical garden at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with 26 themed gardens. 2014’s theme, “25: Fashion-able, Fabulous, Functional & Fun”, celebrates the 25th anniversary with special displays and events. Open dawn to dusk, free admission.

620 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI • (608) 576-2501

www.allencentennialgardens.org

Garden StarGarden Star offers thousands of stone, granite and bronze sculptures from our 3-acre yard. We are the largest distributor in the Midwest of fine garden art. Garden Star has a beautiful collection of urns, angels, Gothic gargoyles, benches, birdbaths and statues. We also have an artist on staff and can design anything you can dream of. Commission works welcomed. Open seven days a week and by appointment. I-94 & Hwy 50 – West Frontage Rd.

6301 122nd Ave., Kenosha, WI (262) 857-3600 • www.gardenstarart.com

Green Bay Botanical Garden

Celebrate the seasons of your life sur-rounded by 47 acres of amazing year-round beauty and adventure as only Mother Nature can offer. The Garden features educational, recreational and social events throughout the year, mak-ing it a four seasons wonderland.

2600 Larsen Road, Green Bay, WI • (920) 490-9457

www.gbbg.org

GARDENSGloriousDESTINATIONS IN WISCONSIN

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Minnesota24. Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society Riverside Drive SE St. Cloud, MN (320) 257-5959 www.munsingerclemens.com/ the-gardens25. Linnaeus Arboretum At Gustavus Adolphus College 800 W. College Ave. St. Peter, MN (507) 933-6181 gustavus.edu/arboretum

Wisconsin26. Allen Centennial Gardens 620 Babcock Drive Madison, WI (608) 576-2501 www.allencentennialgardens.org27. Congdon Gardens 1424 Hobbs Drive Delavan, WI www.congdongardens.org

28. Garden Star 6301 122nd Ave. Kenosha, WI (262) 857-3600 www.gardenstarart.com

29. Green Bay Botanical Garden 2600 Larsen Road Green Bay, WI (877) 355-4224 www.gbbg.org30. Rotary Botanical Gardens 1455 Palmer Drive Janesville, WI (608) 752-3885 www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org

Iowa31. Reiman Gardens Iowa State University 1407 University Blvd. Ames, IA (515) 294-4817 www.reimangardens.iastate.edu

Missouri32. Mizzou Botanic Garden 180 General Services Building Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4240 gardens.missouri.edu

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Rotary Botanical Gardens is thrilled to commemorate its 25th Anniversary during 2014!

Every season, Rotary Botanical Gardens transforms with new color themes and displays. This year, the Gardens will include an amazing 150,000 annuals, representing 700 variet-ies with over 500 varieties of perennials added. A vibrant pink theme will brighten our Entrance and Terrace Gardens and the popu-lar “Pollinators Paradise ” theme will return in the Nancy Yahr Memo-rial Children’s Garden. This lovely garden attracts a fluttering flurry of beautiful and beneficial pollinating insects such as Monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. New this year is an expanded “Jungle Garden” and a Thomas Jefferson Historic Garden, which will showcase a collection of plants grown and observed by Jef-ferson. An interesting feature of this garden will be the strong focus on vegetables from Jefferson’s Monticello Garden.

A striking addition during 2014 will be the “Chair in Our 25th Anniversary” garden art project. This is a must-see display. As part of the project, 25 full size Adirondack chairs were hand-crafted from wood, then, local artisans transformed them into

1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, WI(608) 752-3885 • www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org

Rotary Botanical Gardensart. The dramatic and unique chairs have been placed through-out awe-inspiring landscapes and gardens for display until they are auctioned off at Rotary Botanical Gardens on Septem-ber 7. An additional 26th chair was also created and has been interpreted by renowned local artist, Connie Glowacki. This truly amazing piece of art is titled “Rose Garden Celebration”

and features a picturesque scene taken straight from the French Formal Garden. This special piece of artwork will be sold during an online auction this fall.

Visitors to the Rotary Botanical Gardens can take advantage of guid-ed garden tours, shop local artisans’ works in the Cottage Garden Gallery, partake in educational classes, pro-grams and family-friendly events.

Those who enjoy the beauti-ful Gardens should also enroll in the Friends Membership Program. Friends members are afforded many

benefits including free Garden admission (excluding special events), special rates on tours, programs, events, exclusive member previews and much more. They also receive reciproc-ity with nearly 300 gardens and arboreta across the US. For more information visit rotarybotanicalgardens.org.

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