Stepping inside Chalet Home + Garden, customers were greeted with a display celebrating summer.

November/December 2025
From the Road: Garden retail blooms in Chicagoland By Teresa McPherson

A summertime Chicago-area bus tour offered an exclusive look at five vibrant garden retailers.

From an urban garden store with a flair for biophilic design to a destination garden center, the Lawn & Garden Retailer Garden Center Bus Tour provided a full day of merchandising inspiration in Chicagoland. Here’s a recap of the five garden retailers highlighted on the tour.

Orchids by Hausermann

Orchids by Hausermann, a family-run business in Villa Park, Illinois, began as a small greenhouse in Melrose Park in 1920 and has grown into a leader in orchid hybridization and sales. With more than 120,000 square feet of greenhouse space, it offers myriad orchids for hobbyists and wholesale buyers.

Orchids by Hausermann orchid fun fact — Fun facts are sprinkled throughout Orchids by Hausermann, giving visitors an inside look at the business.

Orchids by Hausermann showcase — A showcase houses the awards and accolades Orchids by Hausermann has received.

Barn Owl Garden Center

Family-run Barn Owl Garden Center has been serving its Carol Stream, Illinois, community for more than 20 years with a mission to help the community grow with high-quality gardening products, exceptional service and a genuine enthusiasm for outdoor activities. The Market at Barn Owl is a locally focused market offering fresh fruits and vegetables from Illinois and Michigan, and the newly added Feathered Saddle Coffee Co. is nestled within the vibrant Barn Owl Garden Center in Carol Stream, Illinois, and offers hot and cold drinks with house-made syrups.

Barn Own Garden Center Entrance — Rescue dog Bader (named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg) welcomes visitors to Barn Owl Garden Center.

Barn Owl Garden Center Feathered Saddle Coffee — Feathered Saddle Coffee Co. tucked inside Barn Owl Garden Center.

Barn Own Garden Center Market — The Market at Barn Owl offers locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables.

Barn Own Garden Center Sun house — Separate greenhouses help customers find the plants they are looking for.

Chalet Garden at Jayson Home

This year, Chalet began a partnership with Jayson Home to offer a one-stop solution for landscaping needs in Lincoln Park. This partnership combines over 100 years of horticultural expertise and award-winning design, elevating outdoor living with spaces that are both functional and inspiring, and crafted to thrive through every season.

Chalet at Jayson Home Chicago plants — Plants fresh from the Chalet Farm line the inside of the urban outdoor space.

Chalet at Jayson Home Chicago patio plants — A seating area allows customers to visualize how their outdoor spaces could look.

Chalet at Jayson Home Chicago Easy grow plants — Container-friendly and easy-to-grow varieties are labeled as such at Chalet Garden at Jayson Home.

Sprout Home

Sprout Home, founded in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood in 2003, blends a love of nature with artful design. Originally a garden store, Sprout Home has since expanded to include a floral shop across the street.

Sprout Home signage — A beautiful bouquet at the garden store’s register includes a sign encouraging customers to visit the floral shop.

Sprout Home flower floral merchandising — One of the many stunning displays in Sprout Home’s floral shop.

Sprout Home terrarium — The garden store offers indoor gardening supplies for year-round growing.

Chalet Home + Garden

Chalet, a third-generation, family-owned business, has served Chicago’s North Shore since 1917. From its start as a yard care business, Chalet has grown into a destination garden center offering landscape design, curated home décor merchandise and exceptional customer service.