It has become a holiday tradition to make the trek from Chicago to Kolzes Corner Gardens in…read moreWoodstock, Illinois. And why you ask? They grow and sell ten varieties of the most beautiful, long-lasting, and unique poinsettias that you can find in northern Illinois. And this year, they offered a lovely, double-petaled variety that is upright and almost looks like a rose. The people are friendly, the greenhouse is big and beautiful, and they sell Christmas trees, greenery, wreaths and other holiday trimmings. It's a wonderful place out in the country. Yes, you can probably get bigger poinsettias at a big box store like Home Depot, but they will not last as long or be as special. And after your done at Kolzes, drive a bit north and stop in at Woodstock's downtown square. It's really beautiful, and it was where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed. It's a Duesy! From what I see not their website, I am sure that Kolzes is great during other seasons, too. I just love supporting small, family-owned businesses.

Random stop as we're going somewhere to check out the mum and pumpkin selection. Their plants are…read moreso healthy at a reasonable price point. Was able to get what I was looking for and enhance my curb appeal.

The staff was wonderful assisting in picking out replacement bushes, providing planting and…read morewatering instructions.

We love coming here every single spring and summer for the best selection and the BEST prices…read morearound. We have gone to multiple other retailers and although some prices are very similar, Whispering hills has the best selection of plants that keep their health throughout the years. Have have been coming here for about five years already and everything flourishes every year.

Great place to purchase native plants. The owner is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We told…read morehim about the bed we wanted to plant and get walked us around giving suggestions. We really enjoyed our visit, are excited to plant our new flowers and will be back. Worth the drive!

From the owner: We are a Native Wildflower Botanic Nursery located in…read moreunincorporated Harvard in McHenry County. Native wildflowers and plants are available for purchase. ​Come and stroll the meandering paths surrounded by wildflower display beds on 6.25 acres. Over an acre has been dedicated to a wildflower prairie with 100 different species of wildflowers and grasses. Observe native plants in a natural setting and also in formal beds. Come and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature in these relaxing setting. Many benches are located throughout the gardens of Natives Haven; you are encouraged to sit, relax, engage your senses and enjoy the gardens' benefits. Many people come just for the serene atmosphere as it is a very tranquil environment. This isn't just another shop for plants and flowers. It is an experience you will remember for quite some time if you enjoy beautiful beds, fountains, wildlife, and fresh air.

This place has all the plants you need. Knowledgeable staff too. A bit of a hike for us but always…read moretripworthy.

Great selection, very friendly staff and reasonable prices - what more can you ask for - only a…read moregreat selection of hearty plants and they knock this one out of the park. Plus their setup is clean, neat and funky - the Blues Bros figures are a hoot!

The venue is beautiful. After reading some of the reviews, it is obvious that it has evolved…read morethrough the years. We were here for a wedding and spoke to the owner. He has owned it for 19 years and now it is strictly for weddings. No store ~ nothing to buy. Lovely grounds, plants, ponds, waterfalls, gazebo, arbor, water fountain, and twinkling lights in the trees. There is a lovely outdoor area set up for the ceremony and then we moved indoors for the cocktail hour. It is open and bright. However, one toilet for about 100 people was interesting. There is a tent, that is airconditioned and probably heated based on the season and weather. Plenty of room to move about so moving around the tables was easy. Just a heads up: they lock the doors for the indoors after everyone has moved to the tent. That means, you must use the toilet facilities attached to the tent. Better than a port-a-potty, but . . . Currently, Swanson is blocked off so you have to drive around the road block.

WOW! From the very beginning, we knew this was our dream venue. Not only was Mike up front about…read morehow everything worked, what was included, things we could add on, etc, but he was such a pleasure to work with! It's no wonder they've been in business so long! The Gardens are not far from our house, but it's this little slice of paradise tucked away from all the nearby commotions. We loved EVERYTHING about The Gardens. The property is dreamy and beyond well-kept. The flowers, fairy lights and small waterfalls and creek winding through the gardens just give you total serenity and joy. We could not have made a better choice for such a beautiful place to start our new lives together as a married couple. Even all our friends and family could not stop gushing about how stunning the whole place was! Honestly, I hope someone we know gets married here soon because I want to go back and relive those special moments we had from our own wedding. Ladies, when you found your hunny and you just knew that was it, they were the one...well that's how this place made us feel. It was absolutely perfect and am so happy we found it. The Gardens are truly a hidden gem, a little paradise tucked away to get lost in the magical moments of your wedding day!!!

so sad that most of the employees that I've known for 20+ years are gone. Makes me wonder if I…read moreshould even bother going back this year for my annuals my shrubs.

Horrible customer service. Lies and theft. Multiple calls left unanswered. Still don't have an…read moreanswer. We were given a $400 gift card to countryside from my mother in law for our wedding. It was an old gift card--from 2013--that my mother in law never used. When we went to use it we were told that they couldn't find the gift card in their system and that the lady who handles the gift cards was off that day. We left them with our number and were told that they would call us back with an answer on what's going on with the gift card when the lady who handles the gift cards is working. Fast forward a couple of days. They never called us to let us know about the gift card, so my wife called them. The girl who answered the phone was rude and not helpful. She said that she knows nothing about that at all and can't do anything about it. She forwarded my wife's call to the garden department and it went to voicemail where my wife left a message. 2 days later my wife called again and the same thing happened. At this point I called them and spoke with the rude girl and gave her my name and number and she told me that the woman who handles the gift cards would be in the next day and would call me back. The woman who handles the gift cards did in fact call me back the next day. She was able to find the transaction for the purchase of the gift card in 2013 and the gift card was not listed in their system as expired. She told me that she would need to talk to the owners of countryside to see what they want to do about it and that she would call me back to let me know what's going on. This was a month ago and still nothing. No answer. We are very disappointed in how unprofessionally our issue has been handled. Both sides of our family have been shopping at Countryside for many years, hence the gift card from 2013.

Hubbs is a mixed bag. The plant prices are very good. In the past we had some post-purchase…read moreproblems with some of them. Looked great at the greenhouse but then withered and died. But for the most part I am happy with Hubbs and have been back each Spring for several years running. It's a nice drive out in the country to get to Marengo. This greenhouse is definitely destination-worthy. Four solid stars.

Great selection on flowers and fruits and veggies. Reasonable prices. They take plastic. My kid…read morereally enjoyed.

Worth the drive! There is nice selection of perennials even at the end of the season to get planted…read morebefore fall. The paths lead back to hidden gardens with mini stone water falls & a koi pond. I reccomend calling first if you're not sure of the hours because it is a family business.

Drove by here around noon time, as they had posted pictures on Facebook earlier today, so I thought…read morethey were open. They were not. Also called the number on the Facebook page and it was disconnected. Posting this for informational purposes. Too bad.

I was in need of a new tree after my previous one died and the village refused to replace it. I…read morehave heard about Pine View from numerous neighbors, so I decided to call and see what trees they had in stock and how soon they could come out and plant. I was offered to come and pick out my own tree on the nursery. I took advantage of that, and it was a very joyful experience being part of that process. Tony was extremely knowledgeable about everything and very informative. I felt very comfortable from the first conversation we had. Once I chose my tree, he was able to come within days to install and rip out the roots from the old tree that was left behind. Tony not only called to check on my tree but went out of his way to come check and make sure everything was going exactly how it should. I would absolutely recommend Tony and Pine View for any tree, shrubs, or landscaping needs. I promise you won't be disappointed!

I have been using Pine View Nursery for over 7 years. I kicked & screamed when Tony suggested I use…read morethe high grade mulch. I am so thankful to be working with a true master gardening company. Professional crew, trucks & equipment. Before going to Pine View Nursery we spent so much more time weeding. His mulch creates a crust that keeps weeds from rooting easily. The trees we bought from local places were dying or struggling because we found they imported them from other states. Tony grows all his own stuff which makes it better for you. When someone grows a tree in this state they don't need to warranty it. I bought into the others warranty thing but trees kept dying & it's a pain in the butt to get people back. I will continue to use these guys for every tree or landscaping need. Truly grateful for your team Pine View Nursery. Don't fall for the lowest priced people. You get what you pay for with these guys.

I suppose a country bumpkin might know a thing or two about plants and gardening. This garden…read morecenter is a little off the beaten path, is a little smaller than some of the other local centers but they did have many unusual plants and colorful blooms. I thought the interior of the store was really unique and eye-catching. I'm not into dragons yet how cool would it be to have that enormous dragon in my yard, with its eyes lit up to protect our "garden". I say "garden" because upon moving to our property, it's pretty much a blank slate, with blank being the operative word. Hardscape comes first and the plants will follow. Until then, bumpkin!

Incredible family owned and worked garden center. Diverse and beautiful selection of healthy…read moreplants, knowledgeable and passionate staff, and fun opportunities to take part in such as planter workshops, pumpkin patches, and farm animals. We frequent the Country Bumpkin, especially during various holiday seasons and springtime for mulch, etc.!