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!!!

I have been gardening since my Grandfather started teaching me…read moreas far young as 5 or 6. I am currently 63 and have had gardens in many states in the US for many years. One day I searched... "vegetables dupagecounty" The first hit was Hacker's Glenbard Gardens. My Wife and I hit the Jackpot!!!!!!!! We had been getting our plants from places like Menards and Home Depot.....Not anymore! LOL My Wife and I are now going to get our vegetables and flowers from Hacker's for as long as we can. I bet Hacker's has more varieties than anywhere in the midwest. 72 Different varieties of Just Tomatoes alone !! Absolutely Incredible variety of flowers, vegetables, and practically everything you can think of plus specials! We also buy plants for our neighbors gardens. Way better prices than the big stores. And way more selection for sure. The staff is so courteous, friendly, helpful, and greatly knowledgeable. I have been there 6 times so far in 2026 :-) A real pleasurable place to visit Indeed! Thank You Hacker's! Chas & Dory

I am starting a garden and was recommended to come here. There was a great variety to choose from…read more The staff was friendly and helpful. They were caring for the plants which was great to see. I feel like I got a lot for what I paid which is great! I didn't buy any flowers but I will be back to get some! There were so many beautiful ones to choose from.

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.

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!

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.

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.

I brought in an inherited gigantic aloe plant with 9 small pups and 3 medium sized ones growing…read morefrom its roots. I brought it in to teach me how to repot these gems. I bought pots and soil, I paid for their service to repot and instructions. Problem: they overwatered each new pot, letting water run thru the bottom of the pot (a desert Plant). Within two weeks, the outer leaves went limp and flaked off. The bright green color faded. Each base showing signs of being rotten. A total of 5 weeks later, I have the large plant and one medium sized plant left. Everything else died away. I called after two weeks for help, and the response was, the plant is just in shock, ride it out. I was told to call back...why? My plants are dead now. I asked for my plants to be stored in your greenhouses and you said no. What else Could You do for me, now that they are dead ? Point: I will not take your planting/repotting advice/or use your business. I hope others reconsider This when they too come in for help with their plants.

I love this place! I'm not able to walk around much and an associate helped me pick out flowers I…read moreneeded for a pot I wanted in purple and yellow. Made it much easier for me. A fun place to walk around they have everything and flowers you don't find anywhere else!

Excellent plants, nice helpful people (yes, even the owner!). The kids love feeding the koi, and…read morethe gift shop area always has interesting stuff.

Wonderful place, really enjoyed shopping there this summer. It was my first time there and the…read moresales lady was amazing. Spent tons of time with me talking about native plants and providing recommendations. They even helped me load my plants, and gave me a few free vegetables. The place is out in the country and a lovely drive. They were even doing a special Day Lily event that we were going to go to but it was way too hot to be out that day. I highly recommend this place if your looking for unique, good quality plants with a sales staff that truly cares about plants and their customers.

A serene setting with a lovely variety of plants, shrubs and trees. The staff is incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and willing to consult on choices and educate on care. Don't expect a sprawling, multi-greenhouse extravaganza -- Hidden Timbers is small, unique and worthy of the drive.