About Hornbaker Gardens
Kathy and I started Hornbaker Gardens in 1987. Prior to that, I had practiced law in Princeton for thirteen years, and Kathy had taught school. In 1976, we bought 14 acres of isolated ground, upon which stood an abandoned homestead—a perfect place to build a house and raise a family. Little did we dream that someday we would be inviting the world to come share our lovely hideaway.
After we purchased the farm, I thought about the possibility of making a living on it. Kathy and I were both avid gardeners, so I thought perhaps we could develop a market for organically grown fruits and vegetables while Kathy thought that growing perennial flowers was a possibility.
Over the next few years while we started raising our family, I was busy planting fruit trees, strawberry plants, and raspberry bushes. A small pick-your-own business, known as Horn’s Berry Farm, was started. It was a lot of work for not much money, but was a great learning experience.
From 1984 through 1986, we experimented with growing hardy mums in pots, and were encouraged by their success. In July of 1986, I attended a week-long symposium of the newly formed Perennial Plant Association. I came back very enthusiastic about the future of perennials, and in love with a plant called a hosta. That fall, the berries were plowed under, and plans were laid for the start of a perennial nursery. I informed my very surprised law partners that I was leaving the law practice to start a new business—Hornbaker Gardens.
Initially, we started as a wholesale-only business. But in 1988, we held an Open House to let the local folks come out and view our operation, and to see if a retail operation had possibilities. The overwhelming response at that time made it clear that a retail operation should be started.
Everything seemed to take off from there. By 1990, Hornbaker Gardens was open seven days a week. Today, we are a retail garden center and nursery. We still grow a few mums, but ornamental grasses and trees and shrubs are where our fall focus is these days. A daylily collection was begun and established over a period of several years. Our business expanded with the purchase of an entire iris business in 1990.
It is our collection of hostas, however, that has done the most to make a name for Hornbaker Gardens. Kathy and I are members of the American Hosta Society, have attended many of its annual conventions, and I served on its Board of Directors for six years. This has helped us stay current with the latest developments in the hosta world. Our display gardens, started many years ago, now contain huge clumps of mature hostas.
Besides the hostas, irises, and daylilies, Hornbaker Gardens also carries several hundred varieties of other perennials, including many ornamental grasses. I have become very interested in woody ornamentals, so the tree and shrub department has grown to contain an extensive selection of unusual plants, and we are establishing a pretty good arboretum as we continue to plant more trees and shrubs every year.
Since 1997, we have had a crew that installs ponds throughout the north half of Illinois and into eastern Iowa, and we now carry a good supply of aquatic plants. Two display ponds have been built. The largest one, built in October of 2001, is 40' in diameter, and is fed by a stream that is 150' long and has eight waterfalls. Two pondless waterfalls have also been added to the display gardens.
In 2006, we started carrying a line of annuals in order to be a more complete garden center. We put up a special greenhouse devoted to annuals, and, in 2011, converted one of our large hoophouses to a greenhouse for a major expansion of space for annuals.
Whatever we get interested in as gardeners, we seem to start providing for our customers, as well. Thus, the offerings of granite and pottery, bronze sculptures and rusty metal artwork. In 2008, we put up a new building which we call The Shop at Hornbaker Gardens. It is stocked with garden art and other garden accessories, where you are sure to find something unique for your garden.
New display beds pop up every year, providing something new for returning customers to see. If you haven’t been to Hornbaker Gardens, or if you haven’t been here for a couple of years, visit us. You owe it to yourself to make the trip. You’ll be glad you did.
Family news: In 2008, both of our daughters got married here at the Gardens. You can see pictures of both weddings by clicking here or on the button to the right.
Molly married Russ Blogg in June. Molly works with us, and is taking more responsibility from my shoulders each year. Russ is a microbiologist, and works for Agri Energy in Princeton.
Sara married Mike Tracey in October. Sara teaches kindergarten in Bloomington, where Mike is a financial advisor for Country Insurance and Financial Services. In January of 2010, they blessed us with our first grandchild, Caleb Thomas Tracey.
Our son, David, graduated from the University of Illinois in May, 2010, with a degree in Horticulture. He works with us, taking charge of the creation and maintenance of our gardens and heading up the pond installation crew, among many other responsibilities.
Rich Hornbaker
