The Back to School Garden Reset There is something about the start of the school year that resets everyone’s schedule, gardeners included. Buses start running again, lunches get packed, and somewhere in the middle of all that shuffling, a lot of us realize we...
By the time July rolls around, the questions we get start to shift. It is not “what should I plant” anymore, it is “is my garden going to make it.” Fair question. Heat and humidity in Illinois can be brutal on anything that went into the ground...
We’ll be honest — we say this every year. But 2026 really is different. This is the largest and most diverse tree and shrub selection we’ve ever offered, and putting it together has been genuinely exciting for our whole team. Whether you’re planting...
The Best small hydrangeas for Midwest & Zone 5 Gardens If you’re gardening in the Midwest—especially here in Zone 5—you know the weather can feel like a dramatic television series: surprise plot twists, emotional highs and lows, and the occasional stormy...
Before we were a garden center, a botanic garden, or an event space, we were Horn’s Berry Farm—an organic berry farm started by our parents, rooted in strawberries, raspberries, and a deep love for growing good food. Molly and I grew up surrounded by an orchard...
At Hornbaker Gardens, we’re always looking for ways to work with the natural beauty around us. One of our favorite local resources is Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage Orange. This remarkable tree grows in abundance in our area, and its incredible durability...
