Garden Center Hours
Our Garden Center season is April 10th to October 10th every year. Hours listed below. Our event center, The Barn, is a year-round facility.
Nursery Hours
We are open for the 2025 season!
April 10 through July 10
Monday-Saturday from 8-5
Sundays from 12-5
July 11 to October 10
Monday-Saturday from 8-5
Closed Sundays
Closed Easter Sunday, July 4, and Labor Day.
Driving distances to Hornbaker Gardens from:
Chicago: 110 miles
Rockford: 73 miles
Peoria: 55 miles
Quad Cities: 56 miles
Bloomington: 85 miles
Directions from I-80 at Princeton, Exit 56: Follow Route 26 as it winds through town, and continue south on Route 26 from the east edge of town. About a mile or so south of town, watch for a “Tourist Activities” sign for Hornbaker Gardens. Turn right at the sign onto 2155 E. St., and go about 1/2 mile. Take the first left at the “Y” intersection, and then go 2 miles until you see our sign on the left.
Directions from I-80 at Exit 61: (4 miles east of Princeton) go south on I-180 about 5 miles, take Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton. Go west, toward Princeton only about 1/4 of a mile, and take the first left where you see a large sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right.
Directions from Peoria: Take Route 29 North. It turns into I-180. Continue north to Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton exit. Turn left and go just 1/2 mile and take the first left where you see a large sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right.
Directions from Bloomington: Take Route 39 North. Take exit #51 for IL 71. Turn left (west) onto IL 71 toward Hennepin. IL 71 turns into I-180. Continue west and then north on I-180. Take Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton. IMPORTANT: wait for Exit 7, Route 26 Princeton. Ignore all the other exits for Rte 26. At the end of the ramp, turn left and go just 1/2 mile and take the first left where you see a sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right
TRUCKERS and BUS DRIVERS should not use the Directions from I-80, as shown above. Instead, at exit 61, go south on I-180 about 1 mile, and exit at Route 6. Go west about 3 miles to the stop sign on the east edge of Princeton. Turn left, or south, on Rt. 26 and go about 1 mile south of town. Watch for a “Tourist Activities” sign for Hornbaker Gardens. Turn right at that sign onto 2155 E St., and go about a half mile. Take the first left (at a Y intersection), and then go 2 miles until you see our sign on the left. Come all the way back on our lane (about ¾ of a mile). There will be a place to turn around.
Gift Certificates Available
The perfect gift for any gardener
What is your plant guarantee?
We guarantee our plants to be true to name and in good health at the time of purchase. We guarantee trees & shrubs, hostas and daylilies through the first winter.
If your plant dies within that time frame, bring in a picture of that plant and your receipt. We are happy to give you a store credit equal to the amount of your purchase price.
Can I take photos at Hornbaker Gardens?
Yes, we welcome photo sessions for families, senior pictures, engagements. We ask that you call our office to get on the calendar. There is no charge if photo sessions are scheduled during our open hours. If you schedule after hours, there is a $25 fee. Any wedding or special event happening at our event center takes priority. Please be courteous.
Is your property wheelchair accessible/friendly?
Most surfaces are mulch, grass or gravel and accessible. The hosta ravine has many stairs that aren’t accessible, however it can be viewed from the upper gardens as well.
Where can we get something to eat?
Our local town, Princeton, has some great dining options (and fun shopping, too). Visit our Resources page to get all those details.
Do you ship plants?
We ship only hostas and daylilies throughout the continental U.S. using USPS Priority Mail. We ship only on Mondays allowing plants to arrive before the weekend. We take orders all year and ship from mid-April through October 10th. Shipping costs are $15 for the first 5 plants and 50 cents more for each additional plant.
What is the hosta shipping process?
We take orders all year for hostas, and ship from mid-April through October 10th. When you order by phone or online you receive the same one gallon hosta that customers shopping here at the nursery pick up. We take them out of their one gallon pot, shake off as much soil as possible, wrap the roots in plastic wrap, and ship them bareroot.
What is the daylily shipping process?
We take orders all year for daylilies, and ship from mid-April through October 10th. You may place orders online or by phone. When you order one plant, you will receive at least a double fan with a robust root system. We ship daylilies bareroot, with the roots moist and wrapped in newspaper. We also offer a wide selection of potted daylilies that can be purchased at our nursery and planted at any time during the growing season.
Can I bring my dog to the Garden Center?
Yes! We welcome four-legged friends that are on a leash.