32 Memorable Midwest Garden Centers

Chalet Landscape-Nursery-Garden Center in Wilmette could be dubbed a best-dressed garden center for its innovative displays. (847) 256-0561; chaletnursery.com

City Escape in Chicago specializes in unusual plants and outdoor-living items, such as furniture and garden accessories. (773) 638-2000; cityescape.biz

Gethsemane Garden Center is an oasis  of plants on two Chicago city blocks. (773) 878-5915; gethsemanegardens.com

Go to Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery in Woodstock for dwarf plants or unusual conifers. (815) 338-7442; richsfoxwillowpines.com

French and American antiques mix with garden decor, salvaged architecture, plants and artwork in Scentimental Gardens, a 1905 Queen Anne home in Geneva. (630) 232-1303; scentimentalgardens.com

The Fields on Caton Farm Inc. is a 150-acre Crest Hill nursery with a 5-acre display garden, specializing in shade trees, shrubs and more than 100 varieties of premium daylilies. (815) 744-7841; fieldsnursery.com

The Growing Place's Aurora location has a country feel, with a farmhouse and red outbuildings, along with knowledgeable staff and large selection. (630) 820-8088; thegrowingplace.com A second location is in Naperville. (630) 355-4000 thegrowingplace.com