Opening Day celebration features free trees and garden advice
For 80 years The Growing Place in Naperville and Aurora has been providing high quality plants and expert gardening advice for those in the know. "In 1936, Emma & Fritz Glatzhofer began selling field grown perennials on Plank Road. Carol and I took over operations in 1973 and in 1976 we changed the name to The Growing Place," said Rich Massat, co-owner and nephew of Glatzhofer. "The joke this year is that we've been around since heirloom tomatoes were just called tomatoes."
"We like to think that we've grown up with Naperville and we're proud to be a family-owned, local independent garden center," added Carol Massat, co-owner of The Growing Place. "We're excited that the next generation, our kids Michael and Becca, are following in our footsteps."
"This year is a milestone for us and while we are celebrating our past we are also looking to the future," said Becca Massat. "We're evolving to meet our customers changing lives and interests."
"Because sustainability is becoming important to more people, we have focused on simple ways we can conserve," said Michael Massat. "Around here our mantra has always been right plants in right places. This not only helps our customers have success, it helps the natural world too."
On April 2, 2016, The Growing Place officially opens for its 80th season. The day is filled with all sorts of celebrations including tree seedling giveaways and tool sharpening at both locations. At the Aurora location, dig in at their Learn & Create Stations, peak behind the scenes into their greenhouses, and take a classes on landscaping, organic lawn care, and pruning. The full schedule is listed below or on the web, www.thegrowingplace.com.
Naperville & Aurora
10:00am & 2:00pm--80 Tree Seedlings Giveaway!
11:00am-3:00pm--Tool Sharpening Services
Aurora Talks, Info Stations & Greenhouse Tours
10:00am-3:00pm--Learn & Create Stations--Make a Mini Garden: Create a miniature world to take home!--Plant a Spring Container: Welcome the season with spring blooms--NEW Stylish Self Watering Containers: Save water with beautiful results--Bare Root Trees, Strawberries & Asparagus: Get long lived planting success-- Composting at Home: Simple tips to make your own great soil--Organic Fertilizer: Feed plants slowly and effectively--Gardening Books for Kids: with Annie Bjustrom from Useborne Books--Organic Lawn Care: with Rob Burisek from Pure Prairie Organics--safe for kids and pets
10:30am--New & Noteworthy Plants for 2016: See exciting new plants and some of our favorite picks.
11:30am--Greenhouse Tour
12:00pm--Simple Landscape Solutions: Tough sites, sustainable plants, screening, and more
1:00pm--Organic Lawn Care Presentation from PurePrairie Organics
1:20pm--Composting at Home
1:40pm--Pruning Dos and Don'ts: For long lasting, beautiful trees and shrubs
2:15pm--Greenhouse Tour