Lurvey's Tropic Fest to warm up suburban homeowners

If you dream of an exotic island with palm trees, golden sand and the dazzling blue of the ocean, you'll want to head out to Lurvey's Tropic Fest to experience a week of fun in the tropics.

The weeklong event will feature kids' activities on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 19, and exciting activities on Feb. 24 with a taste of authentic Hawaiian cuisine, authentic tropical drinks and a Luau Show by Tiki Terrace from 1 to 3 p.m.

Look for festive decor, staff in Hawaiian shirts, tropic-themed music, cool fruity drinks and plants that take our mind out of the Midwest and down to the tropics.

During the week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lurvey Garden Center and Landscape Supply will feature tropical plant specials with indoor plant experts on hand and free local delivery for a tropical plant purchase of $100 or more. Pottery will be on sale with complimentary potting services. The store's landscape designers will be on hand to discuss services and help you answer any questions about those projects that you are considering.

Make sure to enter Lurvey's Sweepstakes at the store or online for a chance to win. Winners will be announced at 2:45 p.m. on the final day of Tropical Fest and you must be present to win.

It's all a fun way to get customers motivated to start thinking about spring, start planning their spring projects and maybe bring a little greenery into their homes, said Scott Goczkowski, Home & Garden general manager.

The garden center has held promotions to drive traffic during its slower season, but this is the first time they've used a tropical-themed event to have fun and feature some new products.

"Lurvey is expanding its house plant and blooming indoor plant selection and adding more interior home decor, which is a new niche for us," Goczkowski said. "We're excited to introduce a new interior furniture line for the home that will debut the week of Feb. 19. The furniture features mahogany wood that has been legally harvested from forests in Indonesia. These are quality, handcrafted pieces with character and a distressed look that's really popular now. Items include kitchen islands, chairs, hall trees, side tables and more."

To complement the furniture, Lurvey will also have a new line of rugs, interior lighting, and unique wall decor and accents this coming spring.

Lurvey is also promoting a new line of outdoor furniture and one of its statuary and fountain vendors makes adding a water feature to your yard easy. Think summer and pre-order outdoor patio furniture and fountains and receive a free gift.

Lurvey is a garden-supply specialist featuring plants, shrubs and all types of landscaping accessories and services. It also offers quality landscape materials and home improvement supplies for landscapers and homebuilders.

What makes Lurvey a standout destination? Its facility, product selection, knowledgeable staff and all the services it offers their customers. "I don't consider us a traditional garden center," Goczkowski said. "We're into new niches to stay relevant with our customers."

Lurvey is one of the largest suppliers of bedding flowers, plants, shrubs and trees with fresh shipments daily throughout the planting season. It has done all the research for its customers and offers the best selection and value available from hundreds of growers.

It is also one of the largest suppliers of natural landscape stone with hundreds of varieties for your home project, whether it's steps or a winding pathway.

A successful garden begins with the right plant in the right place. Consider a consultation with Lurvey experts to get you started with a landscape plan to enhance your home.

Lurvey offers everything you need to create the best yard to enjoy this year. Consider hanging plants to brighten your patio or deck, a beautiful container garden with a pop of color, water features or even an outdoor fireplace. For small yards, ornamental trees are a good choice because they bloom but take up little space and don't grow tall. The garden center also offers plants and shrubs that are low-maintenance for those that want something that is easy to grow but still looks good.

If you go

<span class="fact box text bold">What: </span>Tropic Fest Bash

<span class="fact box text bold">When:</span> Week of Feb. 17-24

• Kids' activities Monday, Feb. 19

• Special events Saturday, Feb. 24

<span class="fact box text bold">Where:</span> Lurvey Garden Center & Landscape Supply 2550 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines

<span class="fact box text bold">Phone:</span> (847) 824-7411