On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Nurseries & Gardening [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Edgewater, AndersonvilleOur first truckload of Fraser Firs from North Carolina arrived today. Stop by Gethsemane for Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland!
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Loading...
The people here couldn't be more helpful and knowledgeable! I have no idea what I'm doing here and they do a great job of making this huge place a lot easier to manage for a rookie like me. The prices where great, I thought I would be getting killed since this place was so nice and there seemed to be workers all over ready to help. I've paid a lot more for in Chicago for a lot less of a product and service.
Wow! I love this place! I've been to a few nursery's in Chicago that were good, but this place is by far the best. They seem to sell everything here including herbs, some vegetables, and fruit (love it!). And the prices, compared to other nurseries, are WAY better.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable. I had asked about the exact same plant at another store and didn't get nearly as much information as I was provided with at Gethsemane.
In addition, it may not be a big deal to anyone else, but the fact that they will put holes in your pots is such a great help. There's nothing worse then having to pick a different pot JUST because it lacks holes.
This place is the absolute best! I've made two trips this season, even though it is a haul for me to do so.
The first was at the beginning of the season in which I bought the healthiest tomato plant (which is producing tomatoes like mad!). I was also looking for some type of self-watering mechanism since I travel a lot. I found the BEST self-waterers. I've been gone up to 12 days and came back to thriving plants out on my deck, which receives tons of sunlight. So I was really excited about the score.
The second trip was to take the parents to buy the self-watering devices, which they too just love.
This place is clean, well-organized, and the plants are healthy. There is also a parking lot, which I didn't realize until my second trip back. Next year I will skip Home Depot and head here for all my gardening needs.
This huge garden center is like a neighborhood forest. There are many different areas to wander around in, with all kinds of trees and foliage on display. It's really peaceful if it's not busy.
The statuary section (block) is crazy. The statues range from cliche to weird, and tiny to monstrous. Very inspiring if you're bored while your girlfriend is looking at flowers.
Warning: Make sure to ask if the flowers will be stinky before you buy them.
The gift shop is really cool, and has lots of cool knick-knacks, educational toys, and stuffed things. It's a great place to find a unique gift for people of any age.
What more can you ask for! Much better than Jayson Home & Garden and Smith & Hawkin.
Unbelievably close to the city, large selection of plants and gardening items, healthy plants, knowledgable and friendly staff, professional, helps ensure check-out-line keeps moving and free parking!
I only recently discovered this store... see, I need to branch out and visit more of the city! Because it is an excellent find! I went with my mom who loves to garden, she said their plants looked great and their prices were reasonable.
What I can comment on is the gift store - how great is it? Cute gifts for pretty much every single budget. Some stuff you see other places, but overall, great place to find something cute and unique.
Even better was the sidewalk sale. After hearing about it I went back again with my mom. We found some great deals, however, it was crowded! My gardening mom couldn't get over how good some of the prices were in the nursery section. We'll be back for sure.
So... I'm going to let you in on a not-so secret - I hate flowers. Yes, I'm a girl, and I hate flowers.
Yet when my friend took me here today so he could get some plants for his place, I found myself wanting to buy some pretty flowers or plants for my own apartment. I gave up on doing the 'adult thing' of owning a plant years ago when every plant that entered my apartment would die. Clearly I can't take care of another living thing (except my cat, but I'm convinced he's immortal).
Here's the thing I liked about Gethsemane - they had some info cards above every plant. So I found one I liked, but read that it does better in humid environments. Knowing my apartment gets very dry, I knew this wasn't the plant for me. And so I moved on and read up on more plants.
As I wandered around admiring some of the pretty plants, I saw a beautiful orchid on a high shelf. An employee approached me and asked if I needed help. He got the orchid down for me and explained a little bit about it to me. After determining they're pretty but require more maintenance than I would like, he took me around and showed me some other plants and flowers he thought I might like. With each one he was patient with my lack on knowledge and went over care, best environments, and normal life span. I truly appreciated his help, but ultimately determined I'm not quite ready for the responsibility of owning a plant.
While waiting for my friend to finish up what he was doing, I continued to wander around their huge facility. I went from the greenhouse into the actual building and found a large room with decorations for the home and outdoors. They even had *fake* flowers, which is much more my speed.
After my friend finished paying, I noticed yet another large room - this one had candles and jewelry among other things, and I found myself really enjoying some of the small wooden signs they had on display.
Every employee I witnessed was friendly and helpful, like they truly loved their jobs. That is SO nice to see! Another nice touch - when you enter the greenhouse they have a cute table with kleenex for their customers. At first I thought it was for people like me who have allergies wreaking havoc, but then I realized they were for people like me who wear glasses that immediately fogged up thus making me blind. So the kleenex were very appreciated.
In addition to plants, gifts, and flowers, they also have everything under the sun you could possibly need to maintain your plants - beautiful pots, gloves, tools, fertilizers, seeds (can I grow watermelons in my apartment?), sprays... the list goes on.
If you're a plant/flower enthusiast or just looking to start out, this is the perfect place to get started.
I LOVE flowers and the shades and textures of plants.
I enjoy interacting with knowledgeable people who have a passion for what they do. This is the experience I received today at Gethsemane.
I researched several planting options on the Internet and was pleased that the gentleman wasn't pretending to know - he did. Additionally he gave me insight into an alternative I hadn't thought of - bonus!
I have been in search of a specific group of perennial that will work with the topiary bumble bee I currently have under construction. ... right now anyway. Gethsemane had a nice selection and it was hard to chose.
Bonus for me was the diverse selection of containers. The gift shop has variety as well. definitely a destination for gifts or that something extra needed to complete an elegant or funky table.
2 other items of note;
-There was coffee, wine and bakery goods to enjoy while i browsed.
- A parking lot with parking attendants to help as needed
LOVE IT! Great selection of different varieties of elephant ear bulbs. Smooth ans leathery, velvet, dark purple, striped, dwarf and giant.
It's a joy looking at their plants!
I love this place! It is a bit expensive but worth it. The staff is terrific and the plants are the best in the city. I get all my plants, flowers and gifts here.
I even got my Christmas tree here this year and the delivery guy brought the stand the cleanup bag and didn't leave until we were perfectly happy...Awesome awesome experience.
Just got back from Christmas tree shopping. I've been out of touch with the "real tree" thing for a while and I almost fainted when we stopped at the lot on Ashland, across from Jewel in A-ville - $120 for an 8' Balsam fir!!! Yikes! Our next stop was Gethsemane, which I was convinced was going to be outrageously overpriced!!! They mainly had Frasier firs, which was fine with us. We found a beautiful 8' tree for $60!!!! We were blown away! When we asked a gentleman to help us, he looked at the tag and informed us that we got a great deal, the tree should have been $75 at least! Not sure if it was mismarked, but either way we benefitted! Also bought a wreath and a bough. A man quickly carried our tree to our car and tied it down in seconds. So far the tree looks lovely.
Oh! This morning I was reading something on the Talk page from last Christmas and people were wondering who delivers trees. Gethsemane! All around, a great place - the gift shop is something to see!
I needed to buy a terra cotta pot so I thought it was a good excuse to check out the gift shop and hot house. It smelled like my grandmother's house (in a good way) and was filled with knick knacks.
I ended up asking for advice about my indoor basil and parsley plants. The woman I spoke with was so nice and really knew her stuff! She ended up talking me out of buying stuff I didn't need, which is a true test of honesty for a salesperson.
Anyway, I think I will need to go back there to buy gifts for upcoming birthdays.
I bought geraniums here in May. They are so fertile that sometimes I think it's a little pornographic. Seriously, they flower like crazy about every ten days. I'm like, "jeez, guys, get a room already!"
So if you're into flower porn, I highly recommend shopping at Gethsemane.
I've never been accused of having a green thumb, but after an afternoon at Gethsemane, the evidence is mounting. The most obvious thing about Gethsemane is that the employees love plants. This is critical, as it provides the proper motivation to be extra patient with plant illiterati such as I, so I don't take my newly purchased plant and kill it slowly over a period of weeks with improper care.
Thanks to the thorough and entertaining education given by a particularly patient employee, the wife and I are proud gardenparents to a thirsty tomatoe plant, a pot full of aggressive herbs (the quadrouplets), and a Cuban Oregano plant named Fidel.
My younger sister had "a Venus Flytrap" on her holiday wish list, so I decided to look for one. I had passed Gethsemane while in the area, so I gave them a call. The lady on the phone made sure they had some flytraps; they also let me know that the plants go dormant during the winter and thus wouldn't be as big as I might be looking for. She suggested looking at the octopus plant as well, since it was also carnivorous but looked a little larger even when dormant.
When I went in, a staffperson was quick to assist me, finding the flytraps and octopus plants for me, explaining the proper care and answering all my questions. He reiterated the dormancy issue, but since I wanted them anyway, he gave me a discount.
I didn't get a chance to check out all the plants in the greenhouse, but they had a lot of cool Bonsai trees, succulents and tropical plants - including some huge cacti and palm trees. The prices were higher than other places', so I'd focus on the unusual plants and special items they have.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with this place and left feeling I got exactly what I hoped for.
I love this place! Yes, they are on the expensive side however the SERVICE you get here is really beyond compare. Everyone seems to be really happy working here (how can you not be surrounded by such pretty flowers all day?!). The selection is wonderful. This place really has helped me to create a deck space that is welcoming and inviting. thanks Gethsemane!
Gethsemane's gift shop is a great place to bring visitors (parents, in-laws, whatever) looking for touristy gifts that don't scream CHICAGO!
The one time I went there for gardening supplies, I found an array of helpful employees, despite the fact that it was 35 degrees in March and spitting rain intermittently. Good form...
I love Gethsemane Garden Center, and I don't even have a garden. I do raise a lot of houseplants, however, and Gethsemane has a huge selection to choose from, even in the bitter winter months.
The staff is extremely helpful and very, very knowledgeable.
Also, the Wild Pansy Gift Shop is great. It is chock-full of beautiful and unique items. Definitely worth checking out.
Lovely selection, but wow, this is the priciest nursery I have ever been to! Guess I am not used to Chicago prices...glad I brought all of my vegetable seed packets with me from Portland. Granted, I have not been to any other nurseries in the Chicago area so the prices might be the same across the board.
Dog lovers - don't go here!
I've shopped at Gethsemene Gardens since 1996. It's out of the way for me, but I've enjoyed talking with the staff and others there - and of course I enjoy the plants. The past 2 seasons I've spent approximately $1000 on shrubs, annuals, perrenials, gifts, trees, and seasonal stuff. It is my "bad shopping" habit - but it's the only one I indulge.
I've always taken my dog with me. He's getting rather old, but he enjoys the outing.
I went today with my dog and we had walked around for one hour, talking with people and looking at plants. My dog had not peed on anything, had not been aggressive with anyone. He was being "good." A couple of the staff walked up and petted him. One gave him some water out of a hose.
I was getting ready to buy some plants when a woman came up to me and told me that I would need to leave because of my dog - he was too big. He is a greyhound, but they did not ask a dalmation to leave. Also, there was relatively no one in the place. I counted 4 carts in the annuals section.
I told her that I did not know that was the policy, as I had always brought my dog (I've actually brought 2 in the past) and asked if I could go ahead and shop since I had made a special trip and that I would not bring my dog in the future.
She wouldn't allow it and the attitude that I received was insulting. If I hadn't felt ill-treated, I wouldn't be posting this now.
I won't go back again. And I don't recommend this place to any dog lovers.
This is a beautiful place. I needed to buy a houseplant for a gift that was low maintenance and the staff was very helpful in making a selection. I do not have a yard or garden, but friends that have bought outdoor plants here have been very pleased.
this place is outstanding
they remember me every year when i come in
they may be a little pricier than the major chains but it is worth it
so friendly and such great flowers, plants and etc.
Supergorgeous place and part of town.
So yesterday I planted romaine lettuce, arugula, endive, red leaf lettuce, rosemary, basil, broccoli, cilantro, peppers, chocolate mint and parsley. I am planning on adding tomatoes and spinach but they are not available yet. I couldn't have done with without the help of the folks at Gethsemane.
Of course today it's in the 30's!?!! Not incredible planning on my part but keep your fingers crossed for the well-being of my plants.
Victoria was incredibly helpful and let us eat plant leaves as we shopped. I took a detour into the gift shop and became mesmerized by the uniqueness of the goods.
There is a spot east of where the ficus trees are housed where if you crouch down between the rows of plants, I swear you can pretend you are in a forest preserve-very peaceful.
My gardening partner is a pro but I am a bit of a "black thumb" as I have been referred to more than once so I stick to succulents for house plants. I purchased a beautiful jade plant to add to my aloe and red cactus filled window ledge.
With the help of Gethsemane and my gardening partner, I am well on my way to a much greener thumb.
Standing like a gatekeeper on Andersonville's N. side, you can't miss Gethsemane's bright yellow building and sprawling complex. Seems like every year they get bigger, which is a good thing! I'm no green thumb but I sure feel like one here. I like their 1-year bug policy on house plants. Haven't had to use it but I'm sure they would replace your plant should you have any problems. I don't normally get excited about flower and garden shops but Gethsemane certainly warrants all the praise. I deducted one star for the somewhat ridiculous prices in the gift shop.
Lovely place, but prices are outrageous and seem to cater to Lakefront folks who either don't have cars or don't know hows to get to the suburbs or exurbs where things are cheaper. For god's sake, rent a truck and visit Woldhuis in Grants Park (see my review). Also, their statuary comes largely from Continental and Randy, the owner of that firm, will sell you direct for much less if you pay him cash.
Don't support gougers and don't be so fast to assume you can't get anything similar elsewhere.
PS: They do have a nice clearance sale the weekend after Labor Day. Better buys there on decor than on plants.
It's like a plant matching service. You walk in, they ask you a bunch of questions about your personality and your living space, and then they find you ten or so suitable plants. Your choice of curtains, presence of children, and desire to paint your walls will all be important factors. I picked out a small Neanthe Belle ($5.99) that should thrive in my low light apartment.
Really knowledgeable staff. I can't wait to go back. After wrapping your plant in a paper bag, and then another plastic clear one, they give you a little handout so that you can't mess things up. Great for indoor plant novices like myself.
Just got back from a visit here and they already have bedding plants outside for spring. Woo hoo! Yes, I agree with some of the reviewers that they are higher priced than some other places, but in return you get a great selection and really knowledgeable staff. When it comes to home decorating or design I am impaired so I just come in here and tell them I need some plants for a box in direct sun or in the shade and they always put together something which looks great and lasts. Hence I'm back year after year.
I'm so glad a live a short walk (and shorter bus ride) from Gethsemane. I don't have a lot of outdoor space, but I do have some gardening needs, and Gethsemane can fill them all. Since I don't have a car, it's a plus that they're so near a bus stop. Who wants to be carrying a tray of plants for a mile?
Gethsemane truly is a "garden center." In addition to plants and planting needs, they have tons of other stuff for your outdoor space: fountains, decor, garden furniture, you name it. In the fall and winter, they feature tons of potted plants and indoor decorations, including Christmas ornaments and wrapping paper. This is always where I buy my Christmas wreaths and garlands.
Gethsemane gets knocked down a star for a couple of reasons. First, they are pricey. I've stopped buying herbs here, since I know that if I wait a month, I'll find cheaper -- and hardier -- herbs at the farmers market. A friend who knows what she's doing buys her perennials here, but buys her annuals, which are going to die at the end of the season anyway, at Home Depot. The other problem with Gethsemane is that they treat everyone like they don't know what they're talking about. This is understandable, since most of their customers probably don't, and it's good that the staff is knowledgeable. But I've been here with people who know their stuff, and sometimes it's hard for them to get a straight answer. Sometimes it's better to say "I don't know" than to dodge the question.
The friendly staff here helped me build a garden for my deck. The herb garden specialist was particularly helpful as she walked me around and told me what grows well together, which plants flowers bloomed, opened a book and read me what the plants are used for medicinally and for culinary uses. She also made sure each plant i was walking away with was healthy and would last.
They also have the greatest selection of indoor and outdoor trees, and household plants, and make sure they tell you if the plants are good for animals.
This place is amazing. Wish it were less expensive but the knowledge, the passion, the willingness to share, the friendliness, they all make up for the high prices. The vibe in the gift shop is snooty but otherwise, the plant and tree people are positive and wonderful! I LOVE it here.
Gethsemane is a wonderful place. The staff is very knowledgeable about plant care and will spend a lot of time with you making sure you get what you want. I love the selection of indoor and outdoor plants and have been patronizing them for a few years. The gift shop is also lovely. I wish it was a little cheaper, but you pay for good service and information that you wouldn't get at Lowe's or Home Depot.
This is the first year my girlfriend tested our green thumbs, and Gethsemane is our go to spot for supplies. I wouldn't buy my gardening tools here (go to the Crafty Beaver right down the street on Laurence) because it will be overpriced, but I bought all the perennials and soil here.
The staff is very knowledgeable and go out of their way to make sure the customers are cared for.
The selection is huge and the prices are reasonable for the area and the quality of plants.
This is where I go in Chicago to buy my mom presents, they have an adorable gift shop area which connects with the greenhouse with everything that most mom's enjoy and i like quite a bit of it too.
The flowers are amazing as well a large selection for whatever you may be looking for, they have a green house and also two areas farther out where you can buy cement fountains and other bigger outdoor decorations and huge flower pots.
The staff has always been very friendly and I remember them having a wonderful selection of all sorts of things for christmas (including christmas trees) and halloween last year.
My husband and I went on our first tree shopping adventure this past weekend with a bit of fear. Coming from a small town with small town prices and guaranteed customer service - the idea of attempting this tradition "city-style" and leaving happy seemed a bit far fetched. BUT - we were pleasantly surprised when we came ot Gethsemane. They had a ton of trees to choose from - not to mention all of the other holiday adornments. They had a ton of staff on hand - not only to help us pick out the best tree and fresh garland, but to freshly cut it, wrap it and put it in on our vehicle. This weekend was hardly the nicest of weather and yet everyone we spoke to - did it with a smile full of holiday spirit. We will definitely be making Gethesmane part of our holiday tradition in years to come.
Gethsemane is one of the true icons of our neighborhood. The quality of this garden center is second to none in our area. But it ain't cheap.
picked up some herbs, dirt and containers for the window boxes on our balcony. the girl who was helping us was extremely helpful and excited about our project. it's refreshing when people actually work at a job they love and you can tell. explained all the different types of herbs that would mingle well together and have the same watering requirements (gardening for dummies) and recommended we plant some stevia. can't wait to use it to sweeten some cocktails and snack on if i get a sugar craving. staff are always open to questions and suggestion requests and it is an extensive garden center. i took off a star for high prices, but sometimes it's worth it to spend a little more to support local businesses.
This is the Cadillac of Chicago's Garden centers! It is a year round operation that carries everything wonderful from A to Z for the garden.... Quality plants... indoor and out. Very reasonable prices for a place as unique as this. Great selection of pottery, natural and colorful.
Friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff with manners that really transcend today's climate of low level customer service expectations.
Gethsemane Garden Center deserves accolades for being the very best garden center in Chicago! Well worth the trip, near or far away!
Yes, prices are higher here than at Home Depot, but the staff is extremely knowledgeable. Whether you're planting a few window boxes or an entire English garden, the staff can provide suggestions and tips on design and flower care.
Weekends during the late spring and early summer get incredibly busy, so get there early to get the best selection and avoid long lines. I like to walk there on the weekends and just wander among the flowers sometimes.
This place is amazing... I have yet to find a better garden center in the city of Chicago... the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and generally willing to spend the time needed with you to come to right conclusions about how well the plants you are looking to purchase will work in the environment that you are looking to put them in. In addition, the plants are always always in tip-top condition... in fact it is REALLY hard to keep some of their more interesting plants as healthy as they manage to keep them. Which I think, is why their prices are so high... with the level of care, expertise, and individual attention they give to both their customers and plants... to me, it is well-worth paying a bit more than what you might pay at Home Despot to get such a higher quality experience and healthier plant(s). On a final note, the selection here is very comprehensive and varied depending upon what time of year you go in to shop... so it is always an adventure when you go back, because you never know what you might find!
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Category: Florists
Berwyn, IL
Category: Nurseries & Gardening
Niles, IL
Category: Grocery
River Forest, IL
Category: Nurseries & Gardening
Oak Park, IL
Category: Flowers & Gifts
Andersonville is too big for one list. This one is…
Oh and thanks for becoming so swank AFTER I move…
Rogers Park might not seem like it has much, but…
Great independently owned businesses in my fave…
My favorites in the middle western part of the…
