My favorite place for gorgeous summer flowers?  A cute little local boutique and green house called resides on the north side of Chicago and if full of almost anything you could want for your green thumb.  Located at 5739 North Clark, Gethsemane takes up a full city block (including a private parking lot, bonus!)  and hosts cute as can be yellow cottage inspired buildings.  They stock all sorts of flowers for all walks of life, sun, shade, seeds, and everything in between.  The flowers are beautiful and well cared for and have performed wonderfully in my tiny city garden every year for the past three years I have been shopping with them.  When you have had your fill of flowers and dirt, head inside the cute boutique for garden themed gifts, vases, garden ornaments, jewelry, hand made soaps, candles, and more.  Prices are slightly higher than in your typical big box store, but the selection and quality more than makes up for the difference.

As beautiful as the flowers and gifts are, the real standout at Gethsemane is the staff.  The knowledge of the garden staff is fantastic.  Planning your first garden?  Buddy up to a Gethsemane employee and let them walk you through the art of designing your floral layout.  They have expert eyes and can suggest a plant that will look gorgeous with your favorites you did not even know existed.  Rain or shine!  And they are not kidding, one year when a torrential down pour hit mid shopping trip, no one was fazed, everyone grabbed their ponchos and continued spreading the love.  And do not forget to take advantage of the staff for their knowledge of caring for plants.  One employee suggested the perfect food for my Orchid while another helped me through fixing my legg-y and drooping succulents.

Want to check out Gethsemane yourself?  After three years of balcony gardening, I have found it helpful to do a little pre-planning to get the most out of your trip.  So here are some things I’ve found helpful to know before you go, answer these “what” questions and you’ll end up with a happy, memorable trip and a beautiful garden.

What your sun and wind like?  While you can certainly try to grow any plant or flower you love (the worst that happens is it dies), knowing how much sun you get will help you start in the right section of the greenhouse. Living in the “windy city” can wreak havoc on your plants, so taking note of how much wind you get can be helpful.  Maybe stay away from delicate fushia if you live on the 19^th floor in the loop. 

What your dedication is like?  Are you the sort of person that can water every day when its 90 degrees?  If you travel a lot or are not dedicated to watering on a schedule, stick to plants that can handle your lifestyle.  Fear not, there are always succulents, which thrive on being under watered.

What kind of flowers you like?  This is a great time to pick up a copy of Better Homes and Gardens.  See what inspires you, rip out the page, and bring it with you.  If you love your flowers, you will be dedicated to taking care of them. There is a general rule in building containers or balcony boxes that you want a “thriller, filler, and spiller” meaning something tall and splashing, something dense and low, and something to spill out of the container.  This is a great place to start, but it is okay if you see something your love and want to break the rules.  Also think about what colors you like to look at.  My favorite flower year was when I stuck to bright pinks and greens (above).  Try to stay with a few colors, as lots of colors can get messy and uninspiring.  Again, if you love your flowers, you’ll want to take care of them.

Happy Shopping!  Plan your trip at the Gethsemane website.