We Grow Dreams-West Chicago greenhouse and Wasco Nursery

I made a quick trip to We Grow Dreams greenhouse yesterday looking to buy some vegetable plants at a place other than a home improvement store or a grocery store parking lot tent. My usual go to place is the Caputo's in Hanover Park as they have a nice selection, a few exotics and are reasonably priced, but time didn't permit. As I was packing my plants in the car I happened to notice the banner on the main building explaining the greenhouse was a not for profit that employs people with disabilities, so it's nice to know your money is going to a decent cause.

On to the plants:
I picked up 6 tomatoes - Caspian Pink, Lemon Boy, Brandywine, Sun Sugar, Early Girl and a standard Tomatillo
I grabbed two Bright Lights chard and a healthy 6 pack of Red Russian Kale and a variety of spinach with sort of shiny waxy leaves and red veins, but the name escapes me. Finally, for some spice I picked up a Super Chili and a Giant Marconi pepper (sweet) and a standard eggplant. All of this came to right around 20 bucks and seemed a reasonable price for the size and health of the plants.

The facility itself is a little rough around the edges and sort of messy, but it's a greenhouse in a semi industrial area. All in all they have a very nice variety of plants with a few surprising choices and a deep selection of tomatoes, chilies, lettuces and herbs. I wouldn't call it a destination, but if you live in the Western burbs it's worth a look if you don't want to buy plants at Home Depot or the like. I miss the old greenhouse in Geneva that sold to developers a few years ago and unfortunately independent greenhouses are becoming a rare species.

If you want to drive a little further and spend a bit more I'd recommend Wasco Nursery in lovely, picturesque Wasco. Last year I purchased an apricot tree which is thriving and producing fruit already and this year picked up a few fairly mature blueberry bushes. The place is a serious nursery with a large selection and upper level pricing. Their stock is top notch and I'd say a level above what you would get at a big box store. An apt comparison would be buying meat from an old school butcher compared to prepacked steaks at Jewel or Dominicks. With a decent greenhouse or nursery you have skilled folks selecting stock that is suitable for our growing zone and paying attention to it as opposed to flats and flats of questionable stocked trucked in from who knows where at the big box stores tended to by surly teenagers. I've purchased plenty of plants from the big box places, but when given the choice I now go with the independents when possible as the quality tends to be a notch above.

We Grow Dreams
1055 West Washington Street
West Chicago, Illinois 60185
Phone (630) 293-0100
Mon – Fri. 9:00 am –3:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
*Hours vary slightly based on seasonal needs

Wasco Nursery & Garden Center
41W781 Route 64
St. Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 630.584.4424
Fax: 630.584.4469
[email protected]

I'm a long time customer of Wasco Nursery, definitely over 20 years, and I have bought a great deal from them and have had them design and do projects for me. They do top notch work and are easy to work with. Three years ago we were having drainage problems that we were able to solve with their landscape designer Meagan whose crew came in and regraded our backyard and installed about 50 plants, bushes and a weeping Japanese Maple. The next season several things did not come back but no problem, I gave Meagan a call, told her what didn't come back and she sent someone over to replace them. Ten years ago we bought a White Oak that they planted, it's now a good 30 feet tall! They are worthy of a trip out there, check their website because they frequently host seminars during the week and on Saturdays. The staff is well informed and don't mind if you just come out, have a cup of coffee with them and pick their brains about anything plant wise.