Spring in Chicagoland or IS IT?

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 Is it Spring in Chicagoland? 

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I'm Trish here at my Garden Center and Flower shop on the near Northside and Lake Michigan has kept our weather cool and unpredictable. Here, we have adjusted our garden center to help you to do Spring in Chicagoland.

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Since the weather can't make up it's mind. (chuckle)

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We have a large selection of perennials and hardy annuals that are ready for planting now. 

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Tulips are still in bloom, and many great gifts for Mother's Day.

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Cam has the greenhouse full of house plants and more tender starts for when the weather improves. We have a huge selection of garden statuary, pots, plant stands and mini ponds. We will be bringing in new stock everyday from our Batavia greenhouses.

 Special orders are always WELCOME!

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Running in ponds or birdbaths water are soothing as well as beneficial for the birds, butterflies and bees.

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We have Birdhouses and Gnomes and of course Sunflowers for a great sunny theme for your yard or home.

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We specialize in live and artificial arrangements for your outdoors or home. (All in doll scale)

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Frogs frolic in dry ponds, also lots of pottery and ceramic accessories for your yard or home.

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Our Green House is full of plants and decor, as well as hand tools and supplies.

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A greenhouse needs air-circulation to help maintain temperatures. Did you know that moving air makes your plants and flowers stronger?!

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All colors and sorts of potted flowers and plants are in our Greenhouse.

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We have unusual pottery and planters. Custom plantings are available or DIY!

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The fresh stems are always available for your own designs or for gifts. Say it With Fresh Flowers!!

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Always include foliage with your flowers... texture is wonderful in arrangements.

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Lots of garden tools, birdhouses, flags and banners.

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Don't forget Seeds, Pots, and Dirt, Compost and Fertilizers.

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Anyone need a Hedge Hog?

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A frog bath for small spaces. We also have larger pond installations available on our website.

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What garden would not be complete without rocks, stepping stones and plants.

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Come on down to Trish's Garden Center and Flower Shop...we are ready to assist you with all your Garden, Floral or Planting needs. 

And hopefully it will be SPRING soon!

DIY's and sources.

I'm a scrounge collector and many of the miniatures are thrift store finds, Dollar store items, or crafted by me. The large center plant stand came from Target and painted to match all the other store props. 

Greenhouse: adapted from an unbuilt Ikea mini greenhouse, added a taller bottom half scaled to the dolls. All shelving and interiors were added with scrap wood, Door was added later. Lid opens and has battery light attached.

Flower shop construction starts Floral Shop: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Florals are all bits in pieces mounted in foam, with/without moss, plants and bushes: Here

Flowers: Here and Weddings: Here

Plant stands: were purchased on Temu...and each came with pots..perfect scale for Dolls at 1:6 scale.

By all means enhance your dioramas with faux greenery and flowers...great way to seasonally change out a diorama. 

Thanks so much for visiting,

 I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.

 Please do not use my photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

BarbieOldNewGreenRedo, is an ad-free blog.  

I do not endorse or receive any $$ for any products I may use. I enjoy showing how I use products, 

but I do not receive any $$ from anywhere I shop.

Sandi

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Burning the Midnight Oil at Trish's Flower Shop.

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(Trish has been working very hard and burning the midnight oil to get ready for opening tomorrow, but first she filmed a post for her website.)

Come on in for a sneak peek. Of course we are getting ready for Valentine's Day---but we just had 8" of new snow, it like dusted for 4 days here in Chicago.

I've always loved doing the window first! We have a pink, red, and purple theme going on here.

Glass bottles or Demi-johns are still a great choice for minimalist decor, here just a few roses and some tulips with greens. 

Of course there are lots of ROSES and HEARTS!

I did do a Faux rose wreath for outside, but it's so cold out now!

I try to have one statement piece in the shop---this is also done with faux flowers and some dried products.

My shop is small, but I have a huge backroom and an office to work with clients. Now that Covid is over there is LOTS of Wedding Work...and my dates are filling up fast for 2023.

This display wall has fresh flowers, plants, candles and accessories. Of course we have free cards for any purchase and my wild flower seeds.

The new iridescent vases just came in---as did the candles below. Scents from top shelf, Heartnotes(smells like candy hearts, and lower left to right are 

Hot Heart(Spicy Cinnamon), Kisses in the Dark(Sandlwood and Patchouli), and ForgetMeNot (mixed floral), all perfect for the month of February!

I keep a kettle of fresh flowers here, and that is a very pink metal pot.

The cooler is full of flowers for the theme and ready made fresh arrangements. We will be doing lots of custom work for Valentine's Day, but also for other customers.

My faux tulips and roses make a great statement for the season!

I also have two coolers in the back room, full of finished arrangements and lots of materials and flowers for orders. I have a new gal who has been madly working for me, she's great. So, tomorrow I can man the desk and meet with all my friends and everyone who walks in. 

I think we are ready...all the new electrical in the back seems to be working and the new desk and work wall is a dream. Russell installed more outlets and some new overhead LED lighting which is wonderful, because it is natural and doesn't change the colors of flowers or ribbons at all----YAY!

I think we are ready????

Thanks for viewing on my website, I hope to see you tomorrow!

Come pick out something for your Sweetheart tomorrow!

TONIGHT is my last night in St. Charles, 

tomorrow night I sleep in my new apartment at the GrandView.

Phew, but now a long drive home and special thanks to Ian for taking all the photos my website.

(More SHOP PREVIEWS-NEXT)

The Nitty Gritty: Materials and Sources

Trish's Shop: cardboard, contact paper, scrapbook paper bricks, floor-cut scrapbook paper planks, acrylic windows with wood outside trim, doors hand made and painted, plastic interior trim, lighting a globe mini light strand,  

All fixtures are made by me:

Cooler-a drawer divider with added shelves and lighting. Track is plastic channel with real sliding acrylic doors.

Cabinetry is all made from phone boxes and contact paper, and scrapbook paper accents.

Floral Arrangements: 

Roses and flowers: Paper Roses and tulips(Aliexpress), others are different materials, greens are cut from a variety of faux greenery from Michaels or thrift stores (I also have a huge stash of floral products)

Containers: Glass bottles from $$ store, Michaels or thrift stores, acrylic bead filler (I also use these for ice)

Vases:drawer knobs, bottle caps, glass bottles, tin, and thrifted mini's 

porcelain vases circa 1950 porcelain and red pot from thrift stores.

Candles---(faux) glass, washi tapes, and matching bottle caps trays. 

Printed Materials: printed from the internet, size adjusted to be 1:6.

I use hot glue at the moment and wire, floral foam with moss as a coverup to make my arrangements, because I'm in an unventilated environment. Alene's tacky glue is another possibility. All arrangements are anchored with sticky foam or tape to the shelves---for sanity sake.

Trish (Mattel Jurassic Park) and mis-matched outfit is from thrift store finds. 

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I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or products shown, or from where I shop. 

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 Please do not use my photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi






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