Experience the Seasons with Gethsemane
Our yards change dramatically over the course of the year, from our iconic pansy-filled spring yard to the cozy forest of Christmas trees in the winter. Come visit, we’ve got something exciting for you all year long.
Spring
seeds | february
We get seeds in early, providing you with plenty of time to plan your garden and begin seed-starting activities before planting season arrives. We carry a wide variety of seeds for flowers and edible plants.
easter lillies | march
In the weeks leading up to Easter, Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorum) can be found in the greenhouse. We carefully manage the plants so that blooms peak in time for the Easter holiday. Quantities may be limited, so contact us to check on availability.
pansies | Late march
For us, the arrival of pansies marks the shift from winter to spring and the beginning of the gardening season. Look for pansies to arrive when outside temperatures remain at a constant 50°F.
summer-blooming bulbs | late march
Summer-flowering bulbs are an effective way to add bold colors to your garden during its peak season. Here in Chicago, these bulbs are either treated as annuals or are dug up in the fall and stored for winter.
Hydrangeas | April
White, pink, and blue hot-house hydrangeas arrive in our greenhouse at the start of their bloom cycle, giving you color for weeks.
spring containers | mid-april
Summer
summer-blooming tropicals | may
Our greenhouse brings in a variety of tropical plants to make your outdoor spaces spectacular. These plants are not cold hardy, so make certain the temperatures are no longer dipping below 55°F at night. Passion flowers, hibiscus, allamandas, plumerias, a variety of jasmines, oleanders, and more. Many of these plants can be successfully overwintered inside.
summer containers | mid-may
Containers are an easy way to add summer color to your outdoor spaces. Hand-planted at Gethsemane, our summer containers feature Chicago favorites like geraniums, begonias, vinca, celosia, and impatiens, and are designed for a variety of light and sun exposures. Choose from pre-made drop-in designs or special order a custom container to fit your existing one.
Autumn
spring-blooming bulbs | september
Tulips, alliums, hyacinth, crocus, narcissus, oh my! Come September, Gethsemane stocks a wide variety of spring-blooming bulbs. Our knowledgeable sales staff can assist you in selecting the best bulbs for your garden.
fall containers | september
Drop-in containers are a quick and easy way to dress up your outdoor spaces for autumn. Hand-arranged at Gethsemane, our fall containers feature Chicago favorites like mums, ornamental cabbage, kale, millet, and more. Choose from pre-made designs or special order a custom container to fit your existing one.
mums | september
Gethsemane’s mums are cultivated locally by family-owned and operated growers, many of whom grow exclusively for us. Mums arrive in our annuals yard towards the end of the season.
kiln-dried firewood | late september
Choose from a variety of woods and load sizes to fit your needs. Available for pick-up or delivery. Call first to check on availability.
pumpkins & Gourds | october
Many unusual varieties of gourds and pumpkins live in our annuals yard through November. All our pumpkins and gourds are grown and harvested locally at family-owned and operated farms. Some expertly pre-decorated pumpkins can be found, if you’re lucky, throughout the season.
straw bales & corn stalks | october
Straw bales can be used as festive seating and ornamentation during the fall holiday season, as an insulating ground cover for over-wintering plants in the yard, or as an alternative to raised bed gardening.
winter bulbs | mid-october
Kick off the holiday season with colorful amaryllis and snowy paperwhite narcissus (daffodils). Bulbs can be purchased as part of a DIY take-home set, pre-planted in a decorative pot, as individual bulbs, or with a decorative water vessel designed specifically for these blooming beauties.
Winter
Christmas Trees & GARLAND | late november
Gethsemane’s Christmas trees, grown on family farms in North Carolina and Michigan, are known for their exceptional quality and freshness. Cut within 48 hours of shipping, many arrive just a day after being harvested. Our trees are available from Thanksgiving through Christmas in the Annuals and Perennials yards.
Call us to reserve your Christmas tree delivery!
poinsettias | november
Thanksgiving through Christmas, our greenhouse is taken over by poinsettias. We carry a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of poinsettias – all sourced from local, family-owned and operated growers. Plants arrive daily throughout the season so we always have a diverse selection to choose from.
Poinsettias are available for online ordering starting in November.
custom holiday wreaths | November
Each Frasier fir or Noble fir mix wreath is hand-decorated by Gethsemane artisans and made to order. Contact us between Thanksgiving and Christmas to discuss our current decoration options and order your unique holiday wreath. Due to demand, the availability of materials may change quickly, so call and order early.
winter containers | november
Norfolk island pines | november
Arriving in the Greenhouse in mid-November, these tropical plants make great living trees for inside the home. Supplies are limited and are available while they last. The trees are shipped in a number of sizes, from small tabletop trees to large floor specimens.
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