Where does the name “Aster Gardens” come from?

I started working at The Growing Place in Naperville back in the 90s. I had to memorize all the perennials in botanic Latin. The Asters were TOUGH because they bloom so late there was nothing to identify them by, they sort of looked like weeds. So I decided they could “kiss my aster” and an empire was born.

How long have you been open?

We opened at the end of July 2022

How long have you been like this?

For an extremely long time.

Do you sell Bonsai?

Nope, I suggest The Hidden Garden in Willowbrook. They are incredibly hard to keep alive and I think trying to control nature that hard is not how I want to spend my time, not to yuck anyone’s yum.

How is the store doing?

The store would like people to visit it or it gets lonely. Supporting small business is the antidote to Amazon, Temu, etc. I can’t wait to make enough money so that I can pring in more pottery, especially the large ones. So keep shopping small!

What’s with the plastic babies everywhere?

They’re for kids to find while their grownups are shopping. They get to keep the first one they find and they have to hide any extras for other kids. They’re king cake babies!

Are dogs allowed at Aster Gardens?

No, because most houseplants are toxic to pets and if anything ever happened I’d trow myself in the I&M Canal. Service Dogs are always welcome.

Do you sell edelweiss?

It doesn’t grow here, it’s a very special plant and what makes it special is that you have to go to the Alps to see it. We do not have the right soil, altitude or attitude for it.

Is everything you offer on your site?

Heck no. We sell a ton of plants and they never make it on the site, shipping plants is difficult, not to mention they are more of a commodity than a product. Crops fail, availabilities get wiped out… We definitely have more than what you see. We do special orders, too.