Green Garden Mama

11/17/2023

Mulch day = arm day. We're pooped. Vicky Pawlik Blust

11/15/2023

Last chance for spring bulbs! There's still plenty of time to plant - as long as the ground isn't frozen!

I have tall purple allium or mixed crocus left. Allium is in bags of 5 for $10, crocus is 20 for $15. There are 5 bags of each. All bulbs are ready for pickup anytime.

11/02/2023

Tulips are bagged, 1600 are in the ground, another 1000 get planted tomorrow. If you are looking for something different in your landscape next spring, these tulips will be beautiful!! A few bags still left...

11/01/2023

Hey locals - if you will have bales of straw to dispose of this fall after your Halloween or Thanksgiving outdoor decor is finished, I'd love to take them off your hands. Please DM me if you are near north Lombard and want me to re-home your straw bales when you're done with them!

10/31/2023

Frostmas - the holiday you've probably never heard of. Flower farmers across the country will mark this as the official end of their harvest season, but it falls on different days in every location! For us this year it was today, Oct 31st - and we skipped over frost and went straight for a freeze! Snow flurries all day as we planted our first bed of tulips.

10/30/2023

The tulips have arrived!! I'm packing up bags this week for everyone who pre-ordered, but there are still more available - but only for a few more days. If you'd like to snag some of these beautiful double tulips that are different from the big box stores, you can order only at www.greengardenmama.com/shop.

10/28/2023

One last harvest before the frost hits for real this weekend. Well done, zinnias... I'll see you again next season!

10/24/2023

The Great Dahlia Dig is underway. 2 days in, we've cleared 6 beds and have 4 left to go.

Dahlias are a perennial plant but not hardy to our growing zone, so if I leave them on the ground they won't survive the winter. It's a big job to plant them in the spring and dig them in the fall, but to me it's worth it for weeks and weeks and weeks of such beautiful blooms!

If you love dahlias too but don't want the hassle of digging them up each winter, you can just plant them as an annual in the spring. They get big and beautiful in a single season, and will give you weeks of blooms in late summer and early fall.

I'll have lots of varieties for sale this winter, keep a look out for more details about my tuber sale later this fall!

10/20/2023

My helper Vicky has been here helping me identify and tag all 500 dahlia plants. This way when we start digging on Monday, we will know which tuber is which for proper storage and planting next season. Even more importantly, for my tuber sales this winter! I'll have a few of varieties available for pre-sale beginning in the next few weeks, after I have an idea of how many tubers I'll have, and will add more varieties as we get closer to spring, to make sure they are storing well.

10/19/2023

I've lucked out this fall, and the frost has skipped over me for now, but the fields are officially closing this weekend. If you'd like one last bouquet for the season, now is the time! I'll have some ready on Friday and Saturday - let me know if you'd like me to have one ready for you!

10/14/2023

This big ball dahlia (4-5 inches across) is "Pink Pearl" - the most delicate blush in the heat of summer, turning to nearly white as the weather cools at the end of the season. One of my shorter plants, this one tops out around 3 feet, but is a reliable bloomer.

10/13/2023

Soaking in the last week or two of dahlia season. Lots of documentation, tagging, and labeling still has to happen before I can put them away for the season. I grow more than 50 varieties, and once they are dug up they all look the same! But many of my varieties will be available for sale as tubers over the winter, so it's extra important to know which is which.

10/12/2023

A bucket of peachy dahlias and matching zinnias that went out this week for a wedding. One of my favorite colors for both summer and fall!

10/11/2023

Driving to work this morning I saw patches of frost on lawns... I worried all day that my dahlias might be done for the season. But they made it through!

My dahlias are currently living on borrowed time. A hard frost will do them in for the season. By this time of year I'm both dreading frost (no more harvesting 😪) and eagerly anticipating it (no more harvesting! 🙂). Looks like I still have a little time to enjoy these beauties, plus I still have lots of tagging left to do to make sure I know what's what when I go to dig them up in a few weeks!

10/10/2023

Frost advisory tonight - but the cold nights have given the zinnias the most beautiful frosted tips. I wish we had weeks left of this weather!

10/07/2023

I've been documenting my dahlia varieties over the last few weeks, and trying to make notes for myself about which varieties are my favorites, what there growth pattern is like, how soon/often they bloom, etc.

This plant here is Nicholas. It's a later bloomer, and the first bloom is always on a short, crotchy stem, but subsequent blooms are on longer, more useable stems. I tend to sacrifice the first blooms, or use them in small vase arrangements.

Not my most prolific bloomer, but toward frost this one comes in strong with truly beautiful blooms that are a peachy orange. Petals have a burgundy hue where they come together in the center, and a golden blush at mid petal, which makes these blooms almost glow in the garden.

10/04/2023

Another harvest after dark. 8 buckets for 3 lovely florists - gonna be some gorgeous weddings this weekend!!

10/03/2023

Why yes, I am outside harvesting at night like a crazy person. And only 1 bumblebee fell down inside my shirt.

09/29/2023

I'm out harvesting today for tomorrow's pop up sale at to celebrate National Coffee Day! Check it out at 617 N York Rd in Elmhurst from 11am-2pm.

Along with my fresh flowers, there will be coffee inspired macarons by , and Filipino cuisine + dessert by

09/28/2023

My friend came out to document some of my flowers yesterday while I was harvesting, and caught me in my FOREST of dahlias. They really are that tall!

I'm heading out again this morning to cut more for my workshop tonight at in Elmhurst. If you want to get in on the fun, you can reserve your ticket for TONIGHT (Thursday, Sept 28) at https://www.greengardenmama.com/product-page/flower-arranging-workshop-thursday-9-8-22-7pm

09/27/2023

Had such a lovely morning harvesting today alongside my friend ! She took some awesome photos, and literally drained her battery. I can't wait to see some of the gorgeous stuff she came up with!

09/25/2023

Only three days left to register for Thursday's Flower Arranging Workshop at Brewpoint Craft Elmhurst, and only a few seats left! Grab yourself today and join me Thursday at 7 to learn some of my favorite flower varieties and how I like to arrange them.

https://www.greengardenmama.com/product-page/flower-arranging-workshop-thursday-9-8-22-7pm

09/22/2023

Green Garden Mama is getting ready to "grow" again... and we need to expand! In order to keep my flowers as local as possible, I'm looking to utilize space in my neighborhood.

I am looking for:
- full sun
- hose access for water
- reasonably flat land
- a minimum of 1500 square space, but ideally more
- in or near North Lombard

If you are interested in hosting a growing space in your yard next year, or know of a good location, please reach out to me!

09/21/2023

Looking to get some tricks and tips to design your own flower arrangements? Join me on Thursday, September 28th at 7pm at (617 N York Road, Elmhurst). You'll get to pick your own vase from my collection, and select from some of my favorite flower varieties to create an arrangement unique to you!

Tickets are available online at https://www.greengardenmama.com/product-page/flower-arranging-workshop-thursday-9-8-22-7pm

09/14/2023

Looking to get some tricks and tips to design your own flower arrangements? Join me on Thursday, September 28th at 7pm at Brewpoint Craft Elmhurst (617 N York Road, Elmhurst). You'll get to pick your own vase from my collection, and select from some of my favorite flower varieties to create an arrangement unique to you!

Tickets are available online at https://www.greengardenmama.com/product-page/flower-arranging-workshop-thursday-9-8-22-7pm

09/07/2023

Friday Flowers! Fresh cut local flowers featuring zinnias, dahlias, celosia, and more - grab yours starting Friday morning at 8.30am! Comment below or pm me to reserve yours for pickup on Friday or Saturday! Wrapped bouquets are $20 each, and I accept cash, venmo, or zelle. Pickup from my porch in north Lombard.

09/05/2023

In a few short weeks the temperatures will be cooling off for real, and tulip planting time will be upon us! I have thousands of bulbs on the way, and will be sharing some of my very favorite varieties as bulbs you'll be able to plant at home.

There are early and late varieties, mostly beautiful double blooms. For more details or to place an order, check out www.greengardenmama.com/shop.

08/30/2023

My fall Floral Subscription CSA begins in just 1 more week, and will be full of beauties like these peachy gold dahlias. It will be a perfect end to the summer growing season! Reserve yours at www.greengardenmama.com/shop.

08/22/2023

Lombard Farmer's Market today from 2-7pm just west of the fire station on St Charles Road - so many great vendors including fresh produce, meat, honey, soap, candy, tea, spices, and more...hope I see you there!

08/18/2023

Friday flowers! A mix of dahlias, zinnias, strawflower, celosia, amaranth, veronica, and cosmos. Brighten up your weekend - pick up from my porch for $20 per bouquet.

07/31/2023

My 5 week summer CSA starts this Friday, and there are just a few openings left! Enjoy 5 weeks of flowers for $100, picked up from my front porch, or add on local delivery for $25.
www.greengardenmama.com/shop

07/29/2023

Colorful zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, celosia... a few of the fun things that make up my summer and fall CSA subscriptions.

Summer subscriptions begin on Friday, August 4 and run for 5 consecutive weeks, available as pickup from my porch or delivery to your door for an additional fee.

Fall subscriptions begin on Friday, Sept 8 and run through Friday, Oct 6.

A few spots are still open in both summer and fall, reserve yours today at www.greengardenmama.com/shop.

07/28/2023

A fun mix of sweet sorbet colors going out the door today. Loving all my peachy pink zinnias this year!

07/25/2023

Happy Tuesday! I can't make it to the Farmer's Market today, so Soapy Roads of Lombard generously offered to "host" my flower table at their tent! Make sure you stop by (and get some soap while you are at it!)

07/18/2023

These strawflowers are such a fun filler - they make the cutest crinkle sound when you touch them! Come touch some today at the on St Charles Road by the fire station, from 2-7pm.

07/07/2023

This week's flowers include echinacea, yarrow, snapdragons, allium, scabiosa, and more!

I'll have more available this weekend, reserve yours for pickup by commenting or messaging me.

06/29/2023

I've got a 'strawberry lemonade' vibe happening this week - lots of pink and yellow snapdragons, yarrow, feverfew, and lilies, paired with some mint for a lovely fresh scent.

Fresh cut bouquets $20, available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this weekend, for pickup in north Lombard. Perfect as a hostess gift, or just for your own counter!

05/30/2023

At the Lombard Farmer's Market today until 7pm! Grab some honey, organic meat, produce, handmade soap, freeze dried candy, live music, and more. We are just west of the Fire Department on St Charles Road - stop by!

05/23/2023

The Lombard Farmer's Market opens today, we will be there from 2-7pm. I will be there with seedlings, potted dahlias, perennials, and cut flowers, plus more than 20 other vendors will be there with produce, meat, food trucks, bakery products, gelato, coffee, soap, honey, and more!

Just west of the Lombard Fire Department on St Charles Road, east of Main Street. Hope to see you there!

Today is the day! Lombard Farmers Market is open for the season! 2pm-7pm, live music starts at 4! 20 E. St. Charles Road. Parking is available in the Hammerschmidt lot across the street. Can’t wait to see you there!

05/12/2023

Plant sale SATURDAY, May 13 from 10am-2pm, on the 100 block of east Goebel (Near Main and North Ave in Lombard).

Plants starting at $2.50, including annual strawberries, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, melons, dahlias, and more!