Hinsdale Nurseries, Willowbrook

In the same year that Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick was published and California celebrated its official admission as a state, Hinsdale Nurseries sold its first tree. Since opening its doors in 1850, the family-run nursery—now under the helm of a fourth generation of green thumbs—has upheld its dedication to fostering hardy and beautiful gardens in the oft-extreme climes of the Midwest region, thanks to the staff’s exhaustive knowledge of area growing conditions. These plant enthusiasts coax trees, ornamentals, and perennials from 650 acres of earth in Plano before trucking the verdant bounty to their Willowbrook store for purchase. Hinsdale Nurseries also beautifies green spaces via landscaping services ranging from seasonal yard maintenance to pruning backyard labyrinths and shaving their minotaurs.