Hornbaker Gardens | Illinois Prairie Roots, Hostas & a Family Nursery Worth the Road Trip

If Hornbaker Gardens isn't already on your must-visit list, it's about to be. This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Dave Hornbaker, second-generation co-owner of one of Illinois' most beloved destination nurseries — a place that grew from a dream on a patch of prairie into a full-scale garden center, event venue, and hosta lover's paradise.

Dave walks us through the whole story — from the early days of digging in the dirt alongside his family to building a nursery with a reputation for sweeping hosta collections, thoughtfully curated companion plants, and landscapes that stop you in your tracks. Hornbaker Gardens isn't just a place to buy plants. It's a place that makes you feel something.

We dig into their philosophy of gardening as an art form, what keeps the Hornbaker family grounded in their mission to inspire, and why gardeners from across the Midwest keep making the trip to Princeton, Illinois year after year.

Whether you're a seasoned hosta collector, a plant parent dreaming of your next road trip, or just discovering the world of shade gardening — this conversation will leave you refreshed, inspired, and itching to get your hands back in the dirt.

Topics covered:

• The origin story of Hornbaker Gardens — from prairie to plant destination
• Building a second-generation family nursery in the heart of Illinois
• Hostas and companion plants that define the Hornbaker Gardens experience
• Gardening as an art form — the philosophy behind the landscapes
• What makes Hornbaker Gardens a Midwest road trip worth taking
• Running a garden center and event venue side by side
• Inspiration for shade gardeners at every level

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