Michigan flower farm Archives - City Escape Garden Center & Design Studio

My Gift to You

Posted on December 9, 2021 at 8:33 pm.

The Magic of CityEscape at Christmas

Growing up on my family’s Michigan flower farm, Christmastime was always a season of wonder and discovery.

My December memories include blankets of crisp white snow, majestic pine twinkling with ice and spruce decorated with snowy puffs. Inside, among the season’s scents from the kitchen, heirloom ornaments, passed from one generation to the next, accented on our fresh Christmas trees.

Holiday memories have a way of becoming family traditions – and that’s the magic behind CityEscape at Christmas.

Inspired by a childhood where tradition mattered and creativity was encouraged, the care and love put into CityEscape’s holiday experience is my gift to you.

From twinkling lights in the courtyard and fresh-cut greens and wreaths in the pergola, to holiday music, scents and vignettes throughout the shop, my intent is that you take home inspiration that evokes memories and ideas to craft new traditions.

From holiday trees and greens to scents and accents, every item at CityEscape is hand selected and a treasure for gift giving that is custom and unique. Around every corner, visitors will find joy in the many holiday vignettes situated with purpose throughout CityEscape. Every tree tells a story of tradition, trends and experiences, while providing a visual shopping trip of creative, how-to ideas and “ah-ha” moments.

To elevate trees literally and figuratively, our signature style is to present them in containers that are appropriate to the story or theme we’re presenting. Containers may be vintage, wrought-iron, urns, classic or contemporary. This is something you can easily do at home to emphasize the story of your family’s holiday tree.

My team and I begin planning CityEscape’s holiday experience in October, mindful to include traditional palettes of red, green, gold and silver, while bringing in new ideas for blending or spotlighting trends, colors and styles.

Through the years, we’ve had upside down trees, trees mounted on tables and in sleighs and even a pink tree. This year, BOHOLOVE is the customer favorite. It features Bohemian influences balanced with white-washed vintage urns, baskets and an oversized natural wood Italian mirror as a backdrop.

The entire Boho look is comprised of shell chandeliers, gourd baskets from Zimbabwe, natural wood and shell tassels. The colors are white and champagne, with tinted clear glass balls and finials and glittery snowflakes. White birds and star seed pods are tucked into the branches.

No matter the style of tree, the secret to elegant presentation is layering. Wrap twinkling lights on each branch, working from the inside to the outside. Place larger ornaments deep in the tree and complement their shapes with cascading French ribbon woven into the branches. Add florals, seedpods, glitter sticks, garland or berries to further layer the look. You’ll find these items and more in CityEscape’s Christmas Market.

While you’re enjoying the tradition and beauty that Chicago offers during the holidays, add CityEscape to your list of must-see destinations and find your family’s fresh-cut tree with us. After all, we have magic in store.

May your holidays and the new year be filled with familiar comforts and new traditions.

Connie

**CityEscape’s winter wonderland evokes timeless traditions while lending sparkle to new ones.**

**White-washed star seedpods are tucked into branches on CityEscape’s Bohemian inspired tree – voted a 2021 customer favorite.**

**Tradition! Green plays a supporting role to red and silver ornaments, faux berries and trailing French ribbon.**

**Shades of green, blue and silver with lots of sparkle and shine are on point for Holiday 2021.**

(Photos: Sue Markgraf, GreenMark Media)

Lessons from Sam the Caterpillar

Posted on June 1, 2021 at 7:53 pm.

Written by Marty Regan

It’s always interesting to me how can grow into lifelong passions—and sometimes into professions. My love of nature and the environment began with a natural curiosity at a very young age and a gigantic, bluish-green caterpillar that I named Sam.

Sam was my world at 5 years old and I was delighted when I found Sam inching its way up a willow tree on my family’s Michigan flower farm. Sam was almost as big as my hand and its little hairs tickled my palm when my grandmother, mom and I tucked it safely into an old birdcage.

We had no idea back then that this beautiful creature was a cecropia caterpillar or that Sam would one day become a moth whose species is the largest in the United States. At its biggest, Sam the caterpillar was about four inches long and ¾ inches round. Sam ate mostly bits of willow, apple and lilac and one day spun the most elaborate silken cocoon.

When it hatched, Sam’s transformation was a beautiful surprise, and we worried about how to get Sam out of the birdcage without damaging its huge wings! Cecropia moths’ wingspan is typically five to seven inches.

Cecropia moths are found across North America and as far west as Washington and most of the Canadian provinces. They lay eggs on trees, with larvae commonly found on maple, cherry and birch. Cecropia moths live off the stores from their caterpillar fat. Lacking functional mouthparts and digestive systems, their primary function is to mate.

A member of the giant silk moth family, cecropia’s colors are an artful mix of beige, soft brown, red and cream, with unique markings and patterns on its wings. Their lifespan is about two weeks.

I was heartbroken when the day came that Sam was gone. The bittersweet joy of watching Sam transform provided profound lessons for me. I’m not quite sure how we figured out what type of moth Sam was, but Sam was glorious.

When I see a moth or butterfly in our CityEscape gardens, I remember Sam and those memories make me smile. Growing up on a farm and enjoying playing outdoors with my family taught me many things about life and about living curiously. As summer dawns on Chicago, encourage curious living with the children in your care. You just never know the impact it may have on their life—and possibly even their profession.

See you at CityEscape,

Connie

The Power of a Garden

Posted on April 13, 2021 at 8:20 pm.

Written by ce-admin

Gardening and caring for the land are in my blood. CityEscape was conceived out of that passion and an internal call to get back to my roots.

Growing up on my family’s Michigan flower farm, early spring was always a glorious season. Soft rains washed away the cold winter and summer was still a promise of warm breezes and family times outdoors together.

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Spring brought fresh fragrances and bright blooms in an array of eye-candy colors accented by rich, fertile soil. Those memories are always present in my every day here at CityEscape, and especially this spring.

Hellebore, a member of the Ranunculaceae family, is an early spring bloomer and is sometimes called the Lenten Rose. Its long-lasting flowers and semi evergreen foliage range from white to deep red. Our favorites include the outward facing, large flowering, Molly’s White, Honeyhill Joy, Walberton’s Ivory Prince and Anna’s Red, among others.

The cold winter is behind us and the promise of what lies ahead whispers hope that life will once again renew itself in glorious ways—evidence in the joy of sunny yellow daffodils, elegant showy hellebores, demure grape hyacinth and poppy chartreuse variegated sweet flag that are planted at CityEscape’s front doors. For me, the experience of removing a plant from its pot, dusting up its roots and digging it into fresh soil for new growth is one of life’s pleasures. That sense of renewal is the power of a garden.

Hyacinth bulbs always seem to stretch before they bloom.

Plant a tulip and plant color. These will soon be open for business!

Cool weather annuals, perennials and pussy willow branches are ready for home gardens. Our crews are waking up our inventory of trees and shrubs from their over-wintered nesting spots. Come and see us!

Through a tough winter, there is always a joyful spring. I find that is one of life’s pleasant curiosities.

See you at CityEscape,

Connie

(Photos: Sue Markgraf, GreenMark Media)