At Home 2022

into hosta territory

words by TOM GIFFEY

EAU CLAIRE COUPLE AGAIN OPEN UP LARGEST PRIVATE HOSTA GARDEN IN WISCONSIN

As the long Wisconsin winter finally fades, the hours of daylight grow, and the earth itself begins to warm, gardeners and non-gardeners alike welcome the green shoots that have at last begun to emerge from the earth.

A t the home of Richard and Karen Witt outside Eau Claire outside Eau Claire, these shoots are innumerable, and most are of the same genus of plant: hostas. These hearty perennials are well-loved by gardeners worldwide, but few love them more than the Witts, who over the course of nearly 50 years have created a massive home garden showcasing a mind-boggling array of the plants. Why hostas? “They’re pretty, they’re versatile, there’s something for everybody,” explains Richard, a retired UW-Eau Claire mathematics professor. Hostas provide an instant lush look to landscaping, he says, and they come in an astonishing array of colors, sizes, and variegations (those are the complicated color patterns on their leaves).

Garden lovers will soon be able to enjoy the fruits of the Witts’ green thumbs: This year, for the first time since before the pandemic, the couple will be holding a garden walkabout for visitors over the first weekend in June.

“It’s fun doing the best I can to answer questions about hostas,” Richard says when asked about the walkabout, which in past years has welcomed hundreds of visitors. “For me, it’s just a passion. I love to talk about hostas and how nifty they are.”

Richard and Karen moved to Eau Claire from Madison in 1974 and soon established a garden. Richard brought with him a few plants that he particularly liked. A few years later, he was told they were hostas. Seeking more, he proceeded to take

out an ad in the newspaper and soon had a truck bed full of plants he’d dug up from other gardeners.

“Then I started to get foolish with these,” Richard says. “My passion was breaking out.”

He was a dedicated collector of hostas until about a decade ago, and at one time had about 1,400 different varieties and far more individual plants: If he liked a particular variety, he might have six or eight specimens. Today, the Witts have scaled back a bit and have “only” about 1,000 varieties. They are planted along picturesque ro ck, brick, and mulch paths that wind through the woods around their home. “I won’t show you all the paths, because you’d be here until tomorrow morning,” he tells a visitor.

Come summer, hostas will cover several acres of the couple’s property in the Town of Brunswick just south of Eau Claire. During a visit on a chilly late April afternoon, however, the ground was mostly

bare, save for the clusters of asparagus-like shoots beginning to poke above ground. Printed signs indicated the varieties that would soon flourish, names that include Alligator Shoes, Torchlight, Cherub, Ice Cream, Forest Shadows, Gypsy Rose, Captain Kirk, and Komodo Dragon. The latter is one of the largest varieties in the Witts’ garden: These plants will grow to be 3 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide.

In addition to the thousands of hostas, the Witts cultivate numerous companion plants, including ferns, rhododendrons, and lilies. Together, the effect will be one of an undulating tide of green covering the Wisconsin hillside.

“The great joy of most gardeners is sharing their garden,” Richard says. “If people come out and enjoy the garden in a walkabout, I couldn’t ask for more.”

The hosta walkabout will be 9am6pm Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 5, at W2585 Rim Rock Road, Eau Claire. To find the garden, travel south on Highway 37 from Eau Claire for about 6 miles, then turn left (east) into Rim Rock Hills. Call 715-834-0447 for more information.

“They’re pretty, they’re versatile. There’s something for everybody.”

Richard Witt on what he likes about hostas

hard-to-kill houseplants

words by SAWYER HOFF

EASY PLANTS TO TAKE CARE OF IF YOU WEREN’T BORN WITH A GREEN THUMB

f you’re like me, you love the vibe of plants around your house but can’t seem to keep them alive. I’ve been through more house plants than I’d like to admit, so I switched to the fake plastic ones, but they’re just not the same. So if you’re in the same sad situation I’m in, here are some house plants that are low maintenance but still very pretty.

1. snake plants. These funky looking tall plants will give your space a super earthy vibe, and there is a variety of different looking leaf shapes to choose from. They can grow in basically any kind of light and don’t need to be watered often. Just feel around in the soil, if it’s dry, water it. If it’s not dry… don’t water it. Simple.

2. philodendron. These plants are so cute: They look like little glassy hearts. They’re great hanging plants as well, so if you have a book shelf or a cute hanging basket, these will look adorable dangling down. Philodendrons can also thrive in low light and only need watering when the soil is dry. NOTE: These are poisonous

to eat, so they’re not really recommended for those with pets or small children … or as a salad topping.

3. spider plants. These are weird but in a super cool way. As the name implies, they are spidery, and they will create little baby plants at the end of their leaves –again weird but cool. The se need a tad bit more light than the others, so place them near a window and keep the soil as moist as possible. These babies are super cheap as well.

4. hoya. These unique plants are some of the most beautiful out there, and they’re super low-maintenance. They need medium to bright light, but only need water when the soil is dry. They can also occasionally sprout some really sweet smelling flowers, if you’re into that kind of thing.

5. pothos. This is also known as the Devil’s Ivy –don’t ask me why, it’s a sweet and low-maintenance plant. This is another nice hanging plant, great for high baskets or tall structures. NOTE: This one is also poisonous, so don’t eat it. Oh, maybe that’s why it’s called the Devil’s Ivy?

open to POSSIBILITIES

TIPS AND TRICKS FROM ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE DEMOLITION PROJECTS

1 . have realistic expectations

Time out! Before you start your project, set realistic goals for the amount of time, funds, and energy the project will take. “Right now, with inflated construction cost and extended lead times that have resulted from shortened production schedules, shipping delays, or shutdowns, now may not be the best time for you,” said Christina Wiersgalla of Wiersgalla Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning. “Lead times are longer right now and often misleading.”

2. set a budget and stick to it

We know: no one likes crunching numbers, but when it comes to a renovation project, be certain to plan a budget and stick with it. Be sure to account for possible additional fees when things go awry. Wiersgalla recommends watching out for fees for design and project managing, a fee for permits, demolition, disposal, restock charges, and more.

3. take measurements

Measure your space length by width by height and stay within that space. Knowing your space limitations can help you make big decisions about fixtures, flooring, and more. Each fixture requires a minimum amount of clearances. Do not purchase fixtures until you know your size of room and the limitations there may be.

4. make a plan

Make a plan of what you want your renovated space to look like at completion. Be sure to plan ahead for how much of this project you plan to do yourself. Don’t try to plan a remodel around the holidays, right before big family events or when relatives visit.

5. ask questions

No question is a silly question in the remodel business. Ask when you aren’t sure about something. Be proactive in action.

Wiersgalla Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning has over 50 years of experience serving the Chippewa Valley community, offering topnotch remodeling, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning services.

make sure your dream home isn’t a nightmare

words by BARBARA ARNOLD

EVEN IN A HOT MARKET, GETTING A HOME INSPECTION CAN GIVE HOMEBUYERS PEACE OF MIND

With the recent sellers’ market in real estate, some home buyers have waived a home inspection to cut the timeline to get the dream home they want. And while some may have lucked out with this strategy, others may not. They end up with a “dream home” that gives them financial headaches for the unexpected costly repairs they would not have experienced if they had gotten a home inspection before buying. In addition, current homeowners may want to schedule a home inspection every 10 years as a form of preventive maintenance to find out things they can take care of easily before they become emergency repairs. Volume One posed three questions to two area home inspectors.

Ryan Stewart, owner of Straight Answer Home Inspections, hails from Roberts, where he lives with his wife and three kids. He has been in the construction industry for the past 24 years, starting out in his dad’s water conditioning business. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Minnesota State UniversityMankato. He has been a laborer, an estimator, sales person, job site supervisor, foreman, and project manager. With his experience, he felt home inspection would be a good fit for something he has always wanted to do.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING A HOME INSPECTION VERSUS THE RISKS OF NOT DOING ONE?

RYAN: A home inspection is in formative. You may not have had a lot of time at the property to explore everything during your showings. You may not be familiar with con struction or certain materials. A home inspection offers peace of mind as well as information. In the current market, a lot of people are waiving inspections. And while some people may get lucky, others can end up with costly situations that they would have wished they knew about ahead of time to prepare or plan for.

then work on a price. We offer so many services that prices can have a large range. The value for what the customer is paying for is well worth it, though. Usually in a home inspection, we will see a defect that will cost way more than the price of the inspection.

We are hearing about many cli ents waiving the home inspection, and we get it. Market conditions create a bidding war, making the price of the home very steep. I can tell you though, if you don’t know what you are looking for, and something happens pertain ing to the safety of the home or its value, it can create a nasty headache.

Matthew “Matt” Hell, owner of A-Z Home Inspections, grew up in Chetek in a family of carpenters. He worked in every aspect of the real estate industry, and home inspections seemed like the next logical step in his career. So he studied, took the national and state exam, and became licensed in Wisconsin. Because he also inspects wells and septic systems, he also became a licensed pump installer. In addition, he is a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, which provides a standard of practice.

MATT: Home inspections are imperative on homes nowadays whether the home is new or used. We as home inspectors are trained to look for defects. Defects are some thing in a house that can cause a safety issue or affect the value of the house in some way. We have a stan dard of practice that we go by every time in every house. This includes looking over the exterior, interior, foundation, roof, and everything in between. We can’t see through walls, but only can report on what we can see visually on the date of the in spection. We use a thermal camera on every inspection to see what our eyes can’t see as well. My advice: Get the home inspection. The money is well worth it in years ahead.

HOW MUCH DOES A HOME INSPECTION COST? AND WHAT IS ITS VALUE?

MATT: Home inspections can vary in price. It all depends on where the house is and how big it is. We will ask several questions about the home, what you need done, and

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION? WHAT DO THEY LOOK AT? WHAT DO THEY LEAVE YOU WITH?

RYAN: A professional home inspector will establish clear com munication with you. He or she will explain what is included and what isn’t as well as communicate with your real estate agent, and you for scheduling, fees, and report de livery. Our services include light commercial, prelisting and purchase home inspections, thermal imaging, residential and commercial radon testing, and radon mitigation. Wis consin has a clear set of standards that a professional home inspector will follow during the inspection. ... It is important to use an inspector that has certifications and licenses and will hold themselves to a high er standard. Most of the time you will be invited to discuss the report about the property at the end of the inspection. You also will receive a written condition report with color photos about the property.

Learn more about these profes sionals at atozinspectionsec.com and straightanswerhomeinspections.com.

HOME

happy spring!

Review your fire escape plan with your family.

Check for damage/deterioration to your roof, fascia and/or trim.

Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.

Some businesses will check both your furnace and air conditioner at the same time for a discount. Outside temp needs to be at least 70 degrees to test your air conditioner.

Check your water heater.

Replace all extension cords that are brittle, worn, or damaged.

Inspect your fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure in good working condition. CIean dust from covers of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

Repair all cracked, broken, or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface.

Make sure the shutoff valves at each plumbing fixture function.

Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer.

+

treat your home with the best

words by V1 STAFF

OUR READERS VOTED THESE THE BEST HOME PROFESSIONALS IN OUR BEST OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY POLL

BEST GARDEN CENTER

1. down to earth and five & two cafe.

2. klinger farm market.

3. green oasis garden center.

It’s time to get those shovels and seeds ready for their summer home in the dirt. That’s right, it’s gardening time. If you’re looking for the best gar den centers in the Valley, make sure to check out Down To Earth Garden Center (6025 Arndt Lane, Eau Claire) with its award-winning landscaping and cozy Five and Two Cafe. Try some homegrown sweetcorn and a whopping 18 greenhouses at the Klinger Farm Market (12756 132nd St., Chippewa Falls). You can get custom Oasis Creations for yourself or a loved one at the Green Oasis Garden Center (1403 122nd St., Chippewa Falls).

BEST HOME CONSTRUCTION

1. C & E wurzer builders.

2. C & M home builders.

3. ashley construction.

Building your home can be extremely stressful so finding a good construction company can make a huge difference. C & E Wurzer Builders (1750 Business Highway 53, Chippewa Falls) was voted number one in the Chippewa Valley and is ready to jump in at any point of your house-building pro cess. With professional help every step of the way, C & M Home Builders (6176 Sandstone Road, Eau Claire) is there for the Eau Claire area. Ashley Con struction (17995 120th Avenue, Chippewa Falls) is a family-owned house construction company commit ted to making your dream home a reality.

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

1. lydia’s interiors.

2. third chapter designs.

3. house blend lighting and design.

Your dream home is so close, it may just need the right eye and expertise. Lydia’s Interiors (3460 Mall Drive, Suite 4, Eau Claire) was voted Best Interior Design in the Valley. You can check out their lighting and furniture options at their store, as well as their professional expertise.

If you’re looking for a design team that special izes in new construction homes, check out Third Chapter Designs. Have trouble picturing designs?

House Blend Lighting and Design (215 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) uses 3D programing to lay out their vision to make sure you know what to expect.

focusing on savings

words by BARBARA ARNOLD

WHATEVER KIND OF DWELLING YOU HAVE, FOCUS ON ENERGY CAN SAVE YOU ENERGY AND MONEY

Wondering how to save energy and money on your utility bill?

Whether you’re a renter, homeown er, landlord, business owner, farm er, or more, your first stop should be the Focus on Energy program.

Now in its 21st year, Focus on Energy is Wisconsin’s energy effi ciency and renewable resource pro gram. It is funded by Wisconsin’s investor-owned energy utilities as required by state law, and par ticipating municipal and electric cooperative utilities, 107 utilities in all. Its website provides customized solutions for homeowners, renters, landlords, commercial and industrial building owners, schools, govern ment facilities, farms, wastewater operations, and new construction.

According to Nat Peplinski, northern regional manager for Focus on Energy, a Home Energy Audit consists of a walk-through of the entire home assessing the insu

lation levels, and identifying safety and health issues, such as asbestos, carbon monoxide, and mold. The energy assessor conducts a blower door test that measures a home’s air leakage and a combustion safety inspection. A Home Energy Audit helps pinpoint where the home is losing energy so improvements for greater comfort and savings can be prioritized. Upgrades such as air sealing and insulation and HVAC replacement can save 15% or more on your utility bills while increas ing home comfort, safety, durability, and resale value. Focus on Energy also offers cash incentives for qual ified improvements. The process takes two to four hours depending on the complexity of the home. For example, a 1960s single story ranch home takes less time than an 1886 three-story Victorian home. The av erage cost is between $300 and $600.

Peplinski oversees the Building Performance Institute (BPI) trained

DOORWAY TO SAVINGS

A blower door test like this one is typically part of a home energy audit.

Trade Ally contractors. These are energy experts who understand every aspect of home performance and how the many components from the number of occupants to local climate, age of the home, size and layout, all interact.

One of the 10 trade allies in the Chippewa Valley is On Site Performance Testing, in Chippewa Falls. The firm was founded by David and Barbara Geissler as an energy consulting firm for existing and new home construction/certi fication with more than 40 years building experience. They aim to make homes more energy efficient via data-supported testing, which not only includes a blower door test, but also infrared scanning, combus tion safety checks, and ventilation

system checks. The blower door de pressurizes the home, and with the infrared camera, air leakage and lack of insulation can be detected.

There are several reasons a home owner may request an audit, according to David Geissler. “High energy bills, moisture issues, comfort issues, ice damming, or if a home owner is going to re-roof or re-insu late or remodel the home,” he said.

“The only way to know how your home is performing is with a blower test,” he said. “It measures the tightness of a building. In our profession, we say ‘build them tight and ventilate them right.’ ”

To start your audit, call Focus on Energy at (800) 762-7077 or visit its website www.focusonenergy.com.

PHOTO

everyone loves a parade

words by TOM GIFFEY

CHIPPEWA VALLEY PARADE OF HOMES IS BACK WITH NEW HOUSES, REMODELS, AND VIRTUAL VISITS

Whether you’re looking to build a home, buy a new one, remodel the one you already have, or just do a little real-estate dreaming, the 48th Annual Chippewa Valley Pa rade of Homes will offer 14 Eau Claire-area dwellings to explore, in person and virtually.

This year’s event, which will be June 11-18, will showcase nine new homes and two remodeled homes, all of which can be visited in person, as well as three virtual tours.

course, not all of these parade-goers are looking to buy new houses.

VIRTUALLY REAL

This home by R. Tews Construction & Design can be visited virtually.

After several years in the shadow of the pandemic, Christina Thrun of the Chippewa Valley Homebuilders Association is hopeful that parade attendance can bounce back toward its typical total of about 5,000. Of

“I know a lot of the people who come through just want to see what the new design trends are,” said Thrun, executive officer of the lo cal homebuilders’ group. They may be looking for new paint colors or interior design ideas, or perhaps for bathroom or kitchen remodeling inspirations. Remodeled homes have been added to the tour in recent years to cater to the latter group, while vir tual tours became a necessity when COVID-19 struck in 2020. Both remod els and virtual visits are now perma nent parts of the Parade of Homes.

Still, there will plenty of oppor tunities to stroll through brand-new homes. Most of the homes are in the

immediate Eau Claire area, plus a few in outlying locales, including Lake Hallie and rural Strum. Thrun said the homes range in value from $300,000 to more than $1 million.

Many of this year’s homes reflect modern design sensibilities, with a focus on black, white, and gray, including white oak flooring and black-framed windows. Thrun said this is in contrast to the more coun try-tinged styles that were popular a few years back.

“It seems like in the year that we lost, everything slipped from farm house to modern,” she said. While you’ll still see some rustic beams or shiplap walls, they’re more likely to be accents than dominant features in this year’s parade homes.

YOUR NEW HOME?

This house by Steen Construction is part of this year’s Parade of Homes.

The 2022 edition of the parade will be somewhat small than in years past, largely because of the impact of nationwide factors in the housing market. In the wake of the pandemic, supply chains are still running behind, making it harder for homebuilders to build and com plete houses, Thrun said. There’s also a shortage of the skilled work ers needed to build new homes. And a hot housing market means new homes are in demand and are un likely to sit empty for long.

“We’re so behind on the supply right now that they can’t build them fast enough,” Thrun said associa

tion members tell her.

The Parade of Homes begins Saturday, June 11, and runs through Saturday, June 18. Tickets are $8 be fore June 10 and $10 thereafter, and give ticket holders access to in-per son tour homes as well as codes that allow them to view the virtual tours.

Tickets can be purchased online at paradeofhomescv.com or at RCU locations in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Menomonie; at the Chip pewa Valley Home Builders Associ ation office (4319 Jeffers Road); or at tour homes themselves.

For more information, including a map, visit paradeofhomescv.com.

bye-bye, blugrass!

words by LAUREN FISHER

THREE LOW-MAINTENANCE ALTERNATIVES TO A TRADITIONAL LAWN

MOWING GOT YOU DOWN? Or are you looking to add a little diversity to your yard? There are a number of plants that make for excellent alternatives to your traditional grass lawn. You might have to sacrifice the toughness and timeless appeal of Kentucky bluegrass to experiment with an alternative lawn, but the benefits of a switch include aesthetic individuality and ease of care – and you might even help save the bees! Read on for the basics on a few offbeat ground cover options.

1. clover. If you’ve been considering trying an alternative lawn, Dutch clover might just be your lucky break. This low-growing variety of clover is inexpensive to seed, low-maintenance, and hardy – a good choice for someone aiming to get away from chemical herbicides. Clover can’t take quite as much traffic as traditional grass, but it feels great under bare feet. It grows best in lownutrient soil, and actually functions to fertilize the ground it grows in, which makes it a good partner for a mixed lawn. Clover requires very little mowing, and if uncut, produces white blooms which attract and support bees.

2. thyme. Fragrant and often flowery, thyme is more difficult to start, but can provide a beautiful, colorful ground cover. There are many varieties of ground cover thymes, ranging from green bushes to sprays of blooming pink. Thyme does best in well-drained soils with at least four hours of sunshine a day. Once established, a thyme lawn requires little maintenance, as it prevent weeds from sprouting where planted and doesn’t need to be mowed frequently. This plant can take a little traffic, but consider installing stepping stones on main walkways to protect the stems from being trampled too often.

3. irish moss. For airy, low-maintenance ground cover, Irish moss is a lovely choice. This light green, fine-fronded flower doesn’t take traffic well, but in rarely tread areas takes the work out of lawn care. Irish Moss grows to about 3 inches in height. In the spring and summer, it reaches its full height when tiny, star-shaped white flowers bloom. While the plant will tolerate pruning, it isn’t necessary to do so. This ground cover is established by planting many sprouts throughout the desired area. Irish Moss doesn’t care much about the nutritional contents of your soil, as long as it’s kept in a sunny and well-watered area.

fighting the ‘silent killer’

words by BARBARA ARNOLD

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE FROM RADON

Known

as the silent and invisible killer, radon is a naturally occurring gas in the ground that is radioactive and can cause lung cancer. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking. The gas can leak into your home from the ground. It’s com mon in Wisconsin; in fact, about 1 in 10 homes in Wisconsin has high ra don levels. Testing is common when buying or selling a home. Yet, while you can’t see, smell, or taste radon, you can protect you and your family now from it with a simple, low-cost, test kit available from your local Ra don Information Center, typically your local county health department. “There is no way to predict the level of radon in your home. The only way to know is to test,” says Elizabeth Paulson, environmental health specialist for the Eau Claire City-County Health Department. Certified measurement professionals are also available. If radon levels in your home are high, licensed radon measurement and mitigation profession als throughout Wisconsin can fix the problem.

For more info, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/radon).

get out there & grow something

HOME & GARDEN RESOURCES + MORE

GARDEN CENTERS

BOBOLINK NURSERY LLC N6548

429th St., Menomonie • (715) 2313901 • bobolinknursery.com Bob olink’s barn-style garden center and three large growing ranges are packed with perennials, vegetables, annuals, shrubs, and trees. Owners Dan and Amy Dopkins have been in the plant growing business for es sentially their entire lives and are very happy to pass their vast stores of knowledge on to you. They also offer services such as landscaping design and installation.

CHIPPEWA VALLEY GROWERS

7825 Prill Road, Eau Claire • (715) 839-8448 • chippewavalleygrowers. com Carries a wide variety of stock, specializing in bedding plants, flowers, and vegetables. Work with gardeners to create custom baskets and containers and check out grow ing ideas and tips in their spring newsletter.

CHRISTENSEN FLORIST & GREENHOUSES 1210 Mansfield St, Chippewa Falls • christensenflorist. com Greenhouses full of beautiful hanging baskets & patio pots and full assortments of annuals, vege tables, perennials, & herbs. Daily specials available. All plants grown on site.

DOWN TO EARTH GARDEN CENTER 6025 Arndt Ln., Eau Claire

• (715) 833-1234 • downtoearth gardencenter.com A relaxing and spacious environment in which po tential planters can find greeneries of every kind. The garden center sells bulk materials, tools, decor, seasonal and lush plants, and much more. They host classes and events all year long and even have a cafe on-site for if you get a little hungry. They offer landscaping and lawn care services.

GREEN OASIS GARDEN CENTER 1403 122nd St., Lake Hallie • (715) 832-0800 • greenoasis. co This garden center offers lawn art and accessories, plus various trees, ornamental grasses, peren nials, mulch, dirt, compost, and patio block. Also offers lawn care, landscaping, irrigation, window cleaning, pest control, christmas lightning, and more.

GREEN THUMB LANDSCAPING & EXCAVATING + GARDEN CENTER 6700 Hwy 12 East, Eau Claire • (715) 832-4553 • greenthumbwi. com Green Thumb Landscaping and Excavating provides garden care and maintenance. Their gar den center has a wide selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, mulch, decorative rock, and more.

HALFEN GARDEN CENTER AND HOSTA HEAVEN 19130 72nd Ave, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-3414 • terrencehalfen@yahoo.com • halfen gardencenter.com Halfen Garden Center is a family run business that offers a wide array of hostas, vines, annuals, vegetables, fruits, trees, and shrubs. They offer garden

layouts to help you know the best place to plant around your home.

KLINGER FARM MARKET 12756 132nd St., Chippewa Falls • (715) 288-6348 • klingerfarmmarket@ yahoo.com • klingerfarmmarket. com In addition to 18 greenhouses full of flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, shrubs, trees, hanging

baskets, water plants, and house plants, Klinger offers a swath of freshly grown produce, home and garden ornaments, bird baths, jams, honeys, and organic garden ing products. They are open year round.

LOWES CREEK TREE FARM S9475 Lowes Creek Rd., Eleva • (888)

for voting Green

Best of Pest

Holiday Decorating,

Irrigation!

area

care

proudly

to help

the

outdoor

878-4166 • christmas@lowescreek treefarm.com • lowescreek-treefarm. com Lowes Creek Tree Farm’s retail nursery market includes a full line of potted shade trees (over 50 varieties), flowering trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and perennials, plus landscape consultation, design services, and delivery and planting services.

THE MARIA’S COUNTRY GARDENS LLC N1956 State Road 85, Caryville • facebook.com/thema riascountrygardensllc 12 minutes southwest of Eau Claire and offers a wide variety of unique and col orful annuals, perennials, grasses, herbs and vegetables.

MAY’S FLORAL GARDEN 3424 Jeffers Road, Eau Claire • (715) 8368220 • maysfloralgarden.com May’s Floral Garden Center has an ev er-changing selection, so be sure to check often to see what they have in stock. They also host garden classes, and a garden club.

PAINT CREEK NURSERY & TREE FARM 3215 North 140th Ave, Cadott • (715) 723-2072 • info@paintcreek nursery.com • paintcreeknursery. com Paint Creek Nursey’s goal is to grow shrubs and trees that benefit people and the environ ment. They have a variety of native tree species, including conifers, hardwoods, and shrubs, that can be purchased either as seedlings or transplants. Call to arrange an appointment.

RAINTREE GARDEN CENTER 7470 20th Avenue, Eau Claire • raintreegardencenter.com Locally owned garden center specializing in homegrown hanging baskets, vegetable plants, custom plant ers, perennials, berry plants, and seeds. Online ordering and pick-up available.

SEASON’S HARVEST GREENHOUSE E5345 County Rd D, Menomonie • (715) 231-4769 • seasonsharvest@dishup.us Sea son’s Harvest has an impressive 6 greenhouses full of annuals, pe rennials, trees, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs. Also, the potting shed station located outside the green houses allows you to mix, match, and plant your flowers right after or while you’re browsing.

TIN ROOF GARDEN 5310 Friedeck Rd., Eau Claire • (715) 834-4232 • tinroofgarden.com A locally owned and operated garden store and greenhouse featuring a large se lection of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. They also carry many other gardening necessities, as well as yard art and garden decor.

GARDEN CLUBS

EAU CLAIRE AREA MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION (715) 839-4712 • Erin.LaFaive@ co.eau-claire.wi.us • eauclaire mastergardeners.weebly.com This UW Extension volunteer group provides horticultural education, community service and environ mental stewardship. The Eau Claire Master Gardeners commu nity invites you to join its efforts to educate and beautify the area. They organize several events, sem inars, plant sales, garden tours, and manage public gardens for all to experience.

EAU CLAIRE GARDEN CLUB facebook.com/ecgardenclub The ob jectives of the Club are to educate members in all phases of garden ing and to promote the enjoyment of gardening among its members and other people in the commu nity Organizes plant sales, garden tours, guest speakers, and more.

LAKE WISSOTA GARDEN CLUB lakewissotagc@gmail.com • lakewissotagardenclub.weebly. com The Lake Wissota Garden Club of Chippewa Falls, WI serving Chippewa County area gardeners always welcomes new members. Their monthly meetings, with a focus on garden-related learning, are held every second Thursday at the Lafayette Town Hall, Chippe wa Falls, Wisconsin.

INTERIOR DESIGN

C DESIGN INTERIORS & TEXTILES

715-416-0825 • cdesign212.com C

Design offers window treatments, bedding, upholstery, and more inte rior textile design.

CLASSICS FURNITURE & LIGHTING DESIGN STUDIO 2510 S Hast ings Way, Eau Claire • (715) 835-4500

• classicsfurniturestudio.com A local furnishings and business with a staff of designers available to makeover rooms in homes or businesses. They specialize in mid to high end fur nishings. Studio provides a creative environment to envision your per fect room, home, or business; with endless options available.

CRISTY LEE HOME | INTERIOR & DESIGN 515 South Barstow St, Suite 118, Eau Claire • christyleehome.

com Cristy Lee offers design for new construction and renovation, paint color consultations, and custom win dow treatment consultations.

DECORATING DEN INTERIORS (715) 205-4325 • jwach@decorating den.com • jwach.decoratingden.

com Decorating Den Interiors –Lifestyles by Jan has an extensive product catalog and offers interior design by room, whole house, kitch en & bath design, and commercial design services.

DESIGN 101 (715) 563-6788 • deb@ezdesign101.com • ezdesign101. com Debbie VanWyke works with you step-by-step in creating the interior of your home.

DORIG DESIGNS LLC Eau Claire • ad@dorigdesigns.com • DorigDe signs.com Adrienne Dorig Leland is an interior designer specializing in kitchens and bathrooms, both mod ern and traditional.

GRAY AREA INTERIORS gra yareainteriors.com Started in 2011 by Alecia Plaetz, Gray Area Interiors of fers interior design services and has a showroom for you to view furniture and items available.

HOUSE BLEND LIGHTING & DESIGN 215 N Bridge St, Chippewa Falls • (715) 726-3080 • marnie@ houseblendstudio.com • houseblend studio.com This firm not only spe cializes in lighting, but also does res idential design to any personal style

and commercial designs. hey offer lighting design, computer layouts, 3d design + full service interior design, custom electrical installation and project management.

LYDIA’S INTERIORS 1053 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire • (715) 552-0400 • lydiasgallery.com This store specializes in lighting and fur nishings, with professional interior designers willing to help you design the interior of your home from the furniture to the wall hangings.

ONE OF A KIND CABINETS + INTERIORS 217 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls • oneofakindinteri ordesign.com Specializes in bespoke cabinets, custom kitchens, interior design, and furnishings.

SPARREAUX 6176 Sandstone Rd., Eau Claire • 715-861-1903 • molly@ sparreauxboutique.com • sparreaux boutique.com Sparreaux is a home goods boutique filled with unique pieces that help homeowners style their home with a modern vintage feel. Sparreaux is open by occasion and appointment and also offers private parties. Opening schedule available online.

TK INTERIOR DESIGNS (715) 3099668 • tkinteriordesign.com Offers a wide variety of services to give your room a fresh new look with our com prehensive design plans to whichev er style best suits you, whether you like contemporary, modern, ethnic, country, transitional, or traditional, while staying on budget.