The Prairie Garden Greenhouse in Ketchen will be under new ownership and at a new location when it opens in the 2018 season. The greenhouse will be renamed Hazel Blooms, in its new location.
Lorissa Petras of Hazel Dell recently purchased the greenhouse and once the greenhouse closes for the season it will be relocated to her farm one mile south off the Hazel Dell access road. The greenhouse will then have come full circle as it originally came from Hazel Dell prior to being moved to two different locations in Ketchen, each time under new ownership.
"It was a big decision for me," said Petras. "I had been wanting to purchase a greenhouse for a long time but finally in the fall of 2016, I made up my mind that purchasing the greenhouse was what we all wanted. It was a three year long decision but I wanted to make sure it was the right time for us.”
Petras was inspired by the late Marlene Dyky and her grandmother Ella Arneson, both of whom share in her passion for flowers.
"My grandmother lives in the Rockford area and even though she is in her 80s she is still thrives on a beautiful yard full of flowers and shrubs," she said.
This season Petras and her daughters, Trinity, Skylee and Sophie spent countless hours helping Fay Alberts in the greenhouse with the entire planting process.
"Fay has been a huge help and we really feel honoured and blessed to have her on board with me to help guide me for next season. This season we all learned so much from her. It was a great start.
"We are truly excited for our new adventure and I hope to take more classes on plant care and design online this fall and winter," said Petras.
To keep up with the different types of plants and flowers, Petras plans on expanding her knowledge, taking more classes in design and growing new plants.
"It is a lot of work but the girls and I love it," she said. "Instead of me going back to work we can now all help create a successful, fun greenhouse. What better way to spend family time together doing something we all love to do. The new greenhouse will be renamed Hazel Blooms," said Petras.
