FROM THE ROAD FINDING INSPIRATION in Milwaukee The Garden Center Show tour made five stops to IGCs in southeastern Wisconsin, each providing inspiration and ideas to attendees. By Teresa McPherson T he Garden Center Show tour began on a comfortably cool morning - but both the day and the retail inspiration heated up quickly. Attendees strolled five garden retailers in the Milwaukee area, each with its own distinct personality and aesthetic - from lush display gardens to shiny new greenhouses to a petting farm. 1 2 3 EBERT'S GREENHOUSE VILLAGE | Ixonia, Wisconsin 4 1) Signs and machinery throughout the property display the history of the Ebert family and the equipment they used on the former farmland. 2) A new seating area allows visitors a space to relax and also serves as a space for the many events that take place at the property. 3) Signs in the landscape include plant tags to show customers exactly what is planted there. 4) Colorful signs point customers in the right direction. 32 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023