Aster Gardens

06/14/2026

I’m guest starring at Mabel's Market today until 3pm- guys, I’m going to sell so much gorgeous vintage furniture!!

06/13/2026

I 🖤 Sommer

A MABELS MARKET TAKEOVER??

Sunday June 14th. You won’t want to miss it.

I’ll tell you a story a decade+ old.

Amanda from Aster Gardens used to have a website about landscaping. (Ok, it was a BLOG) I’m telling you this from memory, so it might not be totally correct. But I think she had a partner (or maybe not) who did jobs on the northside and Amanda took the jobs on the southside. On her site, she had a clever advertisement offering bartering. (I know surprise surprise) where you could offer up something in exchange for her landscaping expertise. And boy did I need it.

So I offered my husbands guitar lessons. And that was a good fit for her husband and so I met Amanda, got the most straight up, honest, funny, good advice that we know her for and Jason and Dan began their own music inspired bromance.

I tried impressing Amanda with all of the vintage things in my garage, except she also had everything I had plus more. I tried impressing her with our plans in downtown Lemont, except she was already familiar and had her own plans brewing in the back of her mind. And what I learned about Amanda is it’s little about what you have that impresses her and more about who you are.

And so Mabels opened. And Amanda would help out with things and hold terrarium classes and just be generally cool wherever she was. And we became friends being somehow incredibly similar and incredibly different.

And then she opened Aster Gardens around the block and as you’ve heard me say before, there is something so deeply familiar and personal and vulnerable going through the same thing at the same time. Just ask your mom friends or your work wife or your college besties. Business owners have that in downtown Lemont. But this one was already built on a pretty fun foundation.

So as an enormous favor to me and just to demonstrate how connected the shops in downtown Lemont truly are…

Our guest shopkeeper tomorrow is the infallible, brilliant, infinitely cool Amanda Thomsen from Aster Gardens.

Support her. Support me. Go to both shops!

Please come over. ☺️🙏🏡

06/13/2026

Was I wrong about plant bingo? Yes I was.
Are we going to do it again? Yes we will.

Stay tuned!
Here til 4 today with prickly pear refreshers and air conditioning🆒

Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
Lemont, IL

Mondays Out landscaping
Tuesdays Out landscaping
Wednesdays Out landscaping
Thursdays 11-6
Fridays 11-6
Saturdays 11-4
Sundays 11-3

Always open and BINGO!! at KISSMYASTER.com

*accommodatingly open by appointment

06/10/2026

This took forever to make🌪️🪏✨

06/06/2026

We are cookin’ over here! While we finish the rounds making summer containers at customers’ homes I’ll admit the outdoor courtyard selection is a little lacking, once we done making eleventybillion pots I swear I’ll restock!

Fun stuff inside, weird classes, secrets everywhere, it’s an adventure for sure🖤

Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
Lemont, IL

Mondays Out landscaping
Tuesdays Out landscaping
Wednesdays Out landscaping
Thursdays 11-6
Fridays 11-6
Saturdays 11-4
Sundays 11-3

Always open and don’t ask me what the secrets are🤫 at KISSMYASTER.com

*accommodatingly open by appointment

06/02/2026

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW🗞️🚨
I’m off to power through a bizarre assortment of duties (including motherhood) again today for the 1475th day in a row so wish me luck!!

Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
Lemont, IL

Mondays Out landscaping
Tuesdays Out landscaping
Wednesdays Out landscaping
Thursdays 11-6
Fridays 11-6
Saturdays 11-4
Sundays 11-3

Always open and 🏳️‍🌈 at KISSMYASTER.com

*accommodatingly open by appointment

05/30/2026

Re-pot til we drop!!
Bring your houseplants in for an upgrade🪏

Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
Lemont, IL

Mondays Out landscaping
Tuesdays Out landscaping
Wednesdays Out landscaping
Thursdays 11-6
Fridays 11-6
Saturdays 11-4
Sundays 11-3

Always open and awkward at KISSMYASTER.com

*accommodatingly open by appointment

05/23/2026

Whhhaaaat??? BANANAS!!

Some questions we receive after every Market on Canal

1. Do you do this every Sunday?
2. When is the next one?
3. Is this event on Saturday AND Sunday?
4. Is there a rain date?

Normally we are confident in our answers…It’s twice a year only! (Three times if you count our Christmas show in Lockport😉🎄) but after an incredible May 3rd Market that proved the resilience and dedication of our vendors and our customers🥰☂️, we decided to….

🚨ADD AN EXTRA MARKET TO OUR 2026 CALENDAR!🎉🎉🎉‼️🚨

We are rounding out summer with one more day of the areas greatest vendors, best food, live music and more!⭐️🥳🥳

And when we say more, we really mean MORE! 👀

We are combining two of favorite events into one special August day🤩 Not only will downtown be the home of this summer market☀️, your kids will have the opportunity to meet and greet eight superheroes🦸, princesses👑 and villains scattered throughout downtown Lemont and Market On Canal🕵🏼‍♀️

So basically, the most fun day for the entire family💕 Bring your kids, your wagons, your pets, your friends and enjoy the most magical day!🥰❤️✨

And all thanks to a little rain and a lot of good will💛🥹

05/17/2026

The general public: “your mom owns Aster Gardens? That’s must be so cool for you!”
Hazel: “It’s just ok”😒

The Mother’s Day/birthday week is like the worlds hardest and I survived it 💪

Aster Gardens
202 Stephen St.
Lemont, IL

Mondays Out landscaping
Tuesdays Out landscaping
Wednesdays Out landscaping
Thursdays 11-6
Fridays 11-6
Saturdays 11-4
Sundays 11-3

Always open and I love you guys at KISSMYASTER.com

*accommodatingly open by appointment

05/15/2026

Does your yard tell your story? Does the inside match the outside in vibes, palette or intention? Do you want layers of ethereal color or a sexy native ecosystem? Do you want your yard to SHOUT IN ALL CAPS or whistle a little tune?

I got you.

Granted we are booked into June for installs but it’s never too late to book a consultation, let’s make a plan to have a yard that’s completely you🪏✨

Book an appointment at KISSMYASTER.com now
(This post brought to you by the feeling of a really cute install today)