Stein's Garden Centers are a good place.

Three D Greenhouses in Mukwanago (Maple ave? on the south side of town) is good not only for perennials, but they have some nursery stock. There is another nursery in Mukwanago (whose name escapes me) near the corner of NN & 83. Also, being as you're from northern Illinois, you may know of Rich's Foxwillow Pines in Woodstock. Great place for conifers (and to see what mature ones look like). Not a place to buy run-of-the-mill plants, but an excellent place to see just about everything available in the world of conifers.

tj

Thanks much for the suggestions. Mukwango...interesting...my niece just moved there. I'll have to check those out. And though I've never been there Rich's Foxwillow is very close to where I work as I still work in Illinois. Thanks.

Welcome to Wisconsin! I keep a list of nurseries that people have suggested. Here it is:
WISCONSIN
1. MileagerÂs, Racine, WI
2. WayneÂs Daughters, Racine, WI
3. Country Gardens, Ashippun, WI
4. HawkÂs Nursery , Elm Grove, WI
5. Monches, NW of Milwaukee
6. Flower Factors, S of Madison
7. Song Sparrow Nursery, Avalon, WI shrubs\peonies
8. Reeseville Ridge Nursery, Reeseville, WI shrubs
There are some amazing nurseries in Madison, too.
My personal favorite is Mileagers--they have a store in Sturtevant, due East on Hy 11. They have everything you might need including veggies, herbs, perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and vines. Go right before Mother's Day for best selection.

Check out the Farmer's Markets.

Also, consider the WI plant swap in May. May 5th, 5pm, Waukesha, just off I-94. Check out the thread on that subject near the top of the WI forum. Let people know what you are looking for and I'll bet someone will bring it to the swap. ...............GL

Wow, granilege....thanks for the comprehensive list. You know, I've been to Mileagers in Sturtevant. I love that place! But I was there in the winter and didn't shop the nursery just the store. I will definetly go back. And I will check out some of the other places you mentioned too. Thanks.

As a frugal gardener, my advise is try freecycle and ask for what you're looking for. I have gotten some lovely plants via freecycle, and I also give away lots of my own plants to friends and random people. Considering that plants naturally grow and expand and reproduce, it isn't that hard to find people who will share their plants with you, including trees and bushes if that's what you want. Saves money, and you can make some new friends.

Marcia

In a past life I was a buyer of nursery plants for NE Illinois landscape contractors (26 years). A very complete nursery is Breezy Hill Nursery on Route 50 (possibly Twin Lakes?). They carry landscape materials and plants of all sizes, and are one of SE Wisconsin's larger growers. Another suggestion, if you know what you want and are interested in keeping the costs down, consider McKay Nursery in Waterloo. McKay is one of the better bare-root suppliers of nursery stock in the midwest, and they cater to the homeowner with smaller quantities and delivering the order on their own trucks. I have dealt with them for many years, and have purchased their plants for my own home. With bare root, just spend a little extra time preparing the planting location, and bare root will outgrow B&B plants every time! (And for a fraction of the cost).

Happy gardening!
Dan