Our “Saturdays with Sandy” are monthly blog posts featuring the local travels of Sandy Hagen, Havlicek Builders’ on-staff design consultant. Sandy helps our clients through the entire custom home building process choosing finishes, advising on fixtures, helping with layout, and so much more. As a native of the Fox Valley area, Sandy enjoys exploring the western Chicago suburbs and all the unique shops, great restaurants, and one of a kind events the area has to offer. We can’t think of a better way to officially welcome spring than with a “Saturday with Sandy” blog post.
Sandy Hagen is our on-staff design consultant and each month we’ll share a selected Saturday detailing a few places Sandy recently visited. Geneva, St. Charles, and the entire Fox Valley area has so much to offer validating the fact that many people choose to build their custom home here.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy our first Saturday with Sandy.
"As an avid gardener I love when the Chicago weather finally turns and the first few hints of spring are upon us. To me, this means daffodils, tulips, and all types of blooms in general. So on Saturday I visited one of my favorite garden nurseries, Wasco Nursery, just west of St. Charles, Illinois. Wasco Nursery has acres and acres of trees, plants, shrubs, bushes, and flowers. Their staff is always so helpful-they even have a design consultant that can come to your home and help you select appropriate plants and plan a backyard oasis. On this visit I bought a new variety hydrangea that has large white blooms with hints of pink undertones.
Photo courtesy of Wasco Nursery Instagram @wasconursery
In the afternoon, I had to make a quick stop at our office. Given that it was a sunny, spring day, and we are located next to Geneva’s Wheeler Park, I brought my standard poodle, Louie with me. He knew what was in store, so he didn’t let me get too much work done before we headed to the park for a long walk. Wheeler Park is over 50 acres and includes a playground, picnic area, disc golf course, mini golf course, and a beautiful, winding walking path. Louie and I enjoyed a two
mile walk thru the park and then made our way into downtown Geneva.
Photo courtesy of Graham's Chocolate Instagram @grahamshq
Geneva is an extremely dog-friendly Chicago suburb. Many of the boutiques and restaurants place water bowls outside their doors and offer dog treats to their furry customers. Louie and I love to sit on the patio of Graham’s Chocolates and people watch. He makes new friends and I get to enjoy their homemade icecream. Graham’s Chocolates is located on Third Street, a renowned shopping district in Geneva full of boutiques and award-winning restaurants. It’s easy to spend a whole day eating and shopping your way thru downtown Geneva! I always make sure to bring out of town friends and family to the area and it never disappoints.
Have you visited downtown Geneva? What is your favorite Chicago suburb?
Sandy