On a quiet stretch of property in Palos Park, rows of zinnias, dahlias and snapdragons now bloom where overgrown brush and buried scrap metal once ruled the yard.
Rachel Lebensorger, owner of Lebensorger Gardens, has transformed the once-neglected property into a thriving neighborhood flower farm rooted in family, healing and community.
Lebensorger describes herself as “your neighborhood micro flower farmer,” a title reflecting both the size of the operation and the personal care behind it.
“Our whole business is really just the two of us,” she said with a laugh, referring to her husband, Shane. “He’s definitely the muscle behind all my garden ideas.”
The couple moved to Palos Park in 2020 after purchasing what Lebensorger jokingly called “the ugliest house on the block.”
“We walked into a nightmare,” she said. “There were invasive bushes everywhere, clay soil, a sinking retaining wall and random metal objects buried all over the yard.”
Instead of walking away, the pair rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Over time, they cleared the property, planted perennial beds and created a landscape that blended naturally into the wooded beauty of Palos Park.
“We wanted to make the land less ugly,” she said. “Then we started realizing how much joy the gardens brought us.”
That joy eventually became something much bigger.
Before starting her business, Lebensorger built a career in education. She earned an associate degree from Moraine Valley Community College before transferring to Elmhurst University, where she studied history and secondary education. Years later, she returned to school and completed a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2020.
Flowers ultimately became her calling.
In 2023, Lebensorger’s only sibling died unexpectedly, leaving her overwhelmed with grief. She took a leave of absence from teaching and found herself retreating to the garden.
“The only time I felt like I could breathe was when I was outside working with the flowers,” she said.
What started as a therapeutic outlet slowly evolved into a business idea. She began arranging bouquets and experimenting with growing flowers on the family’s half-acre property.
“The 2024 season was basically us asking, ‘Can we actually do this?’” she said. “I was terrified.”
The business officially launched in 2024 after beginning as a dream the year before. Its name carries special meaning. Lebensorger kept her maiden name after marriage to honor her father, who died when she was 19. Naming the business after her family name became another way to preserve that connection.
“My husband was actually the one who encouraged me to use my last name for the business,” she said. “He really supported the family connection behind it.”
Today, Lebensorger Gardens produces bouquets and floral arrangements for weddings, baby showers, funerals and other events. Customers can also purchase seasonal bouquets through subscriptions or stop by the family’s weekend farmstand in Palos Park, where flowers are sold alongside fresh eggs from the couple’s chickens, seeds and gardening items.
Unlike large-scale commercial flower growers, Lebensorger focuses on maximizing every inch of her smaller property through succession planting, raised beds, grow bags and vertical growing systems.
“You don’t need acres and acres to grow beautiful flowers,” she said. “We grow everything ourselves, from seed to bouquet.”
That local focus has become a major part of the business identity. Instead of imported flowers shipped from overseas, Lebensorger offers blooms grown steps away from where they are sold.
“There’s something special about knowing exactly where your flowers came from and who grew them,” she said.
The business has also connected her to a growing network of local flower farmers and gardeners across the region.
“The floral community has been incredibly supportive,” she said. “People genuinely want to help each other succeed.”
The most meaningful part of the experience, Lebensorger said, has been becoming part of the fabric of the Palos Park community.
“We’re thrilled to grow this business in the town where we live,” she said. “Being able to serve your neighbors and be part of people’s family events is really special.”
These days, the property has become a colorful neighborhood destination where flowers bloom, chickens roam and one family’s healing story continues to grow season after season.
