Urban Nursery in Chicago?

Dan had a poop-tastic day at work and upon arriving home, he eagerly opened up his first informational mailing from a nursing school-Lakeview College. We learned that, not unlike all other nursing programs, Lakeview's second degree program will only accept former coursework completed within the past five years, and Dan graduated from ISU long before 2003. When he read this, his face looked like a deflated balloon. I'm wondering, Does this small hitch really matter? If Dan has to repeat Chemistry and other necessary prerequisite courses, wouldn't it be worth it in the long run? Accelerated nursing programs only take two semesters, and a semester or two of prerequisites would only tack on another year, right?

But Dan is disheartened, and I don't blame him. Something must be said for having acquired two degrees and facing getting yet another one.

His first degree, in Education/Biology, prepared him for teaching. He spent one year as Mr. Herzing at a high school in Bloomington, IL, and promptly moved back in with his parents and went back to school for his horticulture degree. He was interested in plants and had an intuitive and creative side that perked his interest in design. But Dan never pursued a design path in the landscaping business. Because he's good at anything he does, he's moved up the ladder into a top area manager at a local landscape company, dealing with customer service and sales.

Dan abandoned teaching partially because he was young and disinterested in a real job, but mostly because he didn't especially like teaching teenagers. He has detested his work in the landscape industry because he works too many hours and deals with adult customers who act like teenagers. Dan is stuck in customer service hell and his creative instinct and passion for plants isn't a part of his work.

My proposal? (And Dan is mulling this over...) We start our own business. I've been telling him this for years. I've always wanted my own store or business, but the concept has always scared Dan. But I say to him: You can take care of plants. You can design. I'll handle the rest. What I envision is something along the lines of Pistils Nursery in Portland. There used to be a company in Seattle, Urban Mulch, featured in an article here, that focused on urban residential potting, but I can't seem to find them online. My plan involves setting up shop (or online shop) in Chicago, which means we'd head back to the Windy City. I honestly can't say I have ever been interested in moving back to Chicago, but the thought of this business is nestled in Chicago for whatever reason. And I believe we are meant to have a business like this. It is perfect for the both of us. Can anyone in Chicago tell me if there are similar businesses? Check out Pistils Nursery and let me know...! I'm inspired and ambitious...Is there any better combination?