A b o u t   U s

One thing is for certain, the women of The Tree House would scarcely exist without tea.  And that, dear reader, is exactly how we work, with dogs underfoot and tea in hand, in a shop affectionately known as The Tree House. The name is fitting, as our shop was started in a carriage house apartment on the second floor of an old garage, nestled between oaks and maples. With roots as a flower business for weddings and various parties, its branches now extend into the realms of paper goods, as well as baked sweets.

Joanne DeGroot, founder of The Tree House and also our mother, is our resident florist. Born with a green thumb, her garden, her home, and her business show the profits of her artistry.  

Sonja Lilly, the eldest of Joanne's daughters, splits her talents between the sweets and flower departments of The Treehouse. From cupcakes to cookies, bouquets to centerpieces, her skills are diverse and pleasing to the eye. Her favorite colors are grey, grey, and grey, but her artistry is anything but. 

Alexia Seppala, second eldest of the daughters, is our world traveler. She and her operatic husband tour the country as needed, with Alexia returning home often to aid with the business. She has done floral arrangements for weddings on her own as they travel, in states such as Texas and California.

Jeniva Knautz, the second youngest of the DeGroot daughters, is a virtuoso of correspondence (that being paper goods). With an aptness for organization and creative flair intermingled, her invitations, cards, and social stationary are literally the neatest you will ever find. She also aids in the baking department of The Treehouse.

Trista Chenot, the youngest in the family, primarily sticks to the baking realm of the business. Her specialties are cakes and cookies, but she's always looking for new techniques and projects revolving around food.

The venues to which The Tree House has catered and provided for, in addition to private homes, include:

Oscar Swan (Geneva, Illinois)

Heritage Prairie Farm (Elburn, Illinois)

Danada House (Wheaton, Illinois)

Mill Creek Golf Club (Geneva, Illinois)

Stonebridge Country Club (Aurora, Illinois)

Gary United Methodist Church (Wheaton, Illinois)

College Church (Wheaton, Illinois)

Wheaton Bible Church (West Chicago, Illinois)

Baker Memorial Church (Saint Charles, Illinois)

Eagle Brook Country Club (Geneva, Illinois)

Arrowhead Country Club (Wheaton, Illinois)

Saint John Newman Church (Saint Charles, Illinois)

Zionsville Fellowship Church (Zionsville, Indiana)

Hyatt Hotels & Resort (Schaumburg, Illinois)

Cantigny Golf Club (Wheaton, Illinois)

Glen Ellyn Bible Church (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

White Pines Golf Club (Bensenville, Illinois)

Northern Illinois University (Naperville, Illinois)

Crossroads Community Church (Wheaton, Illinois)

First Presbyterian Church (Wheaton, Illinois)

First Baptist Church (Geneval, Illinois)

Fellowship Church (Carol Stream, Illinois)

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (Warrenville, Illinois)

Hilton Hotel (Lisle, Illinois), Hotel Arista (Naperville, Illinois)

Royal Fox Country Club (Saint Charles, Illinois)

Prairie Landing Golf Course & Country Club (Saint Charles, Illinois)

Glen Oak Country Club (Glen Ellyn, IL)

Fisherman's Inn (Elburn, IL)

Northfork Farm (Oswego, IL)

The Drake Hotel (Chicago, IL)

Biola University (LaMirada, California)