I always believe in supporting local businesses, but with the ongoing drought, our local nurseries are getting hit particularly hard right now. Pam Penick at Digging had a great idea to encourage us all to get out there and visit our favorite nurseries, declaring October to be “Support Your Local Nursery” month. This week’s focus for Austin is Barton Springs Nursery in southwest Austin — how could I resist a chance to spread the word about one of my favorite places to surround myself in green?
On Jenny Peterson’s post, she gave a top 10 list of why she loves Barton Springs Nursery — dang, now I can’t do that! But I do have to agree with everything in her list. From the great staff to the huge plant selection, this nursery is tops! Case in point, when I walked in today, a staff person remembered me from the week before, when I was on the look out for caterpillars on native host plants to show on Central Texas Gardener (yes, yes, I know, most people go to a nursery for “normal” plants, but I was particularly looking for ones getting munched on to show off my little wildlife buddies — alas, Barton Springs Nursery had not a caterpillar to offer me, but plants they had aplenty!). But all the staff have always been friendly and helpful to me — and believe me, I come in with weird questions all the time.
Native plants. They got’ em.
Shade, xeric, sun plants, trees, grasses. They got’em.
My favorite thing to do is wander all the different areas at the nursery — although to warn you, it can be a little too inspiring — I always come home with more plants than I intended. Always. They have the coolest carts, all individually named (“A La Carte” comes to mind) — rather than move the carts around, however, most people declare a cart theirs by putting a plant on it, then they leave the cart in place and periodically bring other plants back to “home base.”
One of the things that I love most about Barton Springs Nursery is that they have these:
–several greenhouses on the premises. This allows them to grow many of their plants themselves, from seed and/or cuttings. It also means that they regularly have a vast selection of plants available in a variety of sizes, from 4″ on up.
I always have to stop and talk in Parakeetese to the several birds BSN has in an outdoor aviary. Today the little birds didn’t stop to listen to me the way they usually do, however — they weren’t a big fan of my camera. So I snapped a picture (this little bird’s name is Sprite) and quickly moved on, but I hope they’ll have a good conversation with me next time I’m there just-a-shoppin’.
Whether you are looking for perennials, shrubs, vines, grasses, shade plants, sun plants, trees, pottery — oh gosh, anything — go see what Barton Springs Nursery has to offer. And if you live somewhere other than Austin, I’m sure your local nursery will appreciate a visit! Be sure to pick up a native caterpillar host plant while you are there! 🙂
BSN really does have everything you need for a great garden in central Texas. And the parakeets are a bonus. (Remember when they used to have chickens in that aviary?) Thanks so much for joining in for Support Your Independent Nursery Month, Meredith!
Sounds and looks like a really nice place to browse or shop for plants! Do they recycle/reuse nursery pots there too? Most of the shops in my area will take your old nursery pots now. Keep them out of the landfills!
Wow, what a great idea! The nursery there looks fantastic and like such a fun place to visit!
I do have a nursery here that I support – my wallet would argue that there are several plant stores in the vicinity that I support maybe a little too well!
They sure do, Alan — I know of at least 3 places that do, actually. Reuse, reuse, reuse!
I know that feeling, Indie!
Pam, thanks again for helping our nurseries out!
Thanks Meredith! Great pictures! We can be pretty darn photogenic, I must say but please come by and see for yourselves if you haven’t visited us already. We are so grateful for this support and to Pam Pennick for organizing this Support Your Local Nursery Month. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of the dedicated plant enthusiasts that have supported and grown with us over the last 25 years!
I bought my very first native plants from BSN years ago, when they were still on Barton Springs Road. Conrad even delivered one of the first “big” trees I ever got. My garden is filled with BSN stories and will continue to be. Thanks for the great pictures & your stories of why they mean so much to you!
My absolute favorite nursery! I wore one of their t-shirts to shreds to spread the word. Best place for native, affordable plants. Not to mention hours of nursery pleasure.
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