Hi June,
welcome to DG. Sorry I missed the RU. The Natural Gardener is wonderful. We did go to see them in our last Austin nursery tour last July. I would be happy to see it again if the others are.
Silver, I'm with you...i like to chat and visit! You may remember that about me from when you were here for the last nursery tour. :)
Michelle
Nursery Tour in Austin
Connie asked for someone to suggest Plan B, so who has a Plan B? I think the itinerary is still open for discussion. Let's work with her!
Texascritter, I'm sorry but I don't remember you. But then most things went by me in a blur that day.:) You're right about the Natural Gardener. I go there everytime I go to Austin if I possibly can. It's always fun and refreshing and the staff is really wonderful and patient. Sometimes when I need a break from the shop, I just take off and go to Austin, just to see that nursery.
Did someone say one of the nurseries opens at 8:00? If that one is on our list, we could go there first and maybe have time for one more before lunch, and then 2 after lunch.
silver, the one that opens up at 8am is the Red Barn on the NW side of town. I think we struck it off the list.
We can always have several nurseries on the list and just get to whatever we can get to without stressin' or fussin' or hurryin'. That's my suggestion for plan B.
Michelle
I opt for plan B--one stop, lunch, one stop. How about bigbubbles choice and natural gardener? Otherwise just running the roads with no time to visit or check a nursery out to any depth sounds alot like commuting to me...
Just my opinion-
Debbie
PS--Think about plant swapping time in there also. Free is good. I also like 'niche' nurseries...the plain old ordinary are here too.
:)
This message was edited May 8, 2006 9:01 PM
I just went to Marbridge today and they have loads of plants that are 8 - 10 inches high for $1 each, and that was regular price. They said they are putting things on sale weekly to get rid of them before the huge watering season kicks in. I bought some salvia that are 14 inches high that each have about 2-3 stalks of blooms for $1 each. It takes a LOT of time to view that nursery, as it's like going to 5 or 6 nurseries in one place. Incredible...I had never been there. BUT, it is about 30 minutes from here, in Manchaca. They are run by a foundation that is a school for mentally deficient kids and adults. All profits go to the running of the boarding school. Their site online is: marbridge.org
Again...I really don't care where we go...this is just a suggestion. I'm going to sit back and let others who have a greater interest in what/where, etc. take the lead.
Connie
This message was edited May 8, 2006 11:29 PM
This message was edited May 9, 2006 12:28 AM
Connie are you planning on going back?
I would like some salvia too. I don't think that I will have time on my days off this week to run to Austin/manchaca. I will be using my time trying and hoping to find some lattice and scour some construction areas for rocks to make a planting border around my backyard fence. I planted a while bunch of vine seeds (jasmine, moon vines, trumpets and shell plants.) they are starting to germinate and I would like to have a home ready for them without waitng till the last minute.
If you are going let me know and I will send you a few bucks for the plants and any navtives you find interesting. I'm thinking maybe 10 bucks worth. I will make a trip to Austin and get them when I can.
BUT, only if you are going back. Don't go out of the way for me........
This request is for anyone who might be going for the sale.
calvin
That marbridge looks cool. I wouldn't mind if that was one of our stops. we can always have a plan for more than one to visit in the afternoon and then if we don't get to them, then we don't. Sometimes it is fun to have a plan but then kind of go by the seat of our pants.
Michelle
Hi Y'all, This sounds like a great time and I would like to join you. Great for me that you are doing it during the week cause I work weekends. Tue, Wed or Thur are ok with me. I have one other suggestioon. That is that we plan where we have lunch before the day. I would hope we could pick a nice local resturant, not a fast food place as I always like to eat native when I can. Having a plan also saves the time we would stand around trying to decide on a place that would please everyone. Been there, done that :). I would trust you localites to pick a place for us. So please add my name to the list, and any from San Antonio that would like to car-pool, let me know. My car has a huge trunk, and I would be glad to drive, especially if you are a good navigator. ( Are we doing any small swapping too?) maybe just put a few plants on a driveway and let everyone pick what they want. Thank you all for getting this started. I hated that I had to miss the RU, so this would be a great fix for me. SEEYA, Margie, aka "Queen of Dirtland" loudigger
Hey Loudigger, didn't you join us last year? We'd love to see you!
Michelle
Hi Everyone,
I am fairly new to DG, I joined in March. I have mostly posted to Texas Gardening thread so some of you might have seen me around. I work M-F, but it is flexible, so I might be able to make it. As long as I do not have a deadline or project that needs attention, I should be able to take the time away. I hope so anyways. I would like the opportunity to meet with other Texas DG'ers, and always take the opportunity to go look at new nurseries.
So for my name, just say I do not have a preference and would like to be notified of the day and then will say yes I can or no I can not attend.
Also, it seems like yall are trying to get a feel for what people want to do. I vote for a morning nursery tour, maybe two if time allows and a "get to know ya lunch." Then from there hit one more nursery and then part ways due to traffic. Also another idea is if people want to swap plants we could do that either at ConnieW's house or at lunch in the parking lot. Just a thought.
I hope that I will be able to make it. The sooner a day gets nailed down the better. I look forward to meeting each of you.
Plants can't sit in cars for hours in summer heat....keep that in mind.
Merae...how funny...I was going to talk to you at lunch tomorrow to see if you'd be able to get some time off work to do this. Cool! See you tomorrow. I can't wait for you to see the fruit on the Black from Tula in the EB.
Michelle
Msmerae,Hi and welcome to Dave's Garden! It's great to have another DGer.:). I am also in favor of a "get to know ya" lunch. If possible try to find a place for people on low carb diets. I'm hypoglycemic.
Margie, are you going to come through Fredericksburg again like last time? If so, we can go together. Either in your car or mine.
I have the same thought as Debbie about the plants getting too hot. If people want to bring plants to trade that's fine, but leave them at somebody's house in the shade.
Hi ya'll and welcome to Austin! I'd love to join ya'll but since it's during the week, I've got to make the money to spend on my plants! LOL I'd love to join you for lunch, once you decide where.
Also,my two cents....I just LOVE "Gardens," but it is difficult to get in and out of during the week (not a lot of parking). I know you went to "Natural Gardener" last year, but it looks fabulous and they were SO excited that you showed up last year. They specialize in natives (but have everything!) and have very nice display beds, including herbs, butterfly, veggies. I'd also recommend the "Barton Springs nursery"...my very favorite, since they have lots of natives at a very good price. If Marbridge has stuff on sale, they are fun and it supports "education and training to adults with various cognitive challenges." If you go there, don't miss the greenhouse, with a wide variety of houseplants and also some very funny, talking parrots!
Ok, if ya'll think of questions and I've been to the nursery, let me know. Anyone looking for anything in particular? (You might just force me to HAVE to look around town before you get here...that would be such a shame!)
This message was edited May 9, 2006 7:51 PM
You might just force me to HAVE to look around town before you get here...that would be such a shame!
That's the attitude Lucy! I like the natives too....
Debbie
Has anybody eaten here? http://www.austinbakehouse.com/location.htm I haven't, but I Googled it up and it looks interesting.
If we went to It's About Thyme (not too big) and Marbridge (quite big), this would be on the way back for lunch. For the afternoon nursery (nurseries), we could work our way back north and/or west.
How long I stay has a lot to do with the temp! lol I am a wuss and a couple of meds I have to take make me wilt in heat and sun.
I am bringing a couple of coolers to put smaller plants in. If it is really hot, I'll even put a little ice.
Went to Marbridge this morning. They had a flyer with lots of stuff half price, including all the roses except Knock-Out. I also hit It's About Thyme. ' Was looking for tropicals, tho, so only went into the greenhouses. There were lots of perennials and natives in the outer beds. ( I took the Marbridge flyer and can send a scanned copy. Not sure how this works...promoting someone's sale on the forum.....)
There are so many convenient places to go for lunch. Another would be Shady Grove on Barton Springs Road. Can eat outside or in....I can check about low carb meals. E-Z's is in the same complex as the other restaurants on Bee Cave in Westlake. They have a patio, and you order individually. And Central Market South has a great selection of sandwiches and salads. Luciludog probably knows even more spots....
Connie has taken on a monumental project trying to please everyone. I'm just used to calling a friend, jumping in the truck, and taking off for the day! Maybe we need to have a more definite plan. Is it a nursery trip...or a get together/plant swap? We may need to split into groups at some point. No restaurant is going to want us to linger over lunch hour, except maybe Central Mkt. I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you. Will be fun. I do think, tho, that since Connie started this,...she should have the last word. How 'bout a "dry run" to some of these spots by the locals to see how long it will take? Sandi
Luciludog....e-mail me about plant trip to New Braunfels/Seguin....
I think Bigbubbles' offer of parking might be just the thing we need to save time (about 40 minutes!) instead of people having to go to Lakeway. Westlake High School parking lot is also VERY close to both Pots and Plants and Barton Springs Nursery, and people leave their cars there every day. I sometimes even leave mine there overnight (I teach there).
Central Market here is very good and will have low carb and organically grown food.
Nivlac,
I won't be going to Marbridge any time soon, but if I do go back before the NT, I will be glad to get some for you!
I've included a pic so you can see how large they are...and I'm glad I just went outside to do so because I can see that some of them need water again! Thirsty little things! Can't get out to plant or I'd be knee-deep in mud! :)
I'm just wondering which of these nurseries might have a cinnamon fern, Christmas fern, or ghost fern? I'm also looking fora Henry Duhlberg salvia, but I know we'll be going to atleast one nursery that should have that.
I wish I could help you more on planning this trip, but I just don't know much about how to get around in Austin and what roads and intersections are under construction. I think that there are so many good choices that it's impossible to get to them all even if we skip lunch completely. So maybe we just need to plan on another trip in July for those who can stand the heat.
thnaks for the reply connie. It is alright.
I have spent alot of time planning the layout for my open space called a backyard.hehehehe. Four sections each transitioning to one another. A full sun(annuals, perinnials, and evergreen), a shade to partial shade(annuals and perinnials) a small lawn for playig and intertainment, and a Veggie section (view obscured by sun garden). I now know atleast how I want to design my shade garden. I will need to find some shade- partial shade plants that are more native to this area and require less than heavy watering. I am not looking to xeriscape the gardens but come up with easy maintenance layout and design.
I know that I want to find some young wisteria. Or trade/buy from a DGer. although right know I have nothing to really trade but some 4 day old germinated Empress Trees (Paulownnia Tomentosa Tree).
I am looking forward to possibly going on a nursury tour with yall. I will ink it in when the date is set.
Hi Everyone,
Gosh I sure like the sound of this nursery run and meeting some DG'ers; I'm new to DG and have just been so excited about all the information, ideas, pictures, and friendly advice I've received. I already have dreams of enlarging my back flower bed. Visiting some big city nurseries (I'm limited on what I find in my area) sounds like so much fun; heaven help my gardening budget.
I'm not sure I can make the four hour trip to Austin, but please send a d-mail whenever you make your final plans, and if by some wonderful act of God I can make it . . . .
Patty
Okay...is it time to suggest a date and see how it works?
It seems that since about 5 people can only do weekends, those people might want to organize a separate Austin Nursery Tour here for that time. If by some chance my DH doesn't fly home that weekend, I would love to attend that one also!
Since most people said Wednesday or Thursday would work best, how do these dates work for everyone?
Please post with your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices.
June 7 (Wed)
June 8 (Thursday)
June 14 (Wed)
June 15 (Thurs)
I don't care about the schedule. Can someone else please suggest alternate plans to mine that didn't work.
Thanks...looking forward to meeting everyone!
I choose all four days........ just kidding.
on break so need to write fast.
I should be able to make either date 7,8,14, or 15. I will only be able to attend the morning due to getting the kiddos after school pick-up. But let me know about parking. I will comein in the morning. parking at the school that was suggested sounds good, will need directions from San Anton. I look forward to meeting ya'll.
calvin
I just had a quick kick in the head. thought I would add it in. If it is the 14 and/or the 15 then I will be able to bring along my family.... a wonderful thought I was thinking. I wasn't thinking the kiddos get out of school this month on the 25th and Tanya(my wife) gets out the first week of june.
This message was edited May 12, 2006 5:22 AM
This message was edited May 12, 2006 5:58 PM
Why not do it a couple of days? That way, we can include more people who could make it on one day, but perhaps not another. I certainly have no problem with plant shopping more than one day in a week or two! (I went yesterday, and will go again Saturday.) That way, perhaps we could hit different nurseries, or go to a special one, like the Hill Country Water Gardens. They have several ponds filled with spectacular lotus.
Just a thought.
Hi, Well the dates of the 7th or 8th would be great for me, and I looked at the Austin Bake House menu and wow, what a great selection! I think everyone could find something to suit them. Soups and salads, burgers, and traditional menu, with some very interesting offers. I vote for this place, if it is in the right part of town for our tour. I will keep watching. Thank you all for your research. SEEYA, Margie
Don't worry about me...I'd love to come but I'm already missing 2 days of class for my qualifying exam the 13th and 14th... I'm sure I'll make it over to check these places out at some point during the summer. You guys have fun!
:) Kim
Connie, I am available all 4 of those dates you have suggested. I'm happy to go along with whatever plan everyone else likes. I am low maintenance and have no special dietary needs.
Michelle
Any of those dates work for me also. Sandi
Sandi, where in Austin do you live? I love at Parmer/Metric.
Michelle
We live in Lost Creek, off Loop 360.....and .....I'm not going to tell you where I love......!
That's a beatiful area down there. When GSD&M was located in those buildings there at 360/Lost Creek...it was such a nice drive from North Austin down 360 to get to work. Then GSD&M opened their building at 6th/Lamar...and it became the Mopac blah drive every day.
Haha...I "love" Parmer/Metric...meant to say "live". :)
Michelle
We live directly behind those bldgs. Bought the house in '78 for the gorgeous view of downtown, UT, etc. Rented the house out for three yrs while we were in Hawaii. Came back and this huge "thing" was behind our backyard! That was in '84. Wanted to keep daughter in same school, so stayed....and adapted. Mostly they're good neighbors...no wild parties and everyone goes home at 5! But I do miss my view......
This is Connie (thanks to Patrob's advice, I edited out the other name!) in a reincarnation of sorts!! Just wanted to let everyone know that Terry granted me a one-time name change. I realized that by Googling my name, anyone could be directed to this site and kinda "know my business" so I wanted to change it.
Connie
This message was edited May 13, 2006 11:38 PM
Connie, if you post your first and last name, you still have the same situation! The postings on Dave's Garden will be around for quite a while, but you can edit and remove your last name if you want to.
This message was edited May 14, 2006 9:21 AM
Patrob
...DUH....I certainly was not thinking again...so I'll go in and edit where I wrote the entire name--like above-- and get rid of it. Thanks sooooo much! Now that you know where I live, come see me!! LOL
As far as dates go, the later in the month the better for me. It looks like May is going to be more expensive that I realized, so the longer we have to recover from the May, the more $ I'll have to spend on plants.:) If the people who can only go on the weekend want to go later in the month I might just do that date. I doubt that I can do both.
Vote me in for either dates. family will tag along with me so ya'll will meet me and the bunch at one time.
I know for sure I'll be looking for some bleeding hearts. If they are in season for sale?
I look forward to meeting some DGers. Weekends are hard tues. and wed.'s are my days off and can spend all day tourig and sharing and socializing. any other day count me in for the moring only, i need some sleep before going to work.
calvin