THE NATURAL GARDENER, MY LOCAL NURSERY

October has been declared  'Support your Independent Nursery Month' by my friend and fellow gardener, Pam Penick, Digging. Each Wednesday we write about one of our local nurseries. Check Pam's blog for other gardeners joining this cause.

I am fortunate to have one of the best nurseries in Austin right on my doorstep. The Natural Gardener.

 Come take a look around with me and I'll show you why.

After parking my car I always follow the same route around the nursery, heading first to the succulent area. Cactus, agaves, yuccas, so many from which to choose.

Grasses mingle well with agaves and you will find a good selection of the best grasses for our area.

They have a fresh delivery of herbs. Some of these herbs can also be planted in among the dry succulent beds. It's been a long hot summer and with cooler days coming now is the time to plant some of those winter herbs.

We have such a wonderful winter growing season for cool season vegetable crops. Step into the shade house and pick out some chard, cabbage or broccoli.

Feed your soil with some home brewed compost tea.

The nursery has some wonderful decorative artwork from wall plaques to spinning mobiles.

Here's a pot that would be just perfect for my Huernia. I'll have to save up my pennies!

The children have not been forgotten either but parents please take note of this warning!

Take your little ones along to see the goats and...

The chickens.

You wouldn't expect to find a scene like this in a nursery. A beautiful example of man made water feature with horsetail, grasses and a splash of color from red gomphrena.

Or this wildflower meadow.

In the vegetable garden there are plenty of examples of raised bed gardening including this square foot garden.

Need to keep out the critters? Here's a square foot garden with substantial cover.

Lots of creative examples for the home gardener

Like this raised bed made with cedar .

Walking past their antique rose selection, shrub and trees to the back of the property is the greenhouse.

With a varied selection of houseplants from tropicals to large and small succulents.

With a summer such as this last many of us are thinking of rainwater collection. Not always the most attractive objects, I thought these green drums on a stand the best small garden barrels I have seen.

Step inside the main building and you will find an impressive selection of flower and vegetable seeds, cover crop seeds and bulbs. Above the racks a chalk board with information on what to plant now.

Organic products to deal with every kind of garden problem, organic fertilizers, drip irrigation systems and at the desk an associate to help answer your gardening questions.
In this same building you will find, gardening tools, gloves, hummingbird feeders and other decorative garden items. Need a gardening book ? They have those too.

Outside pots in every color shape and size. Disappearing water features, bird baths and garden benches.
Now let's get down to soil. Whether you need a couple of bags or a truck load the Natural Gardener has just what you need. Composts, soils, mulches and granite. Take it home in the car or have it delivered.
The Natural Gardener is a full service nursery which can cater for all your gardening needs.