A VISIT TO VIVERO GROWERS

Yesterday, three garden blogging friends and I met for lunch, at Jack Allen's, and then drove out to visit Vivero Gardens. It was my second visit, the first being earlier this year, and the nursery stock was looking just as wonderful as ever.
This visit was prompted by Support Your Independent Nursery month, the brain wave of gardening friend and blogger  Pam Penick, Digging,Check out her webpage today for other gardeners' postings on Austin nurseries. Let's all help out by buying from the independent nurseries.

The nursery is located at 12000 Hwy 290 West, so it may be quite a hike for those who live in Austin, but I have to say if you are looking for great specimen plants this is the place to go. All the nursery stock is in the prime of condition due to the fact that they grow and care for many of the plants themselves.

Here is our fellow blogger Kathy who blogs at Vivero's Garden. Michael, her husband and Kathy run the nursery together and are very knowledgeable. They will be sure to help with your nursery selections.

I didn't leave empty handed. I bought this white flowering Leucophyllum, and a penstemon 'blue midnight'.

Finally, this is a reminder that it is the final day to enter our competition to win a gift certificates at 8 of our local nurseries. If you haven't done so already leave a comment here and then visit the other websites listed at the bottom of the page.
We will be announcing the winners Thursday morning.

VIVERO, AN AUSTIN NURSERY WORTH A VISIT

If you are wondering who this cute couple are they are Michael and Katherine Cain, the owners of Vivero Growers, located at 12000 A HWY 290W. Katherine goes by the name of Kacky ( her family have called her that for ever) and blogs at Vivero Garden.

Michael has been in the wholesale business for more than 15 years and they are now open to the public at this new location. I can tell you their nursery is worth a visit. You might just find that unusual plant you have been searching for.

Their nursery stock is healthy and well tended.





They have agaves, cactus, sedges, agastache. Lion's tail plants I could have walked off with in a minute. They had huge pots of papyrus which made me wish that I had done that water feature in my side entry. I don't think I can manage an agave with a papyrus in the same bed!

They have a darling little shed inside of which Kacky has hung some of her garden photography, which is also for sale.

I have been planning to go out there for months and, after Kacky, I think I'll call her Katherine, posted about her Calandrinia, and that they had more of them in the nursery, I suggested to David that we drive out that way after our usual Saturday morning walk. I remember seeing this plant on a garden tour last year. Struck by the gorgeous magenta flowers. Michael tells me it spreads readily, so it will feel right at home in my garden, and although it may not be hardy here, I can break off and root a cutting quite easily. I'll give it a go. Katherine is holding a pot with flower. I bought one that was not in flower yet, but loaded with buds.