Nursery

The Nursery Special Interest Group runs a state certified nursery and grows Native and Adaptive plants from seed and starts.  Also, it cares for "rescued" plants, tending them for resale at the Horticulture Club's Spring sale (usually) in April and monthly sales in May and June, and September through November.

If you are changing your landscaping and have plants to donate, bring them to the Gardens and leave them at Gate #2.  You may also email Donna Kotrla, [email protected]  or Candy Prater, [email protected] for assistance.  The Nursery also accepts plastic pots and yard art in good condition.

The Nursery SIG provides a great learning and social environment for its many volunteers who come out to work when they can.  It raises many of the plants sold at the annual sale which increases the profit margin for the Horticulture Club. It benefits the public by offering reasonably priced plants, many of which are natives, so important to local pollinators.  From a volunteer standpoint, it's a unique opportunity to learn about plants, dig in the dirt, and socialize with like-minded folks.

History

The Nursery was the first SIG in the Horticulture Club.

The Nursery began when the Club was given the plants and bushes during the Texas Drive fitness center addition. Nancy Strayer helped set up shop near where the Barn is currently located. When that space became too small, Ziggy and Al Aufford helped move the Nursery to its present location on the West side of the Garden. The Nursery continued to grow as more and more plants were donated.

The Nursery SIG started the idea of having plant sales as fundraisers for the Club, with the first sale in 2006. For 3 years the Nursery grew and was in charge of the Spring, Fall and Poinsettia sales under the guidance of Wally Brown. As the Nursery grew more beds were added in 2024 bringing it to its current number of twelve.

One of the fond memories of the development of the Nursery was when the little greenhouse was brought to the garden on a 16' trailer all the way from Austin. Twenty people helped lift it off the trailer and put it in place near the Main Gate, long before the fence was built, the parking lot put in or any garden beds were built. The little greenhouse now resides in the Nursery area, having been moved in February 2013 after the big Greenhouse was built.