Austin Trip: Natural Gardener Nursery

One of the great highlights of the trip to Austin was the visit to Natural Gardener Nursery. Wow! If I lived in Austin, I’d be there all the time, checking out the huge assortment of plants and taking in the creative loveliness of the place. Here’s the compost brewing house:

Out back is a huge field of poppies. That water catch system gave me tank envy…

Then I ran across this interesting sign, but saw no one in the pasture….

Till I walked around back and met this charmer….

I had a pet donkey as a child and have had a weakness for those big ears ever since. At Natural Gardener, the pair of donkeys have a small pasture that is artfully sloped for rain catch and is dotted with little shade trees and the occasional flower. One of the pair had just finished a satisfying dust bath…

Now how could you resist a face like this?

Meanwhile, back in the display gardens, there were wonderful touches like this swing:

If I’d had a million bucks, I’d have hired a U-haul and carried home lots of colorful pots like these:

Alas, the visit went far too fast and it was time to go back. This wonderful arch leads the way back to parking lot. What a great place! Thanks Austin, for being that kind of gardening town!