Austin Nurseries Giveaway: Barton Springs Nursery
I’m thrilled to announce that as part of Support Your Independent Nursery Month, eight local nurseries are partnering with Austin garden bloggers for a giveaway blogathon! Prizes from locally owned nurseries around town are being offered in random drawings on eight Austin garden blogs, and all you have to do to enter is visit each blog and leave a comment. It’s as easy as that.
Austin’s independent nurseries give so much to local gardeners: a wide selection of regionally appropriate and homegrown plants; knowledgeable, friendly service by people who know their plants and care enough to keep them watered and healthy; beautiful and fun garden accessories; quality soils and mulch; inspirational display gardens; and informative gardening talks and how-to classes. Imagine if these places didn’t exist and all we had to choose from were plants at the big-box home-improvement stores?
In times like these it’s worth thinking about where our gardening money is going. I want mine to help sustain the independent nurseries that have given me such great selection, service, and information over the years. The drought and the slow economy must not be allowed to drive excellent locally owned nurseries out of business. And now that fall is finally here, it’s a great time to replenish our gardens with new (drought-tolerant) plants, compost, mulch, and maybe even a little garden bling. Kinda makes you want to go nursery shopping, doesn’t it? Or is it just me?
Giveaway Prizes
OK, here’s what you really want to know. These are the prizes we’re giving away to area gardeners, courtesy of the nurseries listed below:
Sharing Nature’s Garden: $50 gift certificate from Emerald Garden
J Peterson Garden Design: $50 gift certificate from The Great Outdoors
Go Away, I’m Gardening!: $100 gift certificate from Sunshine Landscape & Garden Center
Great Stems: $50 gift certificate from Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery
The Whimsical Gardener: $25 gift certificate from It’s About Thyme
Rock Rose: $50 gift certificate from Shoal Creek Nursery
Growing Optimism: $25 gift certificate from The Natural Gardener (added on 10/20)
And here at Digging, I’m giving away TWO prizes to two different winners: a $100 gift certificate & a Fall Power Package (valued at $50) from Barton Springs Nursery, one of my very favorite nurseries! (Click for my post about BSN.)
The Fall Power Package will help make your plants healthy and strong as we head into winter. It includes the following gardening goodies:
(1) 4 lb. bag Rabbit Hill Bulb Food
(1) 4 lb. bag Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus
(1) 2 cu.ft. bag Texas Native Hardwood Mulch
(1) 4 lb. bag Rabbit Hill Texas Native Plant Food
(1) 6 lb. bag Rabbit Hill Minerals Plus
(1) 1 cu.ft. bag Triple Power Compost
(1) 2 oz. bottle Superthrive
(1) 8 oz. bottle Bioform
Giveaway Rules:
1. You must leave a comment on this post to enter.
2. Each blog will hold its own random drawing, so leave a comment on each blog to enter all the giveaways.
3. Only one comment per person per giveaway.
4. Participating bloggers and their families are ineligible to win.
5. Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on 10/26.
6. Winners will be announced on each blog on 10/27.
7. Winners must go to the nursery with a photo ID and pick up their prize in person within two weeks of winning. Prizes will not be mailed.
So go ahead and leave a comment here to enter, and I hope you’ll visit the other bloggers to enter their giveaways too. Win or lose, if you live here in Austin you’ve already hit the jackpot with a great selection of local nurseries at which to shop, learn, and be inspired.
Update: For anyone looking for my FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP post and a place to leave a link to your foliage post, I’m so sorry I missed this month. I completely forgot about it between helping to organize this giveaway and being out of town all weekend. I’d love to read your posts, however, so feel free to leave your links here, and I’ll go check ’em out this week. —Pam
Update 10/28/11: I’ve announced the winners of the giveaway! Click for the link.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Hi, Pam, put me in for the drawing! I didn’t know this was happening, but I’d love to win.
I used to work right down the street from Barton Springs Nursery, but I rarely get over there these days. I need to check back in so sign me up to WIN!
What a great idea and I’d love to visit any of these places if I win.
Wow! A chance to win a prize from one of my favorite nurseries. Can’t resist that chance.
Thanks for doing this.
Those are some very nice prizes. My yard needs some sprucing up. Please count me in.
I would love to win one of these great giveaways!
Pam, thanks for your blog. As I start my garden in this challenging environment, I really appreciate your tips and help! And your photographs are beautiful. I hope I win the drawing!
Great post and a great nursery. I hope I win!
Please enter me in the drawing. I love BSN! We shop there everytime we come to Austin.
This is not an entry. I just wanted to comment because I think your project to promote local independent nurseries is a great idea. Boycott the big box begonias!
What a great opportunity to expand my gardening resources…and boy, oh boy, does my garden need some Fall Power!
Pam – so glad to hear about the giveaway – too bad I’m too lax in hitting my deadlines. 🙂
Ahhh, one of my favorites! Love shopping there and appreciate their great labeling.
ALMOST makes me want to pull up stakes and move to Texas. What happened to foliage follow-up? I’m doing one regardless. http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/1881
Doh! I completely forgot about Foliage Follow-Up this month, Ricki! I was so busy helping to organize this giveaway, and then I was out of town all weekend—what can I say? I dropped the ball. Thanks for posting anyway. I’ll check it out this week! —Pam
I’ve been meaning to stop by Barton Springs Nursery — maybe on my next trip to Austin.
Young gardener here – I love giveaways excitement!
I have not gone North to Austin to visit gardens but I do have it on my list! I find that Nurseries are just the best when you want the best! Thanks for the opportunity! Pamie G.
What a wonderful giveaway! I could really use this.
I love Barton Springs Nursery!! Pick me!
My garden is in need ofvnew plants. I love this giveaway!
I was wondering about foliage follow up too, but if there is anything more important give-aways certainly qualify! http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/foliage-follow-upsnug-as-bug-in-rug.html
Foliage Follow-Up from The Desert Edge: http://desertedge.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-foliage-follow-up.html
Foliage Follow-Up from Each Little World: http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2011/10/foliage-follow-up-10162011.html
What a great way to encourage local nurseries.
Wow! I absolutely adore Barton Springs Nursery. Not only do they have great plants and a peaceful setting, but they also propagate many plants. My favorite place to just wander around and see what’s new and what’s still worthy of places in our gardens.
Ahhhh, this place is calling my name!
Hi Pam, what a delightful place and please put my name in for any prizes. I did make a foliage follow-up post that can be see here:
Foliage Followup-October 2011
Thank you so much! I’m learning tons from your blog and appreciate your enthusiasm and skills.
I hope that fall power pack includes a little bit of rain too.
Hi Pam,
I don’t qualify for your prizes, since I live in Nebraska, where the current temperature is 43, and in a couple days, the temp at this time is expected to be below freezing. I enjoyed your post, though. I would say 90% of my plants come from locally owned nurseries. About 50 to 60% of those come from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
Here’s a link to my foliage post:
http://acornergarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/foliage.html
Please enter me in your drawing — BSN is one of my favorite places.
I would love to win! I am learning tons from your blogs. Thank you!
This is a great way to stimulate the local economy!
Wooo Hooo….come on computer, pick ME!
Thanks, Pam. LOVING October!!!
xoxoxxo
M
Commenting! Not that I wasn’t going to spend all my money at the nurseries anyway…
Hey Pam, this is a fun idea. Fingers crossed…
Oh I could use some help! What a great offering!
Since I won’t be in the Austin area this coming year I wouldn’t want to receive the gift cert so please pass it along even though I drool over the agaves and pots I see displayed. I did want to let you know I did a FF. http://greenbowgardens.blogspot.com/2011/10/foliage-follow-up-minature-shrubs.html
I love Barton Springs Nursery! What a generous give away!
I would love to win this giveaway! Went to Barton Springs on a tip from Digging, and it’s my new favorite nursery. Now I’m saving up and filling in my once barren front yard with natives. Bit by bit…
Thanks for sharing your garden and your know-how with us. I have learned so much from your blog!
I would love to have another excuse to visit BSN, so please enter my name. Thank you!
Thanks for do this!
What a great idea! Love our Austin nurseries!!
My favorite nursery! And boy, do I have some holes to fill . . .
I’m thrilled that you are doing this!
Fun giveaway! Love bcn!
Please enter me in the drawing. You are such an inspiration to me as a gardener.
your garden is absolutely beautiful! Since I started my front yard xeriscape, so many neighbors have stopped to talk whom I never would have known otherwise. Working on your garden is not only good for your soul, it’s good for your neighborhood!
Dear Pam,
I won’t be able to do the drawing but have put this nursery on my list for spring. How did your Monarda ‘Peter’s Purple’ Bee Balm do during the summer? I love the bee balm but tend to lose them.
Jeanette
Jeanette, it got a little crispy this summer during our terrible drought and heat wave. But on the plus side, it stayed alive, had a lovely early summer bloom, didn’t get powdery mildew, and is looking refreshed with the cooler weather and a little rain. I’m curious to see what it will do in its second year. —Pam
It’s always fun & inspiring to go plant shopping, but it would be even more fun with a gift certificate in hand! Thanks for highlighting all these great nurseries.
Wow – a Fall Power Pack looks to be just the thing to fight back after the drought/heat of this summer. Thanks for organizing this.
Another great thing about the local nurseries is that they let you bring your dog! The knowledgeable staff at Barton Springs nursery always take the time to greet my mutt and give her a little scratchy-scratch. Its Daisy’s favorite place to visit.
Barton Springs Nursery is such a fabulous place to visit. It’s well worth the drive from Katy to Austin on its own, but combined with the other nurseries y’all have included in this series of posts, I’m chomping at the bit to get there!
Thanks for the chance to win. Great nursery – great people.
Barton Springs Nursery is one of my favorite places to meander through and imagine all of their plants somewhere in my yard. They have always been helpful and informative! Thanks for giving the opportunity to win awesome prizes from there!!!
Oh wow! What a great giveaway! After such a long, hot and dry summer I’m looking forward to gardening again.
great idea…and what a boon to area gardeners…fingers as well as toes!
Pam,BSN is also one of my favorites. We live n. of Waco and drive down to buy our plants there or the Natural Gardener. I love going to the garden tours. We didn’t get to come this year. We lost a bunch of plants but now are totally native plants w/the exception of our “food crops”. thanks for your great blog
So, exciting! Barton Springs is definitely one of my favorite nurseries.
Love your blog and have been reading it for a couple of years. Love Barton Springs Nursery, too. What a fun contest! Roberta
My yard needs all the help it can get after this summer. The folks at these nurseries always point me in the right direction for what does well here, unlike the big box stores who sell what ever abundant plant they get in.
Haven’t been here in years, it was always wonderful wandering around looking at everything and picking up and occasional addition for the yard. After this brutal summer, i will have to replace some dearly enjoyed day friends in the garden that will now be compost for my soil.
In for a chance to win a prize from my recently discovered favorite nursery!
I just love your website! It makes me want to garden every time I see it and you have such practical, wise advice. Thank you!
My poor yard needs all the help it can get
You guys are doing a terrific job with your local garden center posts – sure hope all the local nurseries do well! I’ll go to them anyway, so don’t enter me in the contest… just wanted to say hi and thank you 😉
Annie
What a great idea, I love shopping at local nurseries. Love your blog as always!
Whenever I’m in a serious plant-buying mood, Barton Springs is where I go. The great prizes add an extra incentive.
Holy cow! What a great prize. I love an excuse to drive to Austin and explore this nursary. If I win, you can bet, I’ll be there to pick up the prize.
– Abbey from San Antonio
What a lovely giveaway! i would love to win a nursery prize!
I would appreciate a few gifts and be able to replace some plants that died from the drought!
I haven’t checked out this nursery, yet, but I’d love to! Love those colorful pots!
Whoo hoo! October is a great month. I spent some time (and money) at Barton Springs nursery (and Natural Gardener) this weekend. I now have my first square foot vegetable garden. 😀
Saw MANY other plants I’d like to buy, so I’ll be thinking lots of positive thoughts about winning this giveaway.
I love your place. I was able to find and purchase a Tallow Tree from your nursery. I could not find it anywhere else. Thanks. You have a beautiful nursery.
Pam, what a fantastic idea and giveaway! I love BSN! Great pics from the Plano Prairie Garden.
The folks at Barton Springs are the best – knowledgeable, patient, enthusiastic and wonderfully helpful. Love your blog too.
your photos alone make me want to win — beautiful!! 🙂
Cross fingers; would love to win this gift certificate. Thanks, Pam.
Love your blog. Thank you for your generosity! Would love to win. — wendy
Just got back from buying possumhaw, but would be happy to go back with a gift certificate. Thanks!
Can’t resist entering this contest! Thanks for this fabulous idea to support our local nurseries.
I can use all the help I can get, Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer!
Barton Springs Nursery is the go to place for Texas native plants. I love that they grow their own plants and carry the small 4 inch sizes in all my favorites. I bought 2 Pansy Redbuds in the spring. I love these trees. I think I’m going to need at least one more.
Great post on Michael’s garden. I’ve enjoyed following his blog for several years. We don’t have enough soil depth for a true prairie garden but a lot of the plants he grows there are happy here too and can be incorporated into cultivated areas.
Thanks, Kathleen. I’m glad you enjoyed it! —Pam