Barton Springs Nursery
This is my favorite nursery in Austin for its selection of native perennials, quality of service, and prices. BSN propagates a lot of its native plants, so small sizes are often available if you’re trying to save money. They carry a great selection of glazed pots, outdoor cedar furniture, and other garden ornaments. They also have a large outdoor bird cage that houses a dozen parakeets and a couple of hens, which my children enjoy visiting. Located at 3601 Bee Caves Rd. (512) 328-6655

The Natural Gardener
This is a close runner-up to BSN for me. The Natural Gardener’s display gardens alone are worth a visit. Every time I go, a new garden has been added. There’s a marvelous, sunny labyrinth, a colorful butterfly garden, a peach orchard, an intimate herb garden, plus numerous attractions for children, including an enormous teepee, donkeys, a chicken coop, and rustic wooden swings hanging from trees. Delightful. They have a nice gift shop and bookstore and a wonderful selection of native and adapted plants, including a really good succulent collection. Their soil mixes can’t be beat. Located in Oak Hill at 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd. (512) 288-6113

The Great Outdoors
An excellent nursery with a mouth-watering selection of plants and a hip, contemporary vibe. There’s also a casual restaurant on-site, the Garden District Cafe. I will be doing a photo tour of this nursery soon. Located in South Austin at 2730 S. Congress Ave. (512) 448-2992

Hill Country Water Gardens
This is my pond source, and lately it’s become a fine, fully stocked nursery in its own right. HCWG is the best place I’ve found for water plants and fish, thanks to excellent service. The pretty grounds include numerous ponds complete with bridges, native and adapted “land” plants, and garden ornaments. A big sandbox and tanks of koi and goldfish make it a fun place for kids as well. Located in Cedar Park at 1407 N. Bell Blvd. (512) 260-5050

Shoal Creek Nursery
This nursery is located in a north-central Austin neighborhood, kind of off the beaten track. It offers a nice selection of plants and a lovely collection of glazed pots. Located at 2710 Hancock Dr. (512) 458-5909

Antique Rose Emporium
If this nursery were located in Austin, I’d go every day just to stroll around the Emporium’s display gardens. The 21-year-old gardens at the Brenham location are stunningly beautiful. Antique roses and many other flowering shrubs and trees, accented by sturdy cedar trellises, old buildings, and garden ornaments, are arranged in exquisite “rooms” over the large grounds. Little gift shops abound. It’s worth the hour-and-a-half drive from Austin. A second ARE in north San Antonio offers many of the same attractions, with the addition of adobe walls as a backdrop. You can order heirloom roses from their excellent website. Located in Independence (near Brenham) at 10,000 Hwy. 50. (979) 836-5548; and in San Antonio at 7561 East Evans Rd. (210) 651-4565

Yucca Do Nursery
An online nursery located in Giddings, Texas, that specializes in rare, “curious,” drought-tolerant plants from the southwest, Mexico, and beyond. Check out their drool-inducing selection.

Southern Bulb Company
An online nursery located near Tyler, Texas, that specializes in Southern and heirloom bulbs. Here’s how they describe what they do: “Many of our bulbs were brought over to this country by the first settlers. We found them at old, historic locations where they had been neglected, thriving and multiplying naturally. Our bulbs are grown close to your home, in the heat and humidity of the South. They do very well here in drought and adverse conditions—which is why our farm is in Texas.”