Comments on: Goodbye, GARDENS

By: Jenny Peterson

Jenny Peterson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:17:26 +0000

Word is that two couples have banded together to buy Gardens! Couples that previously were customers of Gardens and didn’t want to see it close permanently. I don’t know how long it will take them to reopen the store, but it will be interesting to see if there are any major changes! Viva la Gardens!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:23:57 +0000

I just ran across this post. Now my heart is heavy. During my 13-year stint in Austin, this became a fave. It was one of the first places went after grad school, when I had a real job (read: real money).

So bummed I didn’t get to say “goodbye.”

By: mss @ Zanthan Gardens

mss @ Zanthan Gardens — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:13:34 +0000

Gardens was one of the first nurseries I shopped at and one of my favorites. I always bought my tomato starts there because they had organic, rare heirloom ones that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I also bought a lot of herbs. I couldn’t afford many of their larger plants or pottery but I did spend quite a bit of money on seeds and on home items.

Gardens was one of my favorite Austin spots to take out-of-town visitors. I’m very sad to see it go. Today, as things are now 75% off I went over to see if a little stone fountain was still there. (It wasn’t.) But I came home with something much more expensive and very impulsive.

It hurt to see the shelves empty. As you say, it felt like a funeral. At least I have several treasured objects to remember it by.

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:55:23 +0000

Nice tome – Jenny. And so true. We do need beautiful places to find unique things — I hope that as this door closes, another will open soon. Makes me want to visit a f ew of my other specialty store favorites — just to spread a little shopping around.

By: Jenny Peterson

Jenny Peterson — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:01:17 +0000

I know, I feel the same way, Kat. When I visited Gardens for my clients, I would always treat myself to these wonderful $12 salted caramels from the store and a cool little 4″ succulent from the nursery. It was a special spot among an overabundance of ordinariness.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:51:56 +0000

This is sad indeed. The nursery I work at was similar in offerings and recently closed. Another in a neighboring town is barely hanging on. I do love the basics, don’t get me wrong. But if closings like this keep up, where will gardeners get the really cool stuff?