San Saba Garden Club visits Hill Country Water Garden

  • Attendees: Center front: Trish Jenkins. Second row, L to R: Donna Baxter, Debbie Shahan, Barbara Bell, Jimma Byrd, Karen Sloan. Third row, L to R: Anne Vincent, Marjean Henderson, Leanne Pollock, Jacqueline Carlson, Nancy Van Etten, Gabby Lindquist, Janice Bates
    Attendees: Center front: Trish Jenkins. Second row, L to R: Donna Baxter, Debbie Shahan, Barbara Bell, Jimma Byrd, Karen Sloan. Third row, L to R: Anne Vincent, Marjean Henderson, Leanne Pollock, Jacqueline Carlson, Nancy Van Etten, Gabby Lindquist, Janice Bates
  • Members practice social distancing at mini-seminar on in-ground fountains.
    Members practice social distancing at mini-seminar on in-ground fountains.
  • Members practice social distancing at mini-seminar on in-ground fountains.
    Members practice social distancing at mini-seminar on in-ground fountains.

One objective of San Saba Garden Club (SSGC) is to provide ongoing horticultural education for its members. Annual programs include talks and demonstrations by area experts, hands-on projects for both residential and civic beautification, presentations by fellow Club members, and botanical field trips. Past trips have introduced members to the expansive Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austinite Laura Joseph’s array of purple mountain houses and staghorn ferns, the worldrenowned International Water Lily Collection in San Angelo, and Goldthwaite’s history-rich Native American Gardens in Legacy Plaza.

The program for this year’s October 6th meeting was a most enjoyable and informative day trip to Hill Country Water Garden and Nursery in Cedar Park. Considered a destination center by Texas travelers, this gardener’s delight offers everything from initial consulting through installation of landscaping features such as water-recycling fountains, koi fish ponds, and disappearing streams. The nursery selects acres of plants, shrubs, and trees with the challenges of Central Texas gardening in mind, and staff are readily available to answer questions and make suggestions.

SSGC’s field trip included a complimentary demonstration on installing in-ground fountains, a hands-on workshop to create succulent bowls, and numerous impromptu Q&A's with knowledgeable staff. The nursery’s many pathways and towering shade trees were conducive to leisurely strolls through acres of both familiar and exotic plants, some of which found themselves headed to “forever homes” in San Saba when the day was through.

Members and guests making the trek included Janice Bates, Donna Baxter, Barbara Bell, Jimma Byrd, Jacqueline Carlson, Trish Jenkins, Marjean Henderson, Gabby Lindquist, Leanne Pollock, Debbie Shahan, Karen Sloan, Nancy Van Etten and Anne Vincent.

Of note, the November SSGC meeting has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Members will be contacted regarding the status of future get-togethers.