It's About Thyme Garden Center

07/14/2020

From their south Texas home, the Winslows send their warmest wishes to all customer friends from It's About Thyme, the beautiful south Austin nursery that they ran for 39 years.

In terms of plants, Diane and Chris are enjoying living in a different hardiness zone. (The winter temps in Aransas County only fall to 20 F, compared to Austin's 15 F.)

"Just walking around Rockport you see fiddle leaf figs, rubber plants, plumerias and ponytail palms that would never make it through an Austin winter," marvels Chris. It is normal to see American beautyberry, little pea vine and passion vine and button bush growing wild in the county.

With the pandemic still in the headlines, they feel safe in their sparsely populated, "eleven-traffic-light" county of Aransas. And while relieved not to have to navigate the choppy waters of the Covid crisis as business owners, they experienced a great loss in April, when Diane's 90-year-old mom Nancy Barnes passed away from Covid-19 in a nursing home in Austin.

"My mother was a great woman, with many talents and interests," said Diane earlier this week. "Everything she did was with exuberance. She especially loved her gardens - and orchids - and passed that love of plants and nature on to me. I am forever grateful to her for that. Thanks Mom!"

But life continues. They walk every day, and enjoy the extraordinary birdlife that south Texas is famous for. They often see the gregarious roseate spoonbills and black-necked stilts wading in the shallow waters, along with black-bellied whistling ducks.

Chris also has a big garden project underway and talks excitedly about all of his plants: Port Aransas mistflower, Meyer lemon, golden thryallis, sweet almond verbena, and a fan and dwarf pygmy date palm. "I also bought some arbequina olive trees from Lowes . . . but boy, I sure hate to pay retail!"

Chris and Diane send their love to all in the 'Thyme community.' They miss the social aspects of the nursery as much as all of the plants, and plan to open the little 'casita' next to their Rockport property as a bed-and-breakfast for visitors from Austin, once the current crisis is over. (from the Austin Garden newsletter)

09/27/2019

Many of you will remember how helpful and knowledgeable Dwight was as a member of It's About Thyme's staff. Dwight has now created his own little company called Thursday Morning Landscaping. He offers design and installation at a reasonable price. Call Dwight at 512-913-2189 to set up a free consultation.

08/02/2018

***ESTATE/GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE***
***SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 4&5***
@11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX
10 A.M. - 4 P.M.

Furniture, store fixtures, collectables, misc. household items, books, etc...

07/19/2018

Well folks, this is my last post for IAT, Thank you all for your kind words and support as we get Grandpa's Gardens ATX (https://www.facebook.com/GrandpasGardensATX/) off the ground. It’s been a lot of fun! David

Get ready. Saturday morning 9am sharp (not before!)
All plants in the medicine garden are $30 regardless of size. You dig em up and take em home. All plants remaining in the culinary garden are first come first dig em up your self .
Remaining in ground ground cloth and pea gravel. Free, dig and carry. Carts and assorted other nursery items and equipment willl also be marked to sell. We don’t have much left of other things but it’s all half priced except the house which is priced. We will also be dismantling the remaining greenhouses so all parking will be in the main lot and the dumpster field this weekend. It’s sure to be a madhouse so meditate prior.

Full Service Family Garden Center dedicated to Education, Pure Organic Growing, Global Specialties, Medicinal and Culinary offerings.

07/18/2018

Mother and Daughter MORINGA Trees
$250 and $150 in 30g pots

07/18/2018

50% OFF stars today. All plants,bagged goods,shed goods and stuff in #1. House items are priced including discounts.. Also, cinder blocks for a buck each $. Pallets are free and TPosts are $1.50 for 6’ and $2.50 for 8’. 400 LF Deer fencing $150 . Also FULL Roll of 6’ Ground Cloth is available for only $180 (reg. $330) Cash and carry for all the above (Load yourself) More items will become available this weekend (Garden Plants, Decorative Fountains , Carts , Pea Gravel and Ground Cloth etc.....

07/09/2018

Sorry Facebook thinks we should be closing at noon this week. SALE will continue until closing until we are done. 5:30pm........Mr Zuckerberg and I are working it out.

07/06/2018

After 39 years. It's About Thyme is closing at the end of this month. Owner Diane Winslow offers thanks, and a glimpse into the future for her and her husband, 'Cap'n Chris.'
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We have had the time of our lives here in Austin over the many years... a time so rich in friendships and experiences that sometimes we can't believe our luck.

So retirement approaches. Or does it? We think we still have some years in us yet : - ) With the closing of the nursery, Chris and I realized that this was a chance for us to start a new chapter in our lives, in a new place.

So, later this summer, we are selling up and moving to Rockport. This pretty coastal town, some 160 miles from here, has been busy putting itself back together after Hurricane Harvey, and we are excited to call it our new home.

We have purchased a beautiful house near Copano Bay within a natural wildlife habitat, complete with ponds. But for both of us, retirement doesn't mean slowing down or putting our feet up ; - )

'Cap'n' Chris has been visiting this area - known to some as 'the Texas Riviera' - ever since he was a youngster, and feels right at home on the beach and (obviously!) out fishing in the waters of the Gulf from his beautiful boat.

Now although I may have retired as 'the Martha Stewart of Manchaca' (Mick Vann's nickname for me), I am going to explore transferring the title down to Rockport. Yes... the circle is unbroken. I am in the early stages of creating a business partnership with a good friend and (big surprise!) will be opening a gift shop and herb nursery there, and hopefully will be anointed as Rockport's Martha Stewart soon thereafter!

We can't really find the right words to express our gratitude to all of you who have brightened our days and supported our enterprise, especially during our 'long goodbye.'

Chris and I will still be in touch with you through our newsletter, which is going to continue publishing, so we will be able to keep you posted about our 'retirement' from time to time.

Once we get the shop up and running in Rockport, we would love to have visitors from Austin dropping by if you happen to be down on the Coast. Be well, be safe... and as always, Happy Gardening! ❦

07/06/2018

We will be ”Stocked Like Spring” tomorrow morning. Trucks arriving all day. Reminder, ProBio and Bokashi are also part of the sale. Living Soil Makers REJOICE!

07/03/2018

Railroad will be reinstalled at the Austin Zoo in time for the Halloween Shindig.

07/03/2018

Last chance for Happy Frog Soils and Metro Mix at 25% off. All other bagged goods included. We will restock on Friday for the last time.

07/02/2018

Customer Appreciation SALE continues this weekend with new trucks arriving all week. 25 percent off everything in the nursery. Items in the house include discount. See you SATURDAY! (Trucks will be here all day Friday because of the holiday, spare yourself!)