October 16, 2011

Austin Nurseries Giveaway! ~ It's About Thyme

My friend, Pam is the brainchild of Support Your Independent Nursery Month here in Austin, Texas.  She has encouraged local bloggers to highlight independent nurseries each Wednesday during the month of October.  Our local nurseries have felt the pinch of the extreme drought conditions and ailing economy and as a result could use a little extra love.

As passionate gardeners, I know I don't need to twist your arms to get you out there shopping the local nurseries, especially now that fall has arrived in earnest.  There are perennials, herbs and vegetables to be planted, compost or mulch to be added or maybe you have eyes for some new garden whimsy.   Oh, and don't forget those gift opportunities for your gardening friends.

Here is the really cool part:  you're invited to win gift certificates from each of the nurseries involved in the Austin Nurseries Giveaway!  Yeah, that's right, they're sharing the love right back!  Wait until you see the prizes!

Digging:  $100 gift certificate and a Fall Power Package (valued at $50) from Barton Springs Nursery
J Peterson Garden Design:  $50 gift certificate from The Great Outdoors
Go Away, I'm Gardening:  $100 gift certificate from Sunshine Landscape & Garden Center
Rock Rose:  $50 gift certificate from Shoal Creek Nursery
Sharing Nature's Garden:  $50 gift certificate from Emerald Garden
Great Stems:  $50 gift certificate from Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery
The Whimsical Gardener:  $25 gift certificate from It's About Thyme
Growing Optimism $25 gift certificate from Natural Gardener

If you're looking for some of that famous South Austin, laid-back vibe It's About Thyme is the place.  You'll find knowledgeable staff, plenty of trees, perennials and annuals, ceramic pots and lots of whimsy.  There is even a $5 off coupon you can print from their website.  They are definitely doing their part to keep Austin weird and growing!


Their specialty though is vegetables and herbs grown in their five huge greenhouses.  Many of them you won't find anywhere else.   While visiting I saw curry plants, ghost peppers, which came with warning labels because they're so hot, and "salsa bowls" with everything growing in one pot that you'd need to whip up fresh salsa.





Bijou, an African Gray parrot, who resides at It's About Thyme with dozens of other rescued birds was discovered at the bottom of his cage in a burning home and given "birdie CPR" by his rescuer.  Bijou's keen intelligence and inquisitive, kind nature draw you in for a visit.  Stop by and give him a few minutes of your time...you won't be sorry, he's a sweetheart.

Cat, how do I get to be a part of this great giveaway, you ask?  It's easy:
  1. Leave a comment on this post to enter the It's About Thyme giveaway.
  2. Each participating 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 October 26, 2011.
  6. Winners will be announced on each blog on October 27, 2011.
  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.
That's it!  How easy could that be?  Don't be shy, go ahead, leave a comment and enter yourself in the drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to It's About Thyme.  Then visit the seven other Austin bloggers (links above) and leave a comment there too. 

Let's all do our part to keep Austin growing!  Good luck!




49 comments:

  1. This is a bit of a drive for you, right?
    We've driven past this one a few times on the way to some sporting event that one or the other of our granddaughters is involved in. We drive past LOTS of areas of town that way.
    It does look interesting. Thanks for reminding us.

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  2. Looks like a really cool nursery. I actually live South of Austin, so I will have to add this to my nurseries I want to visit list.

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  3. I would love to win!! Judy

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  4. Great idea! Looks like the perfect, whimsical shop for The Whimsical Gardener to sponsor. I hope the effort is successful!

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  5. It's About Thyme is too far for me, but you are so right to encourage us to visit our independent nurseries. Too often people bypass them for the big box stores, but the independents usually offer much better selection and healthier plants. And now is a great time to find some good bargains. Happy fall gardening!

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  6. It's About Thyme looks like a fun place to visit. Hope I win!

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  7. Being an independent nursery owner myself, I think its great that Austin bloggers are supporting their local nurseries with this great promotion. I have to admit that I get annoyed by the all too frequent posts mentioning that the blogger has just visited a big box store and purchased some cheap plant. I urge gardeners to think about what the true cost of "cheap" is: plants grown using environmentally toxic methods by workers who are unprotected in every sense of the word.

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  8. Hi, Cat! Thanks for doing this! I just adore It's About Thyme. In fact, I have a LONG list for when I visit them in a few weeks. I'm so glad you're a fan, too.

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  9. You know, the only time I've been that far south (other than driving on 35) was when we went to Daphne's house.

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  10. Linda, Austin is still relatively small...nothing's too far away! It's a good excuse to visit my old stomping grounds and have lunch at the south Central Market! I know what you mean about driving all over town with the kids...mine both played sports and we knew the various sports complexes pretty well!

    Well said Carolyn, couldn't agree more.

    Excellent, LindaCTG!

    Katina, LOL! Me either but it was worth the drive ;) The veggie and herb selection is amazing!

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  11. It's worth the visit Rambling Wren. You'll be amazed at the greenhouses.

    PP & DebsGarden, thank you. We are blessed to have such a great community of independent nurseries and I'm so happy to be included in this giveaway...so much fun and a great cause!

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  12. Roadtrip is fine with me! Love nurseries! Thanks for the awesome opportunity! Pamie G.

    pgraham@gvtc.com

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  13. I live in Buda so It's About Thyme is just a short drive away for me. And it's wonderful too!

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  14. What a wonderful thing to support the local nurseries. I know I try to do that and rarely buy from a box store. I love the idea of the salsa bowl!!

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  15. The cow planter with the yucca would make me a customer. But Austin's a bit of a drive :) Great idea to support independent nurseries!

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  16. What a great idea. Wish I lived a little closer, I've fallen in love with the Mazda pig...

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  17. I haven't been there but would love to. Thanks for hosting this!

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  18. It's about time that I visited It's About Thyme!

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  19. Yea! I have my fingers crossed...

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  20. It's About Thyme is very close to me. A great nursery!

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  21. Great nursery to visit and shop. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  22. I haven't been here in years! Hoping I win so I have a good excuse to make the trip.

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  23. I'm down in that area pretty much every weekend! I'm sure Dave would love some herbs!

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  24. I haven't visited this nursery before but I will! Please enter me in your drawing

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  25. ... entering! Love me some wonderful weird Austin garden fun!!

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  26. Awesome, love It's About Thyme! I was just there last week picking up some plants to make my patio look pretty! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  27. This is "my" nursery...as I am a South Austin resident! I go there as often as possible! Hope to win!

    Nancilynn Saylor

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  28. I'm adding It's About Thyme to a growing list of MUST VISIT nurseries in Austin. I think I've been there once but once is never enough!

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  29. Great post. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  30. What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win.

    ella y.

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  31. I love this cute nursery. Would love to win

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  32. Saw this contest on Pam's Digging site. What fun! Happy to have links to these other blogs as well. Roberta Vasek

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  33. Wow what a prices, I hope everybody there will participate and keep Austin green:) I love those metal cows and bigs, so cute and creative. I would buy them immediately:)
    They showed some pictures here in the news about sandstorm in Texas few days ago, do you live there where it was?! It looked really weird and scary, total darkness came. I hope you are okay.
    Henrietta

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  34. I am hoping spring 2012 you guys get a white rose that isn't an single petal antique in, not a climber and not a mini. I tried this summer but you didn't order them. I have bought many great plants from you. Mutabalis (sp?) rose is still one of fav's.

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  35. Very cool looking nursery, ready for my fall garden!

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  36. Thanks for your concern Henrietta, fortunately for us, we weren't in the path of the sand storm...unfortunately, west Texas was. I just saw a photograph of the storm and it was unbelievable. Craziest weather ever this season!

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  37. I'm on board to support our local nurseries. Thanks for showing me this one!

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  38. You guys have some great independent nurseries and I would love an excuse to make a day trip to Austin to explore.
    Abbey in San Antonio

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  39. Thanks for hosting. It's About Thyme in a great Austin nursery.

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  40. I've yet to check out this nursery, and would love to! (P.S. Love the font you've used on your blog!)

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  41. Hope to get to this local nursery soon! Love your font!

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  42. Thanks for the blog and thanks for featuring It's About Thyme!

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  43. I've been frequently to It's About Thyme; they always seem to have something that no other nursery carries. Cross fingers to win the gift! Robin at Getting Grounded

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  44. I haven't been to It's About Thyme in many years & was surprised to see all the changes when I visited their website. The list of classes gives me even more reason to make the drive out there. I always look for their display at the Zilker garden festival. They almost always have something I have to buy!

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  45. Would love to win, Thank you. wendy

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  46. Thanks! Pretty amazing array of herbs and edibles.

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  47. It's About Thyme?! First "thyme" I've heard of it! Thanks for spotlighting it and for the chance to win the giveaway!

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  48. My co-worker swears by It's About Thyme's veggie transplants and says they're the best. It's a little far for me, but I make it a point to visit at least once a year. I always find something good.

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