December Newsletter

Schumacher’s Hill Country Gardens, Inc.
588 FM 1863   New Braunfels, Texas 78132
Phone (830) 629-2603   Fax (830) 629-2057

The Thrill Is Back!

It’s been more than a few years since we’ve felt the special and unique thrill of thousands of seeds popping up right on time in Fall. Just when things cool down and Spring seems forever away, The Thrill Is Back! All is right with the world.

Hinckley’s Columbine at 5,000 and climbing. Red Yucca at 10,000 to 100,000 and climbing. Evening Scented Stock 1,000 and climbing. Painted Petals 3,000 and climbing. Oxalis 3,000 and climbing. Dutchman’s Pipe 2,000 and climbing. Several new Dykias with purple foliage in the 1,000 plus range. Blue-Eyed Grass 5,000 plus.

We’ve a few more crops we plan to grow in total overkill just because we have the seed and Cutting Stock so why not? Someone needs to splash around a little this Spring, it might as well be us.

New Faces

There are several new people whom I hope will fill the roles I can no longer fill effectively myself while allowing me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the years and the opportunity to continue to participate in what I love the most. They will introduce themselves when ready and through their accomplishments here. The one person I must mention is my son Ryan. He will be helping in the office and keeping on top of scheduling, paper work, administration, and other tasks that have long become more than I can handle. He has previous experience in propagation, production and sales but now will be doing whatever is needed most and whatever is falling through the cracks. I couldn’t ask for more as he is doing exactly what I need help with the most.

Trees

There are only two good times to plant a tree. First, every chance you get. Second, in Fall. I can not imagine life without planting trees. That there are thousands of trees growing in this world because I took the time to plant some seeds brings an awesome feeling of accomplishment. That people took the time to place and plant those trees all over Texas is even more incredible. What a wonderful thing we all can do and have live on for generations.

A Special Tree Planting Opportunity For You

Almost everyone feels the need to plant trees. Fall is the bests time to plant a tree but now your busy with the Holidays and digging a hole in the Hill Country is always a scary proposition. We will custom order trees for you in whatever species and size as available since our selection is limited, especially for those of you who want big trees. Red Tags will be placed on some of our trees with lots of character that need special pricing. In order to make this a special opportunity, we will quote a very competitive price with a planting date and our staff will install your selection with a one year guarantee. What a painless way to finally get the trees you want for yourself or as a gift to surprise some special person during the holiday season.

November At Schumacher’s

The nursery has really been looking good. We have more and more weed free areas with the end in sight. We got a new load of potting soil in, after several months of doing without, and have been potting like crazy trying to make up for lost time. Meanwhile we’ve depended on shipments of plants from “Hoffman Grass Farm and Nursery.” Every shipment gets the same reception. We unload the trailer in the parking lot and half of the plants are gone before we put them inside the gates at closing time. Robert Hoffman has really outdone himself this year with some of the best looking “Retail Quality” plants We’ve seen.

I remember when almost fifteen years ago, Robert and I wondered how soon anyone would buy Lindheimer Muhly Grass and Evergreen Sumac. He decided to try them as I already had several thousand liners of each and  we hated the idea of throwing them away for lack of space to plant them at Schumacher’s. At that time “Native Plants” sold one by one to “Plant Nuts” who often drove half way across Texas to find someone growing them. Over the years  there have always been a few  fools who grow plants “just because someone needs to grow them.” I stuck Robert with several thousand Texas Sotol liners before there was a market for them though that was a really hard sell. They don’t look like much when little. Later on we laughed as over time he thinks he sold every one of them.

State of The Nursery

We finally have closure on a lot of difficult issues including a new loan to put The Nursery back together. November gave us a chance to get back to doing what we have always done best and we took it. December has started with all four wheels on the ground and there’s no stopping us now. We have a large and complex nursery facility that has allowed us to grow saleable quantities of thousands of different kinds of plants. We take pleasure in having been among the first nurseries to introduce to gardeners everywhere many new Texas Native and well adapted exotic plants in commercial quantities. The nursery facility in full production by January 1st would put us in a position for the best year Schumacher’s has ever had.

 “I”, Chip Schumacher, normally write and speak from the plural “We” as the success of Schumacher’s Hill Country Gardens has always depended on the support of thousands of people. I believe that we are all, every single one of us, an indispensable and equally important piece of a puzzle. The challenge is always to bring enough pieces of the puzzle together to make things happen.

Fall

Fall, like the other seasons, is a natural and necessary part of the cycle of life and death. Only through understanding the need for rest and the need to gather strength in Fall and Winter, can we appreciate the rebirth and explosion of life that Spring brings. Often a difficult time of melancholy and dark moods punctuated by the holidays, Fall is also the forbearer and beginning of Spring in that “What we sow, so shall we reap.” Though it’s difficult to feel the urgency of getting on with things in Fall, there is a favorite nurseryman’s expression I’ve heard that keeps me on track: “Did you know that Spring is coming early this year?” Sometimes in The Nursery we forget that when Spring finally arrives, there is only time to survive. We must be way ahead of mother nature. Plants that  don’t emerge from the ground until May and June are expected to be blooming in the nursery March 1st. January 1st is rightfully the busiest day of The Nursery year!

Hours of Operation

Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5PM
Closed Sunday and Monday
We will be closed from December 24th until January 1st

Clearance Sale Ends December 24th

In case you haven’t been to the nursery recently, our selection is still unbelievably good. Sale pricing will continue until we close the nursery for the holidays on December 24th. Starting January 1st , we will be pricing our plants by the plant instead of by the pot. This will allow us to offer you the best selection of plants in Texas at the best prices possible.

Landscape Packages

Landscape packages are back by popular demand. Complete the landscape you’ve been dreaming about with a landscape package that gets all the plants you need at discounted package price. Best of all, if you need help with plant selection, are new to the area, or simply need some fresh ideas, design help is available and is included in some landscape Packages. Details available at the nursery.

Gift Certificates

A gift certificate from Schumacher’s is once again worth getting excited about. For those of you who are too busy to plant right now, but are excited about our spring production, a gift certificate is the perfect solution.

Deer Resistant Plants

We find that lists of deer resistant plants are obsolete and all but worthless. Deer eat different plants in different parts of town. Our best recommendation is to look around your neighborhood and see which plants are doing the best, which plants you like the most, and how your neighbors solved the landscaping problems that you have with your house. Look at what is doing well in shade, in sun, in poor soil, and so on. Imitation is the best compliment you can make.

We Recycle Plastic Pots

Please bring any and all leftover plastic pots 1 gallon size or larger and drop them off at the nursery. We don’t care where they come from. They belong here rather than in landfills. We’d rather invest our money in new plants than new pots.