Barbra,

I went to their website and nothing is on it about closing. Did you give them a call? Maybe they are just closed for beginning of the year inventory.

Hope to see you soon.

Linda

They always close down for the holidays, then open back up after New Year's. Does the fence keep people out of the little parking lot by the front? The nursery phone number is on their site...let us know if you find out!

I will give them a call on Tuesday. My husband just thought it was funny that they would put a fence around the area that already fenced. The parking lot was not fenced in, just the area around the office and greenhouse path. There were alot of plants, more than usual, but they needed to be watered. Last year they were opened on Sundays, I checked the website and it says they are now closed on Sunday, and Monday. I sure hope they were just closed for the Holidays, that is my favorite nursery. Barbra,

I also went to their website and there is nothing there about closing. Hopefully they are just closed for the holidays as someone above said. I think they would have sent out an announcement if they were closing.

The fence has been up for awhile. It encloses the sales cottage and the plants along the sidewalk, but not the parking lot. You can barely see it reflecting in the pictures on their website.

Sorry they were not open when you went Barbra. It is my favorite plant nursery also. Once several of us packed a picnic lunch and went on a Monday, but found out they were closed on Mondays. We ate our lunch in their parking lot and had a good time anyway.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schumacher's Country Gardens

I will give them a call tomorrow. The fence we saw, went all the way out to the parking lot, but you could still park. I do not think it was for security, there were twice as many plants in the front as usual, and they backed up to the fence, and it would be easy to just reach over and take as many plants as you wanted. I was mainly concerned because no one had watered them, it was very sad to see. I will post what I find out tomorrow, when I get home from work. Barbra,

I called at 10:00 am, 11:30am and 12:30pm, no one answered, it went into voice mail, that said just leave a message and we wiil get back with you. I was going to call in the afternoon, and leave a message with my home phone number, but my cell phone went dead(I forgot to plug it in last night). I do not think anyone was there today. maybe it was just too cold. I will try again tomorrow. Barbra,

Okay....but in case this goes on with no answer from them, does anyone remember the name of the company that Schumacher's starts plants for? I remember seeing the truck delivering plants for that big sale, but my memory has senior problems.

I called today and left a message, that I had come by Saturday, and they were closed. I just wanted to verify that they would be open, so I could come back. I called at 1:30pm, so far no one has called me back. Barbra,

I sent them an email Sunday which hasn't been answered. I just hope Chip's health has not taken a sudden turn for the worse.

He sold the nursery several years ago, but the new owners changed things a lot and were not successful. He had to take it back. The comments on the Schumacher feedback page are related to that event.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schumacher's feedback page

The last time I went, Chip was in very bad shape, he was not able to answer any questions, he was trying so hard to help, but was shaking and was so tired, this was in April 2008, I pray he is ok. Barbra

My friend Linda gave me the number of a friend of Chips. The friend hadn't heard anything, but called him and reported back that Chip said that he and his wife Judine had been very sick and still were not feeling well.

They were not sure when the nursery would reopen, or even sure that it would. So I guess we will just hang loose until further notice and include them both in our prayers.

They are fine people and their hard work in the nursery has certainly been a blessing to many of us through the years.

Perhaps we could send an email of appreciation through the Schumacher Hill Country Gardens site that is linked above.

I'm so sorry to hear they are ill! There are two bugs that have been making the rounds in the greater S.A. area. One is an upper respiratory infection and the second is gastrointestinal. Perhaps the friend could arrange for some people to at least go water those plants? I'd go if it's at a time I can head up there. BTW, when DH and I were at the nursery last year, he talked to Chip about being disabled and things like that. DH has multiple health problems and walking is often a problem, so he has a scooter. I think Chip mentioned he has SS disability...but people on that have to wait two years for Medicare (unless you're 65 or over anyway). Congress never has eliminated the 2-year waiting period...to save bucks. They can spend tons of money on earmarks and to bail out companies that squander their money needlessly, but not to help the disabled. Sorry, rant over!

After trying to call the nursery number again, I emailed asking Chip if he and his wife are okay. I got this answer back:

"Okay. The nursery is open hit or miss at this time. WeÂre planning for Spring. Chip"

Not a lot of info, but I'm so grateful to hear him say they are okay. Yea!

That's good news, Linda! Thanks! I'm sure this is a pretty slow time of year for most plant nurseries especially one that is sort of out a ways like Schumachers. Sure glad to hear they are planning for spring though. I guess if anyone wants to go they just need to call first.

Actually, for places that propagate plants for spring and later, this should be a busy time of year. And that's what they did last year...mostly propagating for another business.

You are right Linda, not busy customer wise was my thinking. The general public usually does not start thinking about buying plants till it warms up. Hopefully they are busy propagating!

Yes Chip and Judine are still kicking at least last I talked to them in mid January. Jose is taking over most if not all of the nursery care and propagating. I am sure he is busy. They have talked with me about setting up a community garden in a part of the nursery and have I've yet to get back with them. I am hoping someone with the Comal Master Gardeners will step up as I am about 30 miles north of there and can't commit to the time and travel at this point to get it off the ground. It is always a good idea to call ahead and yes they have always closed down over the holidays and still are closed on Sunday and Monday.
They were propagating for Hoffman's Nursery and have on and off done quite a bit of biz with them.

I haven't been on garden web for sometime and just stopped in to say hi y'all and hope you all keep growing whatever makes you happy and enjoy.
Happy Growing David

Good to hear from you again, David! We've missed you. And thanks for the info on the Schumachers. I hope someone takes them up on the community garden idea Thanks for helping get the word out.