Spring Lake Garden Club to tour locally-owned nursery

There is nothing a gardener likes better than a plant nursery. Sadly, privately owned nurseries have become more and more scarce nationwide. Spring Lake Garden Club members will take a mini field trip March 12 to Wimberley Gardens for a presentation by owner, Matt Horvath, as he tells of his personal journey from loving plants to nursery and landscape business ownership.

When he was 13, Horvath began working in a family-owned nursery in northeast Pennsylvania where he fell in love with plants. As an adult, he spent 7 years in the corporate world before he and his wife, Jennie, decided to move to her homestate, Texas, to pursue his passion. Hovarth attended Austin Community College, where he earned a certificate in landscape design before beginning his landscape business with himself and high school students as helpers. Through word of mouth and social media his business grew.

In 2017, the Hovarths began searching for land on which a nursery could be built. They spotted a large lot, 419 FM 2325, that housed a barbeque restaurant. Eight months after inquiring, the owner decided to retire and the couple shook hands on the transfer. It took two months of hard work to clear the lot during which they discovered the hardscape of a nursery owned by the restauranteur's grandmother. It seemed meant to be.

Being featured on Central Texas Gardener twice in 2019, social media presence, hard work and diversification have helped the business grow. The Hovarths continue striving to offer high-quality products at good prices, helpful information, home decor and landscape design and installations and will soon celebrate their third anniversary.

Spring lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday at 9:15 a.m. in McCoy's Headquarters September through May. Guests and new members are welcome.