By Amy Fowler, Staff Writer
Walking around the grounds of Hill Country Water Gardens, it is easy to get lost in the beautiful scenery and relaxed feel. A 6,000-gallon koi pond sits outside the small shop, complete with waterfall, fish and vegetation. A trail leads around to several other ponds and an impressive display of fountains and greenery. The only reminders of the garden’s retail nature are the price tags attached to each piece.
“The whole place has certainly developed into a destination,” owner Steve Kainer said. ”It’s more than just a nursery for sure.”
Kainer opened Hill Country Water Gardens 10 years ago after growing restless as a coach and teacher. He had spend his formative years working for water gardens in Houston and College Station, and said he wanted to get back to those roots.
The store began as a small project with Kainer and a couple of employees and throughout the years has slowly blossomed into what he calls a “destination nursery” with nine show ponds and 100 different water features.
“It’s grown very slowly, but as we’ve grown, we feel like we’ve done it right every step of the way,” Kainer said.
Today, Hill Country Water Gardens is the area’s only full-line water garden retail store, Kainer said, giving customers a single place to find everything they need to install, maintain and stock any water feature.
Sandy and Al Smith came to Kainer for help planning a water feature for their front entryway. Because it is an awkward space, the couple had spent years planning the right look, and when it cam time to buy, Sandy said she couldn’t find any store like Hill Country Water Gardens.
“I was amazed,” she said. ”It was bigger than I thought. There’s so much to see, you don’t know where to start.”
Once they were ready to buy, the Smiths said the staff impressed them. After spending some time talking with Kainer, the couple said they changed their plans completely.
The Smiths said they could not have gotten the same experience with a larger home improvement store. They felt like there would have simply wasted money had they gone anywhere else.
Manager Christopher Howell said a part of what makes the experience at Hill Country Water Gardens so satisfying is the knowledgeable staff. ”Employees here are absolutely here because they love the place,” he said. ”We don’t have anyone here who is just working a job.”
In addition to thorough training in everything from pond installation to fish maintenance, every member of the staff has experience building and maintaining the water features on the grounds.
Kainer said the displays are in constant flux because the staff is constantly looking for new things to try.
“We’ll get bored, so we’ll change something,” he said. Though the changes sometimes garner complaints, Kainer said most customers appreciate having something new to see with every visit.
The relaxed feel of the nursery tends to draw families who are looking for a unique way to spend the afternoon. Kainer said his staff doesn’t employ any high-pressure sales and welcomes people who are there just to enjoy the scenery.
“We do have some families who use it like a park,” said Howell. ”It’s a must-see place for anyone that’s interested in gardening.”
In order to make the nursery more inviting, Kainer and his staff offer several free events open to the public.
There are seminars every Saturday in the spring teaching the basics of installing and maintaining water features. Kainer also hosts two free annual events for the public: The Lily Blossom Festival and Night at the Ponds.
The Lily Blossom Festival celebrates the prime season for water lilies and usually includes food, music, and celebrity guest speakers. The year, the festival will be on April 25.
For Night at the Ponds, the staff decorates the nursery with lights and invites several local wineries for a free wine tasting. This year, the event will be on June 20.
“It’s an opportunity to come and enjoy the place in the evening,” Kainer said. ”It’s a really sord of laid back, fun deal.”
Kainer said that like the nursery, the festivals started out small and simple and have grown from there.
This year, Hill Country Water Gardens is growing more than any previous year. Kainer recently acquired three acres of property adjoining the current two-acre lot. With the extra space, he said he plans to expand parking, increase his plant stock and add a new showroom.
Even with the expansion, Kainer said he is not trying to compete with the bigger retail stores. The plants he offers are generally not available other places, especially the hardy local varieties.
The new area will also include a large memorial pond dedicated to Paula and Hailey Griffith, where were murdered in August 2007. Paul Devoe has been charged and is currently awaiting trial.
“Paula worked for me,” Kainer said. ”We still miss her and just wanted to do something for her.”
Kainer said he hopes to have the additions open ot the public later this year.
No matter how much Hill Country Water Gardens grows, Kainer said he always wants it to be inviting and fun. Whether visitors are there to spend a day with the family or to add a large new pond to their property, Kainer welcomes them.
I want everyone in Central Texas to know that we’re here,” he said. ”No one else in Central Texas is doing what we’re doing.”
Amy Fowler. “Little Water Wonderland.” North Lake Travis LOG [Lago Vista] March 2009, Home & Garden Section: Page 8.
