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Meet The Staff

 Steve Kainer I just came to the realization that I’ve spent about 3/4 of my life in or around aquatic life. For the first 18 years I lived on a farm in the Katy Prairie, west of Houston. Being about 1 inch above sea level, treeless, and flat as a board, it made the perfect place to grow rice, as you know to grow rice it requires thousands of acres of flooded fields, my home was surrounded by these fields. I grew up in a giant bog. Thought I could get away from water in college, ended up working for Dr. Kirk Strawn, world renowned water lily hybridizer. Strawn Water Gardens was one of the largest wholesale aquatic plant farms in the U.S.. At the time, I had no idea I was gaining invaluable knowledge about aquatic plants. I did quickly discover it was one of the most back breaking, miserable jobs on the planet. It did pay for beer, rent, and Top Ramen. I graduated from Texas A&M in 1991 with a degree in Kinesiology; got my first teaching/coaching job in the Austin area. Ten years later I got tired of my livelihood depending on some 17 year old kid, who just broke up with his girlfriend and missed his block on a 32 trap. Guess I was drawn back to the water, so ironically I hired some 17 year old kids, dug a few ponds, put some lilies and fish in them, and opened Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery in the spring of 2000. 11 years later, I find myself managing the most unique Garden Center in Central Texas, staffed with some of the most talented, interesting, weirdest people you’ll ever meet and loving every minute of it! Still in the water…

 

 

 
Rebecca Kainer
 

 

 
Nathan Unclebach
Turn-ons: Members of the family Agaveaceae, heirloom bulbs, Texas natives, organic gardening, rain lilies, rain gardens, perennials, low water use landscapes and rain water collection, water lilies, lotus, Louisiana Iris, Plants from Mexico, gingers, compost and earthworms, dragonflies, butterflies, birds, brugmansias, propagating (plants), water gardens, vertical gardens, roof-top gardens, terrariums, orchids, orchards, rock gardens, an empty greenhouse, a full greenhouse, herbs, gardeners, birders, ferns and moss, Texans, sunshine, rare plants, bio-remediation, bugs, stone, easy plants, homegrown veggies, the cool shade of an old oak tree and tacos.Turn-offs: Lawns (a little is ok), chemical pesticides, demanding or finicky plants ( I prefer my plants to be alive when I return from a vacation), desks and/or sitting in chairs, invasive-exotic plants, high water-bills and running out of tacos.

Theresa TojekTheresa has been with us since she first moved to Texas in 2003. As a local artist, she uses her talents and her great eye for design at Hill Country Water Gardens.  Theresa is familiar with every aspect of pond building from her years of hands-on experience.  Her knowledge has helped with the design of many of our ponds, here in Central Texas.  Much of her day is spent at her desk juggling the busy schedule of our outbound installation crew and answering your questions.

 Ashley

 Dave Nettleton

 Diane Raab

 
 Ellen Kainer

 Emily Button

 Kevin Smith

 Shirley Garvie

 Chip Miller
 

 

  Susan Adams


 Kip Wanamaker
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