March 25, 2026
A day trip to tiny Gruene, an hour south of Austin, has been one of my favorite excursions for as long as I’ve lived in Texas. On any given Saturday afternoon, you’ll find a band playing for tips in the old-timey dancehall. Gift and antique shops, restaurants and tasting rooms line the town’s two streets. Grab a riverside table on the decks at the Gristmill Restaurant (go early to beat the crowd), and you can watch tubers float the Guadalupe while you wolf down a chicken-fried steak.
HD Gruene Mercantile
On a recent visit, I checked out brand-new H.D. Gruene Mercantile, “the oldest new shop in town” in the red-brick general store building.
And what did I spot on the shelves? My new book, Gardens of Texas!
Here…
…there…
…and everywhere. I was charmed by the store’s buy-in on my book, of course, but also by its fun selection of gifts, home goods, and clothing. I bought a ceramic good-luck horseshoe decorated with flowering red yuccas along with a few Gruene souvenirs.
A mini Gruene Hall playhouse was popular with young kids.
Amusingly, it even has a neon beer sign inside. I hope there are toy guitars and fiddles in there too — teach ’em early!
Gruene Hall is even rendered in birdseed, for bird-loving shoppers.
Gruene Hall
The real Gruene Hall stands right across the street under the water tower. Its white, flat facade with a mishmash of windows and doors under that iconic arching font opens into…
…a long, spacious hall with neon beer signs and creaky wooden floors sanded smooth by years of two-stepping. Air conditioning has never made an appearance here — just screened windows and sweating bottles of beer to keep you cool on a warm March day. Have I ever been here during the furnace of a Texas summer? I don’t recall, so I suspect not.
Sarah Schafer and the Hired Help were playing when we walked in and found a seat right in front of the stage.
Who can resist a Texas twang and yodel? Not me.
Catching a free show at Gruene Hall on a Saturday afternoon never gets old.
It’s fun to see kids enjoying the music too, like this little cowboy…
…and a mom-and-daughter pair twirling to the music.
So sweet
Thanks, Gruene, for bringing the Texas magic once again.
Book Tour Events
Heads up, Central Texas gardeners: I have ONE more speaking event for the launch of Gardens of Texas. And huzzah — it’s free! Come see me, get gardening inspiration, and if you like, purchase a signed copy of the book. Here are the details:
April 18, 10:00-11:30 am – Cedar Park
Presentation: Cedar Park Parks & Rec event
Register for this free talk (limited seating); select Gardening 101: Gardens of Texas
1435 Main St, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Drawing from the visionary landscapes in Gardens of Texas, I’ll share how resilient gardeners are embracing change, shifting their plant palette, nurturing wildlife, and finding deeper joy in the process. I’ll have books for sale and signing at the talk. Free and open to the public.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
Learn about garden design and ecology at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
