June 30, 2025
A few weeks ago, while celebrating Mom’s birthday in Wimberley, Texas, we all made a trip into town to visit Ceremony Botanical Studio on the main square. This place is pure eye candy with oodles of upcycled industrial planters overflowing with all types of cactus and succulents. Even their rooftop sign is planted up.
Along with dozens of tempting plants and containers, the small plaza out front includes a tiny band stage (not pictured) and signage (on stacked pots, natch) directing visitors to Cypress Creek, which flows through town right behind the shop.
A spineless prickly pear taller than me grows in a display bed of specimen plants.
A shady porch showcases smaller plants ready to be arranged in the container of your choice.
Inside, there are more plants — even in an old industrial sink.
A rock fireplace displays fun pots and plants, including planted-up slabs of tree bark on the wall.
These terracotta faces with goofy cactus hairdos made me smile.
This is Texas, so a cowboy-hat planter with Old Man prickly pear adds kitschy charm.
Outside, a shady yard offers extra space for plants…
…plus a planted-up fireplace mantle.
An open-air classroom space behind the store glitters with hanging disco-ball planters.
Off the back deck I spotted a wagon o’ bones…
…and is that a urinal planter on the fence, along with stony faces?
More handmade quirk comes from a carved stump man paired with a prickly-armed cholla.
Next door, sister shop Shelter “occupies a peculiar middle point between Mexico and Japan located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country,” according to their website. It’s “[a]n impermanent home to beautiful and sacred things.” Notice their roof is planted up too.
Inside I found many beautiful vintage objects to linger over. I’ll be back to browse again next time I’m in Wimberley.
For a look back at a nature outing to the top of Old Baldy in Wimberley, click here. I’ve also shared about swimming at spring-fed Blue Hole in Wimberley; you can find that post here.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you think you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
