“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,” said Audrey Hepburn, summing up the spiritual and healing aspects of being around plants. A consummate gardener, nature lover and advocate of simple pleasures, Hepburn, would surely have applauded what beloved San Antonio nursery Shades of Green is planning to do next.
Reigning for four decades as one of San Antonio’s most cherished nurseries, Shades of Green will take a new direction this year. After December, the verdant patch, located in Alamo Heights between Broadway and 281, will close for conventional business to become a tranquil Legacy Garden. Open to the public, the transformed space, still brimming with undulating pathways, blooming flowers and leafy nooks, will provide a retreat for repose, meditation and inspiration. As a redone natural sanctuary, with educational goals and a mission to preserve the property’s lushness for future generations (as well as lighten our burdens), the garden will be overseen by a nonprofit foundation: Shades of Green Legacy Foundation. The nursery will remain fully stocked through the end of year, but it will close in early 2026 to finalize new garden spaces, make site changes and prepare the facility for its peaceful new phase.
When Shades of Green reopens as a zen-like haven, you’ll have longtime owners Roberta Churchin and Bob Webster to thank. They’re donating the property and the garden’s landscape architecture to the newly formed nonprofit — and, of course, the community.
“We’ve always loved that through the years people come to the nursery not only for plants but to enjoy the beauty and serenity it offers,” said Roberta Churchin, co-founder of Shades of Green. “The Legacy Garden will be a peaceful place to gather, observe nature, and experience quiet surroundings.”
“This is our thank-you to the community that has supported us for so many years,” added Bob Webster. “We wanted to protect the beautiful, towering cypress trees that we planted and create a quiet sanctuary that will serve as a space for learning, inspiration and contemplation.”
Once completed, the Shades of Green Legacy Garden will include accessible walking paths for strolling through the expanse, anchored by soothing water features. Dedicated garden areas from a labyrinth to a reflexology walk to a children’s vegetable garden will stir rumination and incite a passion for plants. Pollinator gardens, demonstration beds for organic garden and sustainable practices and countless other verdurous niches promise a peaceful ambiance, underscored with the opportunity to learn, thrive and, as Hepburn said: “believe in tomorrow.”
To support the garden’s creation and ensure its long-term care, the foundation has launched a $10 million capital campaign. Funds raised will go toward building unique structures for indoor and outdoor classes and small community events, creating a lush urban oasis, and establishing an endowment to support ongoing maintenance and programming.
