The Nature Gardeners

09/03/2026

We received some unexpected and very humbling news today.

A friend let me know that The Nature Gardeners was recognized as a Runner-Up in the Lawn Care Service category in The Panola Watchman’s Best of Panola County brochure.

While we are certainly grateful to see our company’s name listed alongside other talented and professional lawn care businesses in Panola County, what means the most to us is how our name got there.

People voted for us.

Our clients, friends, and members of this community took the time to put The Nature Gardeners forward—and that is something we do not take lightly.

To each of you who voted for us, recommended us, shared our work, encouraged us, or trusted us to care for your property: thank you.

One of the values we have tried to build The Nature Gardeners around from the beginning is that our clients are not simply customers—they become family.

When you trust us with your home, business, or property, you are trusting us with something you have worked hard for and something that matters to you. We want the care and attention we put into our work to reflect how seriously we take that trust.

Along the way, many client relationships have grown into genuine friendships. We have shared conversations, laughter, celebrations, difficult seasons, and countless talks while standing in yards and flower beds. Those relationships have become one of the greatest blessings of building this business.

We also want to congratulate Lenox Services on being named the winner and East Texas Lawn Care on also being recognized as a Runner-Up. There are many talented and hardworking professionals serving this community, and we are grateful to have The Nature Gardeners recognized alongside them.

To Panola County, thank you for welcoming us and allowing us the opportunity to serve your community.

And especially to our clients—thank you for believing in us.

A small business can advertise its services, show pictures of its work, and tell people what it stands for. But ultimately, its reputation is built by the people who trust its name enough to speak it when the business owner isn’t in the room.

You have done that for us.

That means far more than a title ever could.

We are humbled by your support, grateful for your trust, and committed to continuing to earn both. We look forward to continuing to serve Panola County and caring for every property entrusted to us with the same attention to detail, integrity, and pride in our work that we have sought to provide from the beginning.

From our family at The Nature Gardeners to yours—thank you, Panola County. None of this would have been possible without you.

With sincere gratitude,

Wayne Hornbuckle
Owner/Operator
The Nature Gardeners
Making Your Vision a Reality

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
— Colossians 3:23 NLT

09/03/2026

More Than a Landscape Restoration

Some projects become more personal the longer you work on them, and this was certainly one of those.

The Nature Gardeners would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Oglesbee for trusting us with the restoration of her property and, even more importantly, for giving us the freedom to see what needed to be done and carry that vision through.

When we began, there was an important deadline. Mrs. Oglesbee was preparing to welcome her large family home for the Labor Day holiday, and we assured her that we would have the property ready.

It took many visits and a great deal of detailed work, but we made her a promise—and we were determined to keep it.

This was a comprehensive restoration of the property. We removed dead limbs and canopied trees, thoroughly w**ded and reclaimed landscape beds, pruned and reshaped shrubs, fertilized the beds, and installed fresh cedar mulch throughout. We leveled the fountain and returned it to working condition, cleaned the surrounding areas, scrubbed the patio and hardscape, and worked through the property with an eye toward the small details that make the finished result feel complete.

But some of the most meaningful details weren’t new at all.

We incorporated stones throughout the landscape as natural accents that Mrs. Oglesbee’s husband had brought home from Sam Rayburn many years ago. Instead of simply adding something new, we were able to use something already connected to the history of their home—something that carried memories long before we ever stepped onto the property.

That is what made this project different.

Mrs. Oglesbee gave us an incredible amount of freedom to look at her property, develop a vision, and do what we believed was necessary to bring it back to life. That kind of trust is humbling, and we did not take it lightly.

From the beginning, our goal was bigger than making the property look good in photographs. We wanted Mrs. Oglesbee to be proud of her home when her family arrived. We wanted her to walk outside, look around, and feel joy.

And when everything was finally finished, seeing that joy on her face made the long days and repeated visits worthwhile. As she looked around the property, it felt like the restoration had done more than uncover the beauty of the landscape. In its own small way, it seemed to bring forward memories of the many years of life that have been lived there.

Now the beds are cleaned and mulched, the trees and shrubs are shaped, the fountain is working, the property is refreshed—and most importantly, Mrs. Oglesbee’s home is ready to welcome her family for Labor Day, just as we promised it would be.

Mrs. Oglesbee, thank you for trusting The Nature Gardeners with your home, for allowing us the freedom to use our vision, and for letting us become a small part of preparing this special place for your family.

It has truly been an honor to serve you.

Sometimes our work is about creating something new.

Sometimes it is about restoring what time has covered.

And every once in a while, we are given the privilege of helping someone see a familiar place become beautiful again.

The Nature Gardeners
Making Your Vision a Reality

08/10/2026

Another beautiful landscape transformation in the books!

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Morehead for trusting The Nature Gardeners with the opportunity to completely remake your landscape beds. It was a pleasure bringing new life, fresh definition, and lasting beauty to your property.

This project included:
• Complete reshaping and pruning of all shrubs and ornamental plants
• Canopy pruning of every crape myrtle throughout the property
• Installation of a micro-sprinkler irrigation system for efficient watering
• Planting beautiful Drift Roses, Hydrangeas, and Pink Muhly Grass
• Construction of a custom native rock landscape bed featuring colorful Lantana
• A fresh layer of aromatic cedar mulch throughout every flower bed for a clean, finished appearance

Every property has its own character, and our goal is to enhance that character while creating a landscape that is both beautiful and easier to maintain. It’s always rewarding to look back at the before and after photos and see the transformation come to life.

Thank you again, Mr. & Mrs. Morehead, for allowing us to earn your trust. We truly appreciate the opportunity to serve you and hope you enjoy your refreshed landscape for years to come.

If you’re ready to transform your flower beds or give your landscape a fresh new look, we’d be honored to help.

The Nature Gardeners
Making Your Vision a Reality. 🌿

07/18/2026

Another project completed, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to serve our community.

The Nature Gardeners recently had the privilege of giving the San Augustine Public Library landscape a complete refresh. Our goal wasn’t just to make it look better for today, but to improve the long-term health and appearance of the property for everyone who visits.

This project included:
• Removing w**ds and invasive vines throughout the landscape
• Correcting drainage issues near the front entrance
• Pruning the mature Live Oak, Crape Myrtles, and Bradford Pear
• Professionally shaping and hedging all shrubbery, including:
• Large Camellias
• Yaupon Hollies
• Dwarf Azaleas
• Large Holly shrubs
• Red Tip Photinias
• Boxwoods
• Pruning both Knock Out and Drift Roses
• Applying fertilizer to promote healthy growth
• Applying pre-emergent w**d prevention and insecticide for lasting protection
• Installing 110 bags of fresh cedar mulch to finish everything off with a clean, polished appearance.

Landscaping is about much more than mowing grass. It’s about protecting an investment, improving curb appeal, creating welcoming spaces, and helping plants thrive for years to come.

We are grateful to the San Augustine Public Library for trusting us with this project. It is always an honor to help care for places that serve our community so well.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support The Nature Gardeners. We don’t take your trust for granted, and we strive to treat every property as if it were our own.

The Nature Gardeners
Making Your Vision a Reality.

06/09/2026

Thank to all who nominated The Nature Gardeners for Best of in Panola County! We made the top 5!! What a Blessing! If you would please go leave us a vote if you would like to show your support and admire our services. Thank you in advance and here’s to making your vision a reality!

Make sure you nominate your favorites DAILY - only the TOP 5 nominees will make it to the Voting Round.
https://bit.ly/4egxln8

05/13/2026

Another project wrapped up for the Allen family, and we are truly grateful they trusted The Nature Gardeners with their beautiful property.

This project involved a full refresh and detailed maintenance of the landscape beds throughout the property. We redesigned the flower bed featured in the first photo by carefully removing and relocating existing plants to other areas of the landscape, while incorporating new plant selections personally chosen by Mrs. Allen to better complement the home and overall design.

We also:
• Removed w**ds throughout all flower beds
• Applied fertilizer to promote healthy growth and color
• Applied Imidacloprid for preventative insect treatment
• Applied Snapshot w**d preventer for long-term bed maintenance
• Installed fresh pine straw throughout all beds
• Cut back Sunshine Ligustrum and Holly shrubs
• Pruned Crepe Myrtles and Magnolias for structure, health, and appearance

Our goal with every property is not just maintenance, but creating a landscape that feels clean, intentional, and welcoming while protecting the long-term health of the plants and investment.

Thank you again to the Allen family for allowing us to bring your vision to life. We appreciate your trust and support more than you know.

The Nature Gardeners
“Making Your Vision a Reality”

05/09/2026

The Nature Gardeners are pleased to announce their nomination for Best of in the Yard Services category in Panola County. We extend our gratitude to those who have supported us and submitted nominations. It is a privilege to be recognized in this manner. We kindly request that individuals familiar with our work consider casting a vote in our favor. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Make sure you nominate your favorites DAILY - only the TOP 5 nominees will make it to the Voting Round.
https://bit.ly/4egxln8

04/27/2026

04/17/2026

Big transformation day on this one.

Full seasonal cutback across the entire property—every hedge, every shrub, every bed brought back into shape and reset the right way. This wasn’t a quick touch-up… it was an 11-hour push to get everything cleaned up, structured properly, and ready for strong, healthy growth moving forward.

You can see it in the lines now. Everything is tightened up, uniform, and breathing again. That’s what a proper cutback does—it’s not just about making it look clean today, it’s about setting the plant up for better density, stronger growth, and a cleaner look all season long.

Some of these hedges hadn’t been cut back like this in a while, so getting them back to a solid foundation was key. Now they’re in a position to fill in right and stay maintained instead of getting overgrown and uneven.

Long day, but this is the kind of work that pays off over time.

Appreciate the trust on this one.

The Nature Gardeners
Making Your Vision a Reality

04/11/2026

If you’re looking for a place where you’re treated like family the moment you walk through the door, this is it.

Whits Joy Soul Food is the kind of spot that reminds you what real, down-home cooking is supposed to taste like—hot, fresh, and made with care. From breakfast all the way to supper, every plate comes out full of flavor and backed by genuine hospitality you just don’t find everywhere anymore.

Good food, generous portions, and prices that make it easy to come back again and again. It’s more than just a meal—it’s an experience that feels like home.

If you’ve been searching for your next go-to spot… you just found it.