Our Story
Christopher Sol Smartt left the corporate world to start a business with a soul. His vision was to create a destination for outdoor lovers by merging his passions for sculpture and gardening. Sol’s Texas Institute of Creative Expression, also known as Solstice, was born in October 2007. Solstice began as a nursery and art gallery and has grown to include landscape design and installation services.
The business has been built on investing in community, always acting with integrity, and staying in tune with the local environment. We see the work we do as a part of a bigger picture and it is important to us to “think globally, act locally.” We believe businesses like ours can have a small but mighty impact.
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Chris Smartt
OWNER/DESIGNER/ARTIST
Chris keeps his finger on the pulse of all things Solstice but spends most days designing and installing landscapes. That said, he is an artist first and foremost! Inspired by new and dynamic applications of concrete, he creates unique garden décor & sculpture. Additionally, Chris uses glass, copper, stone, steel, and a variety of salvage materials to create his art. All work is engineered for durability; and with a minimal amount of care will last a lifetime.
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Irene Anderson
NURSERY/GALLERY MANAGER
Fortuitously, Chris’s mom, Irene Anderson, joined the Solstice team early on. She is the backbone of the nursery and gallery, and we couldn’t do it without her!
Irene is a master gardener with over twenty years of experience. Before returning to the Hill Country, she spent nearly thirty years living on the Texas coast. There, her yard was a prime stop on the annual garden tour, renowned for its organic vegetable and native flower gardens. Here, she can be found at Solstice most days visiting with customers and imparting her vast gardening wisdom. She looks forward to chatting with you about your plant selections.