A popular Southern Indiana nurseryselling rare and unusual plants is closing.

After 19 years, Hidden Hill is closing its nursery business this fall, owners Bob and Janet Hill announced in an email and a Facebook post Wednesday.

“In a nutshell, it's just time,” the 75-year-oldowners said in the statement.

The 8-acre Hidden Hill, which also has a sculpture garden, will continue to host musical shows, garden tours, small "country" weddings, educational classes and charity events, the owners said.

The sculpture garden's hours following the nursery's closing have yet to be determined, Hill told the Courier Journal.

The nursery, which specializes in rare plants and whimsy ("no whimsy goes untouched here"), had expected a large bump in business from the newly opened East End bridge. That never came.

Hill, who was a former columnist for the newspaper, said he hopes to travel more after exiting his Utica nursery's "19th year of unintentional nonprofit status."

Hill acquired the property in 1975. A trip to the English countryside inspired him to landscape using exotic plants.That interest eventually morphed into Hidden Hill Nursery.

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On Facebook, fans of the nursery lamented its closing.

“I am so very sorry to read this,” wrote Facebook user Beth Godshall. “So much love to you all and thank you for sharing your beautiful place for all these years.”

Facebook user Carla Velasquez Mattingly thanked the owners for allowing fans to continue enjoying the “whimsical wonderland” and music shows.

Hill spent 33 years as a columnist with the Louisville Times and Courier Journal. In his words, Hill’s more than 4,000 columns focused on “life, liberties and pursuing happiness.” He is currently working on a biography of Humana co-founder David Jones Sr.

Reach reporter Alfred Miller at amiller@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlfredFMiller. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com.