Why don’t we see more colored walls in Austin?
In 2008 I read an article in Wildflower magazine by Tucson designer Scott Calhoun in which he makes the case for colored walls in the garden. (Here’s my original post about it, in which I fantasize about adding colored walls to my own garden.) It was a light-bulb moment for me, but it took six more years of seeing the impact of colored walls in gardens in the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest to push me over the edge. A month ago I hired a mason here in Austin to build three low stucco walls for my own garden.
But I have to wonder: why don’t we see more colored walls here in Austin? We Austinites indulge a love affair with southwestern desert plants like agave, yucca, and prickly pear. We also have a yen for modern design. Colored stucco walls, as Calhoun reminds us, are perfect backdrops for showing off architectural plants and bringing all-year color into gray-green xeric gardens, and they fit beautifully into contemporary designs.
As this picture shows, they also make colorful, structural foils for naturalistic native-plant gardens. This chrome-yellow wall adds pow in the Steve Martino-designed Palo Christi Garden near Phoenix. The red wall with agaves pictured at top is part of the same garden.
You can get really creative with stucco walls too, adding curves or even sinuous waves, like this one in the Steve Martino-designed Quartz Mountain Garden.
Low walls make good bench seating or even pedestals for sculpture. This and the blue bench (2nd photo from top) are in the Tucson, Arizona, garden of Alan Richards.
They’re not just for desert gardeners either, as I saw in Portland during the Garden Bloggers Fling. At the Floramagoria Garden we saw walls used as colorful backdrops throughout the equally colorful garden.
Floramagoria’s blue wall
If you plan it right, you also get interesting shadow play against your garden walls. This is a scene at Civano Nursery in Tucson.
Bright colors jazz up childrens’ gardens, like this one at Tucson Botanical Gardens…
…and add a hot punch of tropical color. This fuchsia wall matches a potted bougainvillea at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
If hot colors don’t appeal, muted greens, I think, look just as good. I’m inspired to paint two of my own walls an earthy olive green, like this wall at Desert Botanical Garden.
Or this one at Floramagoria.
So what do you think? Why don’t more Austin gardens have stuccoed walls? Could you ever see a colored wall in your garden? What about painting a wooden fence instead?
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I absolutely love the idea of painting a fence. I don’t have a stucco wall but my neighbor put up a white plastic privacy fence. I hate it. It jars my eye every time I see it. Seeing all of these stucco painted walls and then reading your words “what about painting a wooden fence instead” has given me a light bulb moment. I will start thinking about a new color for my side of this fence for next summer. Excellent idea. Now…choose the color.
Lisa, painting a fence can really change the look of your garden. Lori at The Gardener of Good and Evil painted her wooden privacy fence a deep blue, and it makes the fence recede into the background, and her plants really pop against it. I look forward to seeing what you do with yours, and I agree about white — it’s too glaring. Are you talking about painting the plastic though? Maybe you could put up a series of wooden screens on your side and paint those? —Pam
It’s a great idea. Such a relatively simple way to add colour and extra interest in a garden.
Making the stucco walls wasn’t all that simple, now that I’ve seen it done. But I agree it does have a huge impact in the garden. I’m very pleased with my new walls — well worth the money and the time involved in the installation. —Pam
So, which of these bodacious colors is going on your new stucco? Lots of stunning choices to pick from.
Greens and rusty reds, Nell Jean. But I’m sure I’ll have to experiment to get the colors just right. —Pam
I love the idea of color on a wall or fence. I haven’t done it myself, but it seems like an easy was to bring interest, structure, and (duh) color into the garden. The problem for me would be–hmm, what color??
If you can get over the hurdle of actually applying paintbrush to wood, Tina, I think the color selection will be the fun part. Have you seen the blue fence in The Gardener of Good and Evil? It’s inspiring. —Pam
Things I would do differently if I could turn back the garden clock:
#1 WIN the argument with my husband about painting the low wall around our patio
Why is it too late, Loree? He’s had his turn, after all, and now it’s yours! —Pam
Great post…such inspiring photos! Now I wish I stuccoed the giant wall my neighbors built between our back yards. I planted fig ivy…so at least it is a green wall!
I love a fig ivy wall, Laurin, and it is, perhaps, much more “Houston.” Plus you don’t ever have to repaint. 😉 —Pam
I f I had the resources Hedge would have been replaced with a tall stucco wall painted a brilliant color. Instead, I painted my fence in my back garden a vibrant purple and love it. I have been thinking about painting the brick chimney on the patio side of the house a fun pop of color, too.
I love that you painted your fence, Gail, and I’d love to see what you do with your brick chimney. Color is good! —Pam
So, what color will you paint your new walls? I can’t wait to see. I would want a designer who is good with color to help me if I ever did it. Sharon Lovejoy painted her walls (terra cotta last time I looked) when she enclosed her back garden for privacy. I think it’s a grand idea.~~Dee
Greens and reds, Dee. I remember seeing pictures of Sharon’s beautiful garden walls. Her cottage garden looks delightful against that warm color. —Pam
I always love the idea of brighter colors on doors, sheds, etc., but when it comes down to it I often go for a neutral. Chicken or practical? What I think I would love to have is an outdoor movable mural…maybe a large piece on a fence? Someday I will be able to afford a piece from Kellie Cox Brady. I love her work. (http://www.kelliecox.com/#!murals/cihc) ~Julie
Maybe the really bold colors just look better in a desert garden, Julie? This is what I’m wondering regarding walls in Austin. We’re smack in the middle between the Southeast and Southwest, with elements of both, and for my own garden toned-down, earthier colors just feel right. But under a cobalt desert sky I’d go for it with chrome yellow or fuchsia. I love the mural artist webpage you shared! —Pam
I love that last color combo, with the olive and light blues at Floramagoria. It’s clever and unexpected, yet restrained.
I’m surprised that more people don’t paint their walls & fences brighter or more interesting colors. It’s not actually that big of a commitment…it’s just paint!
I love your blue fence, Lori. One thing I do wonder is how often you have to repaint? I had a painted wood-and-wire fence in my former garden (well, it was really a solid stain), and it needed repainting every few years in full sun. I understand the stucco wall paint will need refreshing every few years as well. The Texas sun is brutal on paint. —Pam
My color’s held up well so far, but I used a semi-solid stain and not a paint that would flake, and I actually don’t mind if it gets a little weathered. I suspect that most of the fence will need to be replaced before I need to restain.
I love my painted fence! I’m hoping since it isn’t in direct sun, maybe I can push the repainting a few years.
I do admire them but I think I went through my colorful phase in the 70s. Everything in my house was orange. Carpet, wallpaper, wall hangings, lamps. I think I shocked myself into the earth tones and I may never leave.
Jenny, I love your earth-tone walls. Speaking of which, your garden is one of the few (only) I can think of in Austin with stucco walls. Why do you think that is? —Pam
You make a good case, Pam. I’ll be interested in seeing the impact in your garden. In my own case, I’ve been thinking of creating a wall/visual separation of some kind toward the back of my (currently bare) front yard to direct the eye. I’m leaning toward using imported boulders and large plants for that purpose but I also though about coaxing my husband to build a metal or wood wall, perhaps with a circular “doorway” to the area beyond.
I look forward to seeing what you decide on, Kris. Your new lawnless front yard is an exciting space to play with. —Pam
After your posts…I think you will see many more painted walls in Austin. When (if) the corten craze subsides a little. San Antonio would rock the colorful walls for sure! I think stucco walls may only work well on good solid limestone properties. Clay soil .properties…would likely=crack city.
Corten is pretty awesome and, as you point out, much more popular here. I wonder why? Yes, San Antonio would be a natural for painted stucco walls! —Pam
Wouldn’t it be great to see more splashes of color like these walls in gardens. although walls would not work in mine, I do need to add some colorful accents…I have a few ideas and this made me think of more.
Do share them, Donna. I’d love to see how you plan to add more color to your garden. —Pam
I did stain my wooden fence a deep blue years ago, but there’s nothing like smooth stucco and the depth of color you can get with it. Can’t wait til your walls cure!
Me too, Denise. —Pam
We have a walled garden waiting. Currently painted in a school uniform memories nasty dark green.
I’m thinking of seaweed red, seaglass green, golden sand. Experiments ahead.
Lovely! Please share the link to your post when your experiments are underway. I’d love to see what you do. —Pam
I would love some colored walls like those. Actually, our old home in Austin did have colored walls – lots of them! They were kind of dark pink and were retaining walls since we were on a pretty steep hill. It was a lot of pink. 🙂 But they’re still there, having lasted since 1957!
Interesting, Jean. That does sound like a lot of pink. Were you ever tempted to paint them an earth tone to help them blend in? —Pam
Good question. The ‘sculptural plant in front of a colorful stucco wall’ thing that they do so well in Arizona should be used more in the Bay Area, too, I think. Not sure why it isn’t. People are timid about color maybe? I guess I should be pitching it to clients more often. I like that look so I’m not sure why I don’t do it more often.
I thought I’d see more stucco walls in San Francisco gardens when I was there two years ago, Ryan. It’s probably more of a Southern California thing, you think? —Pam
Since you asked … painted walls look great but I suspect they aren’t often used in Austin landscapes because this area had abundant limestone sources. It was easier to use a local rock than to go to concrete. I am tempted to use paint when I see those displays but then I think of all the negative environmental impact that would have and feel it just doesn’t sit right with my main goal of being sustainable.