Drive-By Gardens: South Congress Avenue in Austin
This drive-by is really a walk-by. I was on South Congress Avenue on Sunday afternoon, the center of the funky-hip Austin universe, enjoying a blue-sky, 80-degree day with my family. Fall, winter, and spring days like this are what sustain me through Austin’s broiling summers.
When my face was not tipped up to the mellow sunshine, I was simply trying to take in all the action on the street, which included picture-perfect views of the state capitol, a string band playing on the street corner, throngs of people strolling along the street, unique shops with doors flung open…
…and even a couple guys riding horses down the busy street. Where in the world did they ride in from? They tied up their horses at Doc’s and went in for a drink and later rode back up the street.
Lots of businesses along the street have containers full of agaves and other architectural plants, but some have enough space for actual gardens, like this eye-catching combo outside TOMS, a shoe store/coffee shop. A silver agave holds court with full-skirted Berkeley sedge cascading down the slope around it. Turk’s cap and a silver-white cenizo add height along the top of the slope. I don’t recognize the plant on the right, but is that basil at the bottom?
Across the street, at the minimalist-Zen Hotel San Jose, a hip boutique hotel…
…the surrounding gardens wow, especially as they are tucked into slivers of planting space along the sidewalk and parking area. Here giant hesperaloe’s sword-like leaves create drama above a waterfall of silver ponyfoot.
Streetside, mottled crepe myrtle trunks rise from grassy beds of Aztec grass and rain lily in bloom after Saturday’s downpour. I saw so much more on S. Congress and wish I’d taken more pictures…
…but I want to jump to nearby South Lamar for a moment and show you a new outdoor garden area at Mockingbird Domestics. Mockingbird has always carried a few pots and succulents, but now they’ve dedicated an outdoor patio to the garden, with furniture, mod steel chimineas, steel planters (tempting!), concrete pots…
…and a metal jackalope, which I fell in love with a little bit. This garden patio could be really awesome if they spruce it up and do the same enticing merchandising that they do inside. Maybe they’ll take some inspiration from my favorite L.A. garden shop, Potted, but with a Texas twist.
Back to South Congress, and this eye-catching mural on the side of TOMS’s shop. I want to give thanks to you, dear reader, for being here — for reading and commenting and making up this virtual gardening club that I’m so happy to be a part of. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Pam,
Thank you for the long time gardening inspiration.
Marsha
Marsha, thanks! It’s been a long, fun ride. —Pam
thank YOU,Pam, for all your wonderful photos and commentary. Lots and LOTS of inspirations in your posts…. sometimes I actually act upon them right away! LOL Please keep up the good work and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Cheryl, I’m so happy to hear that you find plenty of inspiration here! Have a great Turkey Day too! —Pam
Um, I think I’m a little in love with that Jackalope as well. How big is it?
Katina, for scale look for it on the left in the picture just above. It’s pretty big and was listed for $275, I believe. —Pam
You were my inspiration to start my own blog. And, through that, I’ve met so many wonderful people and learned so many things.
Thank you, for your fantastic blog.
I’m so glad you did start your blog, Linda, and are still sharing your gardening adventures among the deer, as well as your travels. I always enjoy your posts. —Pam
Happy Thanksgiving Pam! Those steel planters and chimineas are very tempting. But I think I’d be inclined to treat that chiminea as a planting vessel. Plant something in the bottom opening and stick a pot in the top?
Maybe you could do pots in the openings in the summer and then just lift them out in the winter to use it? —Pam
I am so happy and thankful to know you Pam. I much appreciate your writing and kind words. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Thank you, Lisa. And I you. Happy holiday to you too. —Pam
While I share the jackalope love, I keep going back to look at those cunning little mushrooms. I don’t necessarily need or want anything like that for my spaces here, but I sure do think they are cute! And the opposite of cunning perhaps – those steel planters! Very chic…
While we’re in thanking mode, I’ll add mine to the many others. Your posts are consistently informative and inspirational and always well worth the time to read and consider. If I’m asked to point out an example of blogging done well (gardening or otherwise) I’m always comfortable pointing folks your way. I know when they get there you’ll have fresh content written in your breezy style, illustrated with great photos. You sort of set the standard, lady!
Well, thanks so much, Deb! You’re very kind. 🙂 —Pam
Happy Thanksgiving to you all, Pam. I’m so happy you did some photography on S. Congress. There is another motel along there whose garden sports a big retama, which is spectacular in bloom in the spring. Also, I’ll second all the other comments about your blog. You have several new followers in Dallas because of my admiration. They all agree, you set the standard!
Thanks for sharing my blog with your friends, Peter! I’ll have to look for the big retama sometime. —Pam
You’ve been such an inspiration. Thank YOU for sharing so much with us!
Aw, thanks, Jenn. —Pam
A walk down Congress is always an adventure. My, don’t we live in a great town with some great gardeners. Enjoy having your family back together for Thanksgiving.
We DO live in a great gardening town, Jenny. South Congress is a fun place to explore. I need to go back and take more pictures. —Pam
What a fun jaunt around Austin. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family and thanks for providing an endless supply of garden ideas! Right now, I’m thinking I need some rain lilies before it rains…
Yes, you need rain lilies, Kris! I love Labuffarosea, but these white ones are sweet too. Have a lovely holiday! —Pam
What beautiful scenes! I do think November (or maybe February or March) would be the best time of year to be in Austin. The outdoor garden looks almost like a spot to pull up a chair and have a beverage. Thanks for sharing. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Pam!
October-November and March-early May are the best outdoor seasons in Austin, Beth. Dec-Feb can be good too, but the gardens are not at their best then. Happy holiday to you too! —Pam