Jenny’s flower-licious walled garden
After visiting Jill Nokes’s walled garden last Sunday, the Austin garden bloggers drove to fellow blogger Jenny/Lancashire Rose‘s walled garden. Although differentiated by geography—Jill gardens on black gumbo clay in central Austin, Jenny on thin limestone “soil” and gravel in southwest Austin—they have much in common, including intimate spaces formed by walls of house and garden, entryway framing devices, and a loose, naturalistic planting style.
I must give Jenny a bit of a hard time here, because she fretted to me last week that all her flowers were going to seed and there wouldn’t be anything to look at. Well, if this was nothing, my own garden must be consigned to oblivion. There were flowers galore, sweeps of them, mini-meadows of them. It was flower-licious! The spring display, if slightly past peak, was glorious, including these cornflowers and larkspur and the California poppies pictured at the top of this post.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Jenny’s garden four times, always in spring: last year with May Dreams Carol, in 2006 and 2007 (I think) on the Wildflower Center-sponsored Gardens on Tour, and again last Sunday. Each time I delighted in its flower power, but that’s only part of what grabs me about her garden. It’s how she and her husband created distinct garden rooms with walls…
…and doorways that invite you into the next room while simultaneously framing the view of what’s to come. I cannot resist garden walls and framed views.
Annual flowers won’t sustain a garden in winter, and Jenny relies on agaves, yuccas, and evergreen shrubs, in addition to her walls, to provide structure and interest when the poppies and columbines are gone. Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’ anchors many a planting pocket throughout her garden. I first encountered this beauty in her garden and fell in love, eventually planting two (one from Jenny’s garden) in my new-baby garden. Unfortunately, it is cold-tender, so I run the risk of losing them in a severe cold snap. Jenny keeps several of hers in pots, which she protects in winter.
Last April, pink poppies dominated her garden. This April it seemed to be all orange or red poppies. When they go to seed, I like them just as much.
The pool garden overlooks a greenbelt of junipers, which provides privacy from neighbors.
Blue larkspur, red Gaillardia , orange poppies—Jenny mixes color with abandon, in the cottage-garden style. Or perhaps I should say her garden mixes color, as many of her plants are self-seeders that pop up each year where they will. I think Jenny must do more editing than planting, as she kept pointing out flowers, shrubs, and even trees that had volunteered in her garden, to gorgeous effect.
More larkspur and cornflowers and a large pomegranate loaded with flowers grow on either side of a doorway in a massively thick stuccoed wall.
Cornflower (Centaurea )
A trio of Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’
Knock Out roses in the foreground and a yucca visible through the doorway.
Beautiful blues! More larkspur
A colorful bouquet of self-seeders
I love the way this winecup (Callirhoe involucrata ) has threaded its way through the yucca’s stiff arms.
It was very windy on the afternoon of our visit, so close-ups of flowers on long stems were tricky, but I managed to capture these red poppies.
Yucca, pink evening primrose, and purple skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii ), I believe, in the sunken garden.
A mature Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’ holds pride of place at the main entry gate.
California poppy
Hinckley’s columbine dominates this vignette.
A deep covered porch to the right became our gathering spot after our tour, where we noshed on pasta salad, homemade cheesecake, baked brie, and other goodies.
More poppy seedheads and blanketflower (Gaillardia )
A wall covered in fig ivy holds charming planters of succulents.
This potted cactus looks as if it’s dusted with snow or sand. Maybe Jenny will ID it for me.
A mock orange (Philadelphus ) scents a small terrace.
A large potager beautifully displays Jenny’s many vegetables, framed in protective wire boxes to keep the critters out.
Jenny has a remarkable garden that she shares generously on garden tours, with her fellow bloggers, and online at Rock Rose. Thanks so much, Jenny, for letting us visit!
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
To use my new favorite word, this is truly ‘flower-licious’!!!
Thanks for sharing:)
My pleasure, Carla! —Pam
You really captured so much of her beautiful garden rooms. It was a delightful day.
It was so much fun, wasn’t it? I’m glad you posted about it too, Diana. You remembered some things I forgot to mention. —Pam
Pam, We all enjoyed a wonderful afternoon visiting Jill’s garden and then coming over to our garden for a visit and social. I am absolutely thrilled with your posting of our garden. I don’t think anyone has captured it quite so well as you have. You have a wonderful way of making every plant shine and bring all the colors to life. The shot of the knockout rose through the doorway is my favorite. For some reason I cannot capture the color of that rose- something about the blue. With your writing and photography skills I think instead of reviewing books you should be writing one. Thank you. Oh, and thank you for adding garden blogging to my list of hobbies.
Thanks so much, Jenny. I’m so glad we had our chance encounter on that garden tour a few years ago, and that you took the plunge and started blogging too. You can now blame me for all your wasted time on the computer. 😉
Regarding taking pics of red roses—or bright white or screaming yellow flowers—I use a Custom setting on my Canon Powershot S3 IS. It tones down the reds and brings out more of a blue cast, which keeps those intense colors from “bleeding out” into a blur. I am not knowledgeable enough about how my camera operates to explain why this works, but it does. For all my other garden photos, I use the Foliage setting, which brings out the greens and yellows. I don’t do any color editing of my photos on the computer, but I do crop religiously. If I were more dedicated, I’d use a tripod, but I’m generally too lazy to get it out, so I do a lot of bracing on my knee, walls, tree trunks, or whatever is handy. —Pam
Every time I see photos of this garden I want to experience it in person. What a delight for the senses… Slightly past peak! It is still wonderfully flower-licious. Pam, This is one of the best garden tours I’ve ‘attended’; wonderful photos and an excellent narrative. Now this is making the best of a garden’s ecosystem. Btw, what is your garden’s geography? gail
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Gail! My old garden’s geography was like Jill’s—deep clay and no rocks. My new garden’s geography is more like Jenny’s. However, the previous owners seem to have amended the entire back yard with nice, fluffy soil when they put in the pool and terraced the yard, and I’ve had no trouble digging in trees and shrubs so far. The front, when I get to it, may be a different story. We dug one hole for a basketball pole out there and hit limestone caliche right away. —Pam
Now, that was breathtaking!!!
Thanks for visiting, Darla. —Pam
Jenny’s garden is beautiful as always. Sorry I missed it but thanks for posting the pictures.
I missed seeing you, Bonnie. I hope you can make the fall get-together so we can catch up. —Pam
Oh my Pam, what wonderful photos of a great garden! I love the cornflower with the larkspur and the nigella. My favorite colors in bloom! I really am drawn to the meadow look, I just love all the different colors – unstructured in design, showing off their colors. Just wonderful!!
Her garden really was a paradise of color at this time of year, Janet. —Pam
What a beautiful “tour” of a beautiful garden. The work that must go into this garden boggles the mind. Thanks again for such great pictures, Pam.
Linda..
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Linda. —Pam
Pam,
You are so fortunate to be able to tour so many wonderful gardens! It just isn’t available around here, or at least we haven’t found the other gardeners yet. 🙂
Although you do have Dirt Therapy Phillip’s marvelous garden close enough to visit, right? Does your city offer any garden tours, Randy? I’ve met wonderful gardeners on tours in Austin and even become friends with one of them—Jenny! I would think that joining a local garden club would help you find other dedicated gardeners too. Or maybe your blog will inspire locals to follow your example. You just never know where the connections will lead. —Pam
Killer colors! Killer pictures! I’m especially fond of California poppies (to the point where they, along with Texas bluebonnets, feature on my tattoo), so its wonderful to see such lovely pictures of them.
Boy, am I intrigued, Ann. I’m thinking that a picture of your floral tattoo would be a cool header photo for a garden blog. —Pam
Hi Pam, so nice to see Jenny’s garden again through your photos. To see a garden from year to year is truly priceless. I liked your explanation on how you take your photos. They are truly beautiful. I loved every one of them and slowed down to closely look. Thank you.~~Dee
Thanks, Dee. You are too kind! —Pam
Just outstanding, Pam! Incredible photos of an incredible garden-world. I just keep going over and over this post: it makes me very happy. Thank you!
Flowers are instant mood-lifters, and Jenny’s garden is one big happy pill. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. —Pam
I. Love. This. Post. Your photography skills are amazing
Thanks, Samantha! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. —Pam
The photo of the agave in the pot next to the doorway, just perfect! If only I could walk through the door! Thank you for sharing, with your photo’s and descriptions it’s almost as good as being there. Jenny your garden is beautiful!
Do you grow variegated Agave desmettiana, Loree? You’ll probably have the same cold-tender issues with it in Portland as Austin has, but it’s such a beauty it might be worth the trouble of shuffling it in and out when freezes threaten. —Pam
Darn, and I keep trying to think I’m a gardener.
Laxpat, I know you’re not really bitter. 😉 Besides, you can chalk it up to Jenny’s being British. They’re born gardeners, you know. —Pam
What a beautiful place! I think the poppy seedheads are just as attractive as the flowers too! Your pictures are all beautiful, I would have never known that it was windy.
There were a few lulls in the wind, during which I snapped madly. —Pam
I know that the boxes around the veggie beds are functional… but I LOVE the structure that they add to that area as well. Gorgeous garden all around. 🙂
It truly is, Kim. And if you knew how much of the garden’s structure they constructed themselves (some walls, handmade pavers in different shapes) you’d be even more impressed. —Pam
OMG this is flowericious. Love it. It makes me want to get out there and start plowing up the side lot and scattering seeds. BEAUTIFUL.
All those flowers make me want more too, Lisa. They’re irresistible. —Pam
Oh my — I LOVE her gardens! Cottage gardens are my favorites and I’ve been sowing and throwing annual seeds like crazy since last fall in hopes that I can just have an inkling of your friend’s garden color combos. I’ve got to link to this story from a cottage garden forum so my friends there can see this cottage garden Texas-style!
Cameron
Thanks for the link, Cameron. I feel fortunate to have been able to visit this garden several times, and to know Jenny. —Pam
Hi Pam, Jenny looks like the guide we had at the Ladybird Johnson center at spring fling. What a delightful lady, and her garden matches her personality. The walls are fabulous, and the plantings recklessly wonderful. I love all the self sowns, the gravel and paving. This garden is what I think of when Austin gardens are mentioned. All appropriate to the area, and wildly colorful. Thanks for showing us these homes and gardens!
Frances
Hi, Frances. You remember faces well. Jenny was one of our docents during our tour of the Wildflower Center at Spring Fling Austin last year. She started blogging soon after that. —Pam
Pam,
That is a fabulous reportage of a fabulous garden. What great photographs with lovely composition. Your skills and Jenny’s garden brought out the best in each other. Almost as good as being there ourselves.
jo
Hi, Jo. I’m glad you enjoyed the virtual tour. Thanks for commenting. —Pam
Oh MY. Jenny’s garden takes my breath away … if I were to see it in person, I’d probably swoon. I hope I have the opportunity to find out one day!
I hope you do too, Cindy. I’ll let you know if I see it coming up on a tour again. Last year it was on the Master Gardeners tour, but I missed that one. —Pam
I am really impressed with the vast contrast here. The doorway, the agaves, the yuccas and the zealous yet spontaneous flowers that sparkle amidst the yard. It is quite lovely, and I thank you for sharing!
Brenda
My pleasure, Brenda! —Pam
Absolutely stunning! Thanks for the tour(-:
You’re welcome, Cindee. I’m glad you enjoyed it. —Pam
Pam: lots more award-winning shots here. I really liked your combo of close-ups and long views which let us really experience the garden. Visiting Jenny’s garden (on-line) has become one of my greatest pleasures and your post let me see so much more of the structure that holds her garden together. Her potager with those wire cages is a lovely example of making lemonade. She’s put function front and center and made it beautiful! Thanks for this post and thanks to Jenny for sharing her garden with all of us.
Regarding the long shots, I almost mentioned in my post (but didn’t) that Jenny’s garden is one in which nearly every long shot is a good one. When you go for the long view, you have to have a focal point that carries the line or stops the eye. Her walls and doorways accomplish that magnificently. —Pam
I always enjoy this garden, and the thing that always catches my eye is the presence of opium poppy seed heads (or whatever) while there are still lots of flowering poppies and other wildflowers. I think it’s that warm Austin climate. My poppies haven’t even bloomed yet, let alone made seed heads.
The poppies have to bloom fast here before the Death Star heats up. I do love those seedheads too. —Pam
Every time I see pictures of her garden I’m just floored. It’s like going to my version of heaven. You did a really beautiful job of photographing it. And I’m glad I read your note about how you take those red rose pictures. I must see if I can figure that out on my camera, so thanks!
Thanks, Jean. I hope you can figure out the setting on your camera that will let you tone down the reds. It makes a big difference. —Pam
Wow!
That is an outstanding garden! The flowers, the poolside garden, the walls gently enclosing everything….. thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Chloe M.
It’s my pleasure, Chloe! —Pam
Wow Pam! You really are an amazing photographer. Jenny’s garden is so amazingly lovely & you’ve captured the feeling of the garden rooms perfectly. I must admit — aside from their obvious knock-out beauty — part of the fun of looking at these images is the fact that I watched you take some of the photos. 🙂
~Dawn
Then you saw that my method involves numerous awkward poses and taking a lot of photos. 😉 Thanks for your kind words, Dawn. I’m so glad you enjoyed these images. It was great seeing you again that day. —Pam
Okay. That’s it. I’m dead.
I have totally died from a beauty overdose.
That is an INCREDIBLE garden, and I am also really glad that so many comments have pointed out how perfectly you captured it. It isn’t easy taking pictures of plants, but you make every image soar!
I don’t even know how I am typing this, being dead and all…
And Agave desmettiana variegata! GORGEOUS!
Your comment made me laugh out loud, Germi. Well, overdosing on beauty sounds like a good way to go. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. It is a gorgeous garden. —Pam
Both tours were a delightful way to start the morning. So many things in bloom and I love the way they are set between paving! We are pushing the envelope here in New England with frost dangers still highly probable. Mother Nature just loves to tease doesn’t she? More blooms to follow.
You were setting record highs just the other day, weren’t you? And yet frost is still probable? Yes, weather extremes are a tricky business. —Pam
I’m sorry I missed it! Jenny’s garden puts mine to shame, I saw it last year on the Master Gardener Tour and it is indeed flower-licious. I adore poppy-seed-pods they are so sculptural! Thank you for the virtual tour!
I’m sorry you missed it too, Cheryl. I hope things are going well for you. —Pam
Just stunning! Thanks for taking us along on a virtual tour!
My pleasure, Town Mouse! —Pam
Absolutely stunning! That is exactly what I imagine for my garden. Tons of flowers tucked here, there, and everywhere. Now I just need to figure out how to make it look that way! lol
Little by little, Lady J. I’m channeling Dory from Finding Nemo: Just keep planting! Just keep planting! —Pam
I have to admit, when I first saw agaves, I really disliked them. But they’re growing on me as I keep seeing your lovely photos. In fact, I kind of like them now. Wow! Big step for me! Keep stretching my horizons, Pam 🙂
I love it! Thanks for telling me that agaves are growing on you, VW (well, not literally, I hope). That’s how it was for me too, and now it’s a full-blown love affair. —Pam
Great garden, great photos.
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Ryan. —Pam
Ohh! I will dream about it, such an inspiration! Thank you Pam!
My pleasure, Tatyana. —Pam
What beautiful eye candy! So inspiring, it makes me want to go work in the yard right now!
Hi, Jamie. I hope you got some good gardening time in! —Pam
thanks pam and jenny for yet another wonderful garden tour. you know, I never give self-seeders enough credit. I think I’m going to try a few out. and here’s a reminder to self: get some larkspur.
irena
I keep telling myself that too, Irena, but I never leave room for any. I tend to rely on perennials to the exclusion of self-seeders, but I shall try to remedy that in future. —Pam
I always admired Jenny’s garden. As a matter of fact, it seems I’m partial to Austin gardens when I see them on various blogs. There’s just enough Southwest flavor to appeal to this Arizona native, but all the gardens are far more lush than we normally have here.
I would guess that potted cactus is Mammillaria magnimamma.
Aiyana
Thanks for the cactus ID, Aiyana. And I appreciated your observation about why Austin gardens appeal to you. Perhaps the reverse is why I appreciate those Arizona desert gardens so much, both on your blog and in Scott Calhoun’s books. —Pam
Wow! What a gorgeous garden. I’m with you – if those aren’t lots of flowers, then my garden is a green…blob of foliage. Inspirational!
Isn’t it? It’s one of my absolute favorite gardens in Austin. —Pam
Honestly, Pam. I don’t know anyone who frames a photo better than you. Especially in Jenny’s garden, my eye is drawn in a million directions trying to take it all in. If your pictures are the result of talented cropping, then I’m gettin’ out the photoshop! But honestly, I think it’s just plain talent.
Well thanks, VBDB! The get-together was such fun. It’s always nice to see everyone again, and the context of two lovely gardens makes it even better. —Pam
Great photos, Pam! Thanks for sharing your views of Jenny’s garden…really great visual story!
Cindy
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Cindy! —Pam