Before & After: My 2-year-old garden
The new-baby garden is growing by leaps and bounds. My garden is two years old now. A year ago, I marked Tecolote Hill’s 1st birthday with a series of before-and-after pictures, which helped me see what I’d accomplished and what I wanted to do next. (You can read through that post for more insight into the making of this garden.) To mark the 2nd year, I’m adding new photos for comparision. These are long shots, warts and all. They give a pretty good feel for the layout of the garden.
Before: This raised bed was the first space I cleaned out and replanted, right after we moved in.
After 1 year
After 2 years: Look at how much the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia) has lifted its arms this year. I watched anxiously all summer to see if it was about to put up a bloom spike, marking its imminent demise, but it didn’t. Whew.
Before: I’d begun the digging-out process in the long raised bed.
After 1 year
After 2 years: No significant changes. I need to move that purple pot of Opuntia out of the stock-tank planter; it’s no good there. The Salvia greggii in the foreground looks pretty spindly right now. There’s a new bamboo behind the stock-tank planter, but it’s hard to see in this photo. And the faux garden shed at the far end of the garden is being constructed at a snail’s pace, but since the labor is free I really can’t shouldn’t complain.
Before: This spot begged for a bed behind the stone wall.
After 1 year
After 2 years: No big changes here either, aside from the addition of a purple fountain grass. The light this morning was kind of dim; sorry for the grayish pictures.
Before: From the lower garden, looking back up at the raised beds, this is the view right after we moved in.
After 1 year
After 2 years: The fence on the left is complete, the upper patio seating is rearranged, and you can see the new ‘Alphonse Karr’ bamboo by the stock-tank planter. I still think a pergola over the patio is needed to make that space feel cozy, grounded, and less “floaty” up there by itself.
Before: Looking to the right, the raised beds stair-step down toward the other side of the yard.
After 1 year
After 2 years: Meh. The new bamboo will give some height on the left, but I need something vertical to the right of the chimney also. That shallow stock tank, planted with squid agave, is too low and undramatic. Maybe I could put a shade-tolerant, shallow-rooted, more vertical “running” plant in there. Hmm.
Before: The path from the back deck to the pool.
After 1 year
After 2 years: The new sunburst stone paving around the stock-tank pond and the flagstone path to the pool are the biggest changes to my garden this year. There are 4 different paving materials coming together here, but I think it works because each indicates a different space in the garden.
Before: Looking back toward the west side of the garden
After 1 year
After 2 years: No major changes to the plantings, although they’ve certainly grown. The biggest addition is the new fence.
Before: A small lawn occupied the middle level of the yard when we moved in.
After 1 year
After 2 years: New paving around the stock-tank pond is in place, and the faux garden shed to hide the pool pump is in the works.
Before: The view from the east side of the yard. An elevated wooden deck is just visible on the right.
After 1 year
After 2 years: New paving, and the deck is newly stained.
Before: Looking the other way, up the sloping side yard, the limestone boulders seemed wasted, just sitting in the lawn.
After 1 year: New fence and new garden
After 2 years: The sunny hillside garden, planted last fall, has filled in nicely. A new gravel-and-timber path replaced the slippery grass path this summer.
Before: A redtip photinia hedge and a chain-link fence separate our yard from the west neighbor’s. I didn’t make any changes here during the first year.
After 2 years: I just had the last segment of fencing installed and am happy to have increased privacy, more space now that the photinia hedge has been clipped back, and a sunny vertical surface on which to grow one of my favorite vines, star jasmine, which should perfume the upper patio with its fragrance come spring. Three ‘Will Fleming’ yaupon hollies add vertical punctuation along the fence.
After 2 years: Here’s the downhill view. I don’t have a “before” picture. I plan to install a gravel-and-timber path here, as on the other side of the garden, to tame the slope and help slow runoff.
Before: Out front, Asian jasmine and star jasmine carpeted a live oak berm in the center of the circular drive. Easy-care but boring.
After planting in March of this year: Mostly evergreen, deer-resistant, xeric plants for the side that gets an afternoon blast of sun. A lot of my attention was focused on establishing this new garden this year.
After a season of growth: An interesting mix of textures and gold-and-silver color from the foliage plants, with a few flowering perennials for additional color.
AFTER: The shadier side, closer to the front door, contains Texas dwarf palmetto, foxtail fern, pale pavonia, ‘Sparkler’ sedge, bamboo muhly, and red cordyline.
I’m feeling good about what I accomplished this year but more impatient than last year to move forward more quickly. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because after two years I feel time slipping by, the excitement of a new slate has diminished, and I would like to make faster progress.
And yet…garden dreams are fun to nurture and work toward, even when impatience rears its furrowed brow. Aside from the oak sprouts, which continually pop up from the roots of my live oaks and have become the bane of my gardening existence, the garden is fairly low-maintenance thanks to the number of evergreens, agaves, and grasses, so I feel I can add to it without increasing my work load too much. I do miss the big flowery show of my old Hill Country cottage garden, but I’m finding that a shadier garden requires less trimming/shearing and weed pulling (aside from the oak sprouts).
Thanks for following the story of my new garden. I’d love to see your before-and-after series, if you have one.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Lots of work. It’s certainly paying off. I’m envious of your natural rock outcroppings.
The exposed rock is one of my favorite features of my garden. I was happy to inherit them. —Pam
Amazing transformations in just two years. Really impressed with how much the plants have grown this season in the sunny portion on the front bed.
Me too, RBell. The trio of ‘Color Guard’ yuccas have grown a lot more than expected, but then even softleaf yucca can be a fast grower. The slowpokes in that island bed are the sliver Mediterranean fan palm and the Texas dwarf palmettos. —Pam
Ok, if you want to make faster progress than you already have, you will have to give up sleeping and get a miners helmet with the light on the front like ESP! Whew – looking at your pictures alone is a whirl wind, and I remember seeing right after you moved in when you were saying, all in good time – I have to move slowly! Ha! And, as always, it’s beautiful, with a personality all its own.
I did say that, didn’t I? Ah well, I’ve gotten impatient since then. I better get myself one of those miners’ helmets. —Pam
Pam, your garden looks wonderful! I have visited your blog so long that I remember your other house and could never imagine you wanting to leave that garden, but oh my–look what you have now! You did a fantastic job!!! You must be so proud! 🙂
Thanks, Linda, for the encouragement. I am pleased with the progress…most of the time. But in my mind’s eye it’s much more established and other parts of the yard (that I don’t show) are transformed too. So when I look around at reality I often feel impatient. But not all the time. When I’m lucky I can be in the moment and enjoy what’s here. Isn’t that the universal dichotomy of the gardener? —Pam
I want to poke a big hole in that brick wall next to the chimney. 🙂
Do you mean for a window? Yeah, I’d love to have windows on both sides of the chimney, as it would open up a third wall of the living room to natural light and views. But it just isn’t in the budget, I’m afraid. —Pam
I love the long views…it is so much easier to get an actual feel for your garden. It is wonderful to see how much has been done already and as we know, no garden is ever really finished! What has been done is truly lovely.
Thanks, Leslie. Yes, the long views are very useful for understanding a garden better, even when they’re not the prettiest shots. I always like to see them too. —Pam
Great tour of your garden – I love seeing the progression from then to now. You have certainly accomplished a lot. The whale’s tongue Agave is magnificent. I love Agave and started by own collection this summer – however I do not live where they can grow in the garden year round. Hopefully I will find them easy to manage inside for the winter. Lovely gardens!
Thanks, Hostabuff. I’m glad you like the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave too. It’s one of my most prized plants—a pampered (i.e. neglected, as that’s what agaves like), spiky pet. I hope yours are well-behaved indoors for the winter and don’t try poking anyone in the rump when they’re not looking. —Pam
Thanks for sharing these before and after photos, “warts and all”. I enjoyed the tour and getting a better idea of what you started with and what you’ve been able to do in two years. It looks wonderful and seems like such an inviting space. One idea for the chimney wall on the left is fig ivy. I’m not sure if you care for it, but it could soften up the back of the house a little. I love the fence and I’m curious who installed it. I also like how the front bed is starting to fill out and all the different textures and colors. Again, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your idea, Jeremy. I’ve actually been battling invasive fig ivy on a different side of our home, so I won’t add it here. I do actually love fig ivy on a stucco wall, just not on the side of my house where it climbs too high to reach and spreads into the lawn and up the trees. Regarding the fence, if you’d like to have the contractor’s name, just send me an email (under “Contact Me” in my sidebar) and I’ll send it to you. —Pam
Wow Pam your yard and gardens are a dream come true. They are so beautiful. Very well planned and executed. You should be very proud of all of your hard work. The results are fantastic!
Thanks for the kind words, Candy. —Pam
Pam, I loved that tour! My favourite part of your garden is the hillside garden. As for the “Meh” bit: I think you do need something with a lot more weight on the right, but if it’s tall, it will just mingle with the overhanging tree branches. How would a solid shrub look? In my climate it might be a hydrangea if conditions were right — large leaves give it presence without making it a focus. And the plant would have to grow to the height of the stock tank on the other side. Part of the problem is that asymmetry of the retaining walls. The steps down don’t seem to relate to anything, and then the house looks so tall there. Very tricky! It will be great when we see a solution!
I think you are on target about the idea for a shrub to the right of the chimney. In fact, I was out looking for something appropriate at the nursery today! (Great minds think alike.) The stepping-down retaining wall is a challenge, but as our lot slopes both to the south and to the east, the previous owners had to make some creative choices to tame it. I hope that next year’s update will show an improvement in this shady bed. Thanks, Chookie! —Pam
I love before and afters Pam and the changes to your garden have been inspiring to watch. If I may be so bold~Why not hang a matching window sash on each side of the chimney…With your vision and taste they could be charming additions to the garden and give you a temporary fix. gail
That’s a fun idea, Gail, very cottagey. It would have looked right at home in my old garden, but I’m not sure about this one. I’m trying to watch the cottage effect here and go for a ranch-style garden (whatever that is!), although I’ve slipped in those cottagey stars on the wall and some colorful cottage-style furniture, haven’t I? It’s hard to go cold turkey. 😉 Thanks for your suggestion! —Pam
I remember watching the progress of some of this. You have done a wonderful job creating gardens in your yard space.
Thanks, Darla. —Pam
Pam, I love your photos. Where did you get the stock-pond? Your agave is wonderful. Please visit my garden—lots of photos. http://mysisterdalesgarden.com/photo-gallery/?albumid=14
Thanks for dropping by. If you’d like to know more about my stock-tank pond, I’ve written a post about the construction of it. Just click on the link. —Pam
How’d you manage to tame the scourge released upon central Texas (aka Asian Jasmine)? Every time I pull any out it always ends up coming back.
I hired some burly guys to rip it out with pickaxes, Katina. It took them HOURS to get it all. They weren’t able to get all the horrible, prickly smilax vine, though, nor the nandinas. I still need to work on those. —Pam
Good lord, I’m exhausted just reading all you’ve done! It looks amazing. Your front garden in particular has really taken off.
Thanks, Vertie. I love making sunny gardens best, and I’m in love with those ‘Color Guard’ yuccas out front. —Pam
Wow, Pam. Big jobs? Call Pam. Your ability to tackle heavy projects is incredibly admirable. I don’t have that in me. I can see why you love the whale’s tongue. That was excellent placement. And I love the stars on the back side of your house! Yes, you have the perfect eye for your locale. No doubt about it. Congratulations on seeing your new baby come to maturity! Well done!
Thanks for the encouragement, Kathryn! The garden is far from mature though—only in its toddler years, in fact. I believe I have managed to get it potty-trained, however. 😉 —Pam
Thanks for sharing the evolution of your outdoor spaces! Seeing your landscape go from OK into such a varied, appealing series of spaces over time is so satisfying, isn’t it? I am motivated to find before, during, and after pics of my place…too bad it was in pre-digital camera 1998.
I’d love to see your before-and-afters, David, even if they are grainy scans of old prints. So your current garden is 12 years old? I’ve never lived in one place that long. My gardens have all been babies in comparison to yours. It must be very satisfying to see the evolution of a garden over that length of time. —Pam
I’ve loved watching your garden grow. It is fantastic. Love it.
Thanks for your continued visits and comments, Lola! —Pam
You have accomplished so much in just two years and your garden looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing all the details in such a helpful and informative post.
I posted my before and after on Gardenweb last summer. Since I don’t have a blog, I’ve pasted the link for you below.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/txgard/gal071815445429.html?9
It’s exciting to see the transformation you’ve made, S. Fox! I especially like the pairing of that gorgeous zebra grass with the yellow lantana that picks up the golden stripes of the Miscanthus. Thanks for sharing. —Pam
Thank you so much for the long views and updates, Pam. I followed you from your old house and it’s wonderful to see how much you have accomplished in just 2 years. Thank goodness for cameras – though you have to use them, which you have. Your Whale’s Tongue was marvelous before and it’s even better now. I can see why you were a little worried about the bloom spike. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it was just spending the summer with arms upraised singing “Glory, Hallelujah!” I also see that the think tank (pool) has paid off with some wonderful projects, with more to come!
The think tank was well used, Barbara. 😉 Thanks for your kind comment. —Pam
Dear Pam, you have already put your fingerprint all over the space, maximizing every inch! Well done! It seems that you have accomplished a great deal very quickly. I love the new fence and paths and everything. The front garden is already lovely. One can see right away that a gardener lives there. 🙂
Thanks, Frances. I was so happy to put in that front island bed and have a little garden action going on out there. The rest of the front yard is pretty nondescript, but eventually…. —Pam
What a transformation and what a treat it is to see before and after photos with so much accomplished in such a short time. My favorite is the stock tank with surrounding hardscape. You did a fabulous job. Your whale’s tongue settled in really nicely. I do hope for your sake that the more upright growth doesn’t mean an imminent flowering. I know that sometimes that happens after they are disturbed. It really is a beauty. I must try to dig out a few of mine. Too bad it was before digital photography.
I’ve seen some of your “before” pics from your albums, Jenny. If you got busy with the scanner, you could do a whole series about your garden’s evolution. Sounds like a great winter’s project to me! —Pam
Wow. you’ve really have been busy! Love all the brick/block work. And your new fence is a must in my opinion. All your beds…so many and so artistic…great job.
Thanks, Patsi. I appreciate it! —Pam
I love the before and after photos and the garden is just so much more interesting. I am not sure how two years have passed nor how you have accomplished all of this.
I don’t know how two years have passed either, Layanee, but I’m enjoying the progress that the years are bringing. —Pam
I have a front bed similar to your front bed. Similar plants: Sabal Minor, Med Fan Palm, Cycads, Yucca, Red Cordyline etc. The Med Fan Palm grows fast. The Sabal Minors are very slow, but worth the wait. The Bamboo Muhly and Asparagus Fern are a good fill and contrast to the strappy forms.
I’m intrigued to hear that your Med. fan palms grow fast. I have two, both in a good deal of shade, and they are growing very slowly. Maybe in their third year they’ll leap. —Pam
Congrats on two years, Pam — your garden is looking really lovely. I can’t really explain why, but I think I’m most drawn to the area around those limestone boulders. Maybe it’s just that I simply can’t get enough of giant rocks surrounded by foliage. And boy do I understand the trouble with oak sprouts. I gave up on one bed and am trying to let inland sea oats take over there — not much else can handle those oaks. My other oak sprout area is a constant struggle to maintain, but I’m trying!
Big rocks in the garden are an attraction, aren’t they? I love the boulders too, and I always have the most fun designing sunny gardens. Well, doesn’t everyone? Those oak sprouts make shade gardening even more challenging. —Pam
Pam:
Meant to ask…what is the spacing on bamboo muhly?
I agree your landscaping is wonderful. You have been working very hard.
The back yard looks awesome.
Thanks, Linda. The bamboo muhly has a spread of 4-5 feet in full sun (less, perhaps, in part-shade). For a tighter “froth” of bamboo muhly, I’d space them about 3-4 feet apart. —Pam
Totally amazing transformation! What a great two years you’ve had! It’s lovely.
Thanks, Linda. 🙂 —Pam