Early spring flowers, some are memories now
Two weeks ago, give or take a few days, the ephemeral pink flowers of Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) began blushing on bare branches.… Read More
Peckerwood Garden renamed for founder John Fairey, who passed away this week
The Hempstead, Texas, garden of plant explorer and collector John Fairey has long been known by the titter-inducing name Peckerwood, but last week it was renamed in honor of its founder. Just a few days later, John G. Fairey passed away, and The John Fairey Garden now remains as a living tribute to the adventurous, talented, and soft-spoken man who created it.… Read More
Springtime garden glow
Responding to warm temps and a good rain this week, the garden is awash with new growth and pockets of spring color, like glowing yellow bulbine.… Read More
Winter garden flowers thrive in cool weather
Winter brings the sweet flowers of ‘Bartley Schwarz’ abutilon, my favorite for its glowing, cantaloupe-colored flowers that dangle like Chinese lanterns.… Read More
Red and yellow autumn foliage in my garden
Fall color in Austin was surprisingly good this year, including the show put on by the ornamental trees in my own garden, like the species Japanese maple (Acer palmatum).… Read More
Fall xeriscape garden at Rollingwood City Hall
The xeriscape garden at Rollingwood City Hall, designed by Scott Ogden, Lauren Springer Ogden, and Patrick Kirwin, eschews lawn to showcase the beauty and diversity of our native Texas plants, including wildflowers in all seasons, as well as many excellent non-native but adapted plants. … Read More
Hilltop getaway at Two Coves Garden: Austin Open Day tour
The Two Coves Garden is a luxurious retreat with a simplified plant palette and an emphasis on clean-lined, beautifully crafted hardscaping. … Read More
Hilltop pollinator garden of Ruthie Burrus: Austin Open Day tour
Having visited Ruthie Burrus’s garden before, I knew it would be one of my favorites on the Austin Open Days tour in November, sponsored by The Garden Conservancy. Let’s start with the entry garden, where a concrete trough softened by ferns gently trickles.… Read More
Planting for a drier future at Nuevo Santander Garden: Austin Open Day tour
November 19, 2019The Nuevo Santander Garden on the Austin Open Day tour, sponsored by The Garden Conservancy earlier this month, reminded me of native-plant gardens from the old Wildflower Center tour that used to be held Mother’s Day weekend. With … Read More
Hideaway garden at Davern Oaks: Austin Open Day tour
An Old Austin-style garden awaited across the street from the Greenway Garden on The Garden Conservancy’s Open Day tour two weeks ago. What does Old Austin style look like? To me it means a mature tree canopy and a lush understory of sturdy subtropical evergreens like boxwood, pittosporum, sago palm, and fig ivy. It feels green and restful.… Read More
Happy fall garden
With the Death Star at bay and a little rain last week, the plants are rejoicing with a flush of flowers. It’s a second spring for us Texas gardeners.… Read More
Austin Open Days garden tour coming up November 2
On Saturday, November 2, you can visit six private gardens in Austin through the Garden Conservancy Open Days program from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.… Read More
Nolina, yucca, and cypress add xeric structure in lush Austin garden
Have you ever seen a glorious spring garden fade by late summer into a semi-dormant hot mess? That’s what happens when you don’t have structural plants and hardscape to give your garden shape and interest in hotter, drier seasons. … Read More
Pond plants aren’t sick of summer (but I am)
One thing I love about having a stock-tank pond is the visual cooling it provides, a little oasis in my Texas garden during our long, broiling summer. Pond plants like waterlilies never get crispy looking because they’re growing neck deep in cool water. Who wouldn’t want to spend the summer like that? … Read More