Crossvine, plum, and spiderwort at peak bloom
What’s making me happiest in my garden right now? It starts with ‘Tangerine Beauty’ crossvine, plus spiderwort, Mexican plum, and more.… Read More
Cutting Garden and Fling Party at Chanticleer
In the cutting garden at Chanticleer, arches of entwined willow march along a pine straw path, offering passage through a riot of flowers.… Read More
Ringing Bell’s Woodland at Chanticleer Garden
The most secret part of Chanticleer is the entrance to Bell’s Woodland, beyond the cutting garden, which you enter through a hollow tree.… Read More
Falling into ruin at Chanticleer Garden
Chanticleer’s Ruin has a fairy tale quality. Plants creep up crumbling walls and emerge from paving, and ghostly faces appear in pools. … Read More
Rocking a dry garden at Chanticleer’s Gravel Garden
Many plants we grow in Central Texas appear in Chanticleer’s Gravel Garden, and it’s fun to see them in a new context.… Read More
Wading into Chanticleer’s Pond Garden
The Pond Garden at Chanticleer draws visitors like a magnet. Water features always do. This time it drew a great blue heron as well.… Read More
Into the Asian Woods at Chanticleer
Who says you can’t have flowers in a shade garden? In Chanticleer’s Asian Woods, I spotted a floating bouquet of zinnias, dahlias, and more.… Read More
Exploring Chanticleer’s Elevated Walkway, Serpentine, and Bulb Meadow
Exploring the Elevated Walkway, agricultural Serpentine, and Bulb Meadow in fall flower at Chanticleer Garden… Read More
Chanticleer Garden is my cup o’ tea
Chanticleer was worth TWO visits during the Philly Area Fling. I flew in early to spend an entire day there, knowing I’d see it again on the tour.… Read More
Christmastime flowers and no freeze yet
Here it is Christmas, and Austin has so far escaped a hard freeze. That plus mild temps and occasional rain showers means flowers, flowers, flowers!… Read More
Birds and native thorn forest at Quinta Mazatlan
Exploring the thorn forest and 1930s mansion of Quinta Mazatlan, a World Birding Center in McAllen, Texas.… Read More
Gardens for adventure, art, and games at Paxson Hill Farm
Paxson Hill Farm’s swamp garden, amphitheater, Temple Garden, and more offer fun and games and a sense of adventure.… Read More
Paxson Hill garden still gorgeous in the rain
Paxson Hill Farm’s extensive gardens beckon with lush plantings, an Asian-inspired pond garden, and a secret hideaway.… Read More
Colleen Belk’s Old Austin garden
Colleen Belk’s garden has a wonderfully collected, Old Austin feel, with beauties like silver Mediterranean fan palm and Texas palmetto. … Read More