Inspiration

Visit the gardens of others and let inspiration take you by the hand.

Inside Austin Gardens Tour 2014 - May 3rd!

Austin bloggers were invited for a sneak peek of the annual Inside Austin Gardens Tour last week.  There's not much better than a beautiful spring day, friends, and inspirational gardens!

Sadly, my photographs didn't turn out.  I'm learning a new camera and had a setting out of whack.  No worries though, my touring companions had their cameras in fine tune.

From left to right there is Jenny of Rock Rose, Katina of Gardening in Austin, Caroline of The Shovel-Ready Garden, Robin of Getting Grounded, myself, Lori of The Gardener of Good and Evil (her garden is on tour!), Renee of Renee's New Blog, Vicki of Playin' Outside, Ally of Garden Ally, Pam of Digging, Linda of Patchwork Garden, Bonnie of Kiss of Sun, Suzie of Viva Verde, Diana of Sharing Nature's Garden and Laura of Wills Family Acres.

Aren't we a lively band of gardeners?  These ladies are so much fun and honestly, I never dreamed that blogging would bring me so much friendship.

For those of you close by, we are experiencing true Chamber of Commerce weather in Austin so grab your keys and camera and get out there.  Click through for all the details.  These gardens are true gardener's gardens.  Their passion, skill and determination is evident and you'll walk away with tons of ideas and knowledge. 

What do Rebar, Shadows and Garden Tours Have in Common?

I enjoyed the company of fellow bloggers Pam, Shirley and David last Saturday while strolling several Austin gardens.  Gardens on Tour 2013, sponsored by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, offered a glimpse into an eclectic mix of gardens featuring native and adapted plants.    

While sifting through the photos, these three captured my imagination with their form and light play.  This rebar awning at 2001 Westridge Drive was fantastic.  Just shows how much hardscape can play a vital role in design.

I'm sorry to say I still haven't regained my blogging mojo so please visit my friend's posts (just click on their names) to get a detailed description of the gardens.  You'll find tons of gardening inspiration and a variety of styles showcasing the many beautiful plants that call Austin home.

Inside Austin Gardens Tour: Get Your Inspiration!

It's often said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and I promise you, if you venture out to the Inside Austin Gardens Tour you'll find tons of inspiration and ideas galore worth imitation.

The 2012 Inside Austin Gardens Tour, hosted by the Travis County Master Gardeners takes place on Saturday, October 20th, from 9am-4pm.  In addition to seven beautiful gardens to explore, there will be educational presentations and plant and book sales.

These gardens have so much to offer.  If you live close enough to visit Austin next weekend, I really encourage you to take the tour.  Each garden has its own unique story and personality.  I walked away from the experience with zillions, seriously, zillions of new ideas for my own garden. {Sorry, DJ ♥}  Some are easy to implement, others will have to be on the five year plan!

The "white" garden in Renee Studebaker's charming cottage garden. 

Looking for path ideas?  There are numerous designs and materials to contemplate.  A couple that I really liked:

Concrete slabs artfully arranged in the Donnis Doyle garden.

 A nice mix of materials is used for unique pavers in the Ann and Robin Matthews' garden.

The theme of this year's tour is Edibles in the Garden.  This is an idea that is attractive and practical.

A fairly easy way to add decorative, raised vegetable beds to the garden.  Soil filled stock tanks allow 

for easy gathering of vegetables in David and Jennifer Phillips' garden.

Several plants caught my attention and have been added to my "gotta have" list:

 Malabar spinach growing in the Phillips' garden.  It. Is. Gorgeous.

Salvia mexicana in Carolyn and Michael Williams' garden.  Anyone familiar with this cultivar?
The pale, lavender flowers are so unique and unexpected compared to the
commonly grown bright purple of 'Limelight'.

 The sunshine yellow flowers of butterfly vine spill over a weathered gate in the Phillips' garden.

Close up of butterfly vine going to seed.  These are as enchanting as the floral display.

Many of us desire to have beautiful rock work in our gardens.  This recirculating stream in the Hill Country garden of the Phillips got me thinking about how I could implement something similar in my backyard where we have water rushing through after heavy rains.  

I love how the plants play along the edge of the stone work giving a very natural appearance.

A simple display of rock using a variety of materials to enhance a few xeric plants in the Phillips' garden.

And every garden needs whimsy and these gardens are abundantly whimsical!

 

A sweet tribute of love to his wife... Ask Carolyn Williams about the story behind

 this tender demonstration of affection.

The Donnis Doyle garden is one of the most whimsical I've ever toured...colorful furnishings, handmade stars and hearts adorn the eaves and walls, unique bottle trees and screening ideas...the whimsy goes on and on.  Really.  Go visit!

I adore everything about this little vignette in Renee Studebaker's garden.  The stacked stones
rest close by three dainty, weathered chairs entwined with vines and foliage at the edge
 of her white garden pictured at the top of the post.  Simple and beautiful.

This rustic arrangement of dried artichokes and juniper in the Phillips' garden is captivating. The juniper is simply adorned with the artichokes and malabar spinach grows at it's base.

I said at the top of the post that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.  Well, let me just say that Renee Studebaker can make some mean ratatouille from garden fresh ingredients and I could hardly wait to get home and make it myself! 

I made this yesterday and between myself, my girlfriend and my husband, we ate the ENTIRE pan.  It's that good.  She will be giving a presentation on appetizers prepared from garden fare during the tour.  Go.

There is so much more I could tell you.  I haven't even touched on the wealth of information about rainwater harvesting to be discovered.  Really.  You should just go ☺

Add Whimsy ~ Shop Your House

It doesn't take a lot of money or time to make a little something unique in your garden.  Just a couple of friends, an idea and a willingness to fight off a few mosquitoes to pull it all together. 

Over lunch with my friend Susie, I shared an idea I'd seen for a birdbath.  She loved the suggestion so we shopped her garage and backyard and came up with everything we needed.

 This great antique basin was rescued from the garage. 

A pile of concrete pavers were found and stacked to make a pedestal.  Look at that joy!  Susie was so excited to add this birdbath outside her kitchen window. 

Next we added the basin to the pedestal, filled with some pottery shards and stones for the birds to perch on and added water.

So easy...a few found objects turned into a refreshing birdbath that is sure to bring Susie and her family lots of enjoyment as they watch the birds splashing outside their kitchen window.   

Pure birdie bliss.

Hurtling by at Sixty Minutes An Hour...

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour...whatever he does, whoever he is.   ~ C.S. Lewis

My sweet friend, Susie, is an encourager.  She posted this quote recently and it was exactly what I needed to hear.  Although it may feel like spring is hurtling by, time isn't moving any faster than usual.  We all have the same sixty minutes every hour and I'm determined to make the most of them during this glorious season.

Finally, our shy resident...appearing a little grumpy!  A couple people have suggested that as the eggs hatch and the nest gets more crowded, the female will roost on nearby branches while the owlets hang out in the box.  Hopefully then, I'll have more to show you.  Until then, I catch quick glimpses and chronicle them as I can.


Spring is in hyper-drive around here. Oh, wait.  No, sixty minutes an hour...

Anyone out there know what kind of caterpillar this is?

They were all over the garden last week and there are now several chrysalis' hanging around on the side of the garage.

I'll keep watching and will hopefully get a shot of one emerging.

This predatory fly was on the garage wall too.  Possibly taking advantage of the plentiful supply of caterpillars and beetle larvae.

The lambs ear has been chewed to pieces looking as though it's been used for target practice.  Beetles and caterpillars have been discovered on the poor thing and plucked off and dropped into a soapy water solution.

The Turk's cap has proved to be delicious for this hungry little caterpillar. {Do you see it...lower right hand corner...tiny, tiny}  I've been physically removing any pests that I find but I'll bet the predatory fly is helping out with the population too.

A sense of humor is especially important this spring. I'm growing dill, parsley, celery and milkweed to feed hungry caterpillars and the irony that not one of these plants has been eaten is not lost on me!  There is still plenty of time for the swallowtails and monarchs to find these plants but it does make me shake my head.  Gardening is a lesson in patience, no?

There is an astounding population of Red Admirals in Austin this spring.  It's a wonderful sight often filling me with a complete sense of admiration and joy for the miracle of them! 

Dozens {no exaggeration} of Red Admirals flit about enjoying the plentiful and intoxicating flowers of the star jasmine, Jerusalem sage and roughleaf dogwood.

 

 

Last year's experiment of growing hostas in containers went well.  They've sprung to life this week and look really nice tucked into bare spots around the shady perennial beds.  Their broad, beautifully textured leaves add a tropical lushness to the garden.

The rock rose is blooming and is a bright addition to the border of a part-shade bed.  This plant can suffer from powdery mildew when grown in shade so I've given it plenty of breathing room.

I've posted often of my fondness for orange globe mallow.  This pink variety is much more demure but no less pretty.  Planted last spring, it held on through the heat and drought of last summer not growing much.  This spring it shines with clusters of pale pink flowers atop velvety, gray/green foliage.  Not as showy, the pink pulls you in for a closer inspection asking you to slow down long enough to admire her.

Even with all the hungry bugs and spring feeling as if it's tearing by, it doesn't disappoint in the least.  A relaxing couple of hours spent in a playful friend's garden reinforce the value of moving slowly, breathing deeply and enjoying friendship. 

Here is Deb enjoying a nasturtium blossom from her garden.  Deb is one of the most playful people I've ever met...she is a fellow Master Gardener and full of surprises.  A little more on that later...it requires a whole post!

She seeded the greenbelt behind her fence with wildflowers last fall and a lovely small meadow now flourishes with a variety of flowers and butterflies.   Neighbors enjoy the beautiful scene as they stroll the nearby path.

I hope you're finding encouraging, playful friends to enjoy this alluring spring with...don't let it zip by without taking time to notice.  It's amazing out there!

Free Visits in January ~ Lady Bird Wildflower Center

During the month of January, visits to the Lady Bird Wildflower Center are free!  We may have brutally hot and dry summers but our winter months give us a chance to get out and about in the sunshine and discover the subdued, quiet beauty that is Austin.

It's true you won't be carried away with delight by masses of flowers but it is a good time to get ideas for structural elements to add to your garden.   The bones of the garden take center stage this time of year and hardscape elements that are sometimes hard to see for the plants and people are clearly defined. You'll have a clear view of the paths that meander through the gardens and their construction, a myriad of vessels used to hold plants are clearly on display, and you'll see which plants add texture and color during these quiet months. 

Personally, the most important observation I made was the way some of the shrubs and understory trees are pruned. While dormant, you can see where strategic cuts have been made to allow the plant to maintain a pleasing, natural shape but at the same time, coaxing it to fit in the desired location.  This inspired me to try a couple of shrubs I've been wanting to add knowing that with some gentle persuasion they can flourish in my small garden.   Note:  I'm not talking about trying to grow a 20 ft tree in a space worthy of a 5 ft shrub...I'm talking gentle persuasion not tree topping!

If you're able, I hope you'll get out and experience the simple beauty the Wildflower Center has to offer this time of year.  I definitely wasn't disappointed!

30 Day Challenge ~ Thanksgiving ~ Day 28

These pressed and framed leaves capture and hold my imagination.

  I came upon them at Thompson & Hanson nursery during a girl's trip to Houston this summer.  Thompson & Hanson is without a doubt a small slice of gardening and home decor paradise in River Oaks.  There is also a sweet little restaurant on the grounds called Tiny Boxwoods that should not be missed.

 These pictures were snapped quickly while I was shopping.  Didn't think I'd be posting them but you might find inspiration from them too.  The frames are a simple design of clean lines fashioned from wood.

You can imagine that they are quite large as the leaves selected are big specimens.  They are really engaging in a subtle way and make a simple, elegant statement.  

Thankful today for simple elegance found in the most unexpected of places...decaying leaves.

30 Day Challenge ~Thanksgiving~ Day 26

Thankful today for my macro lens.  It has opened a whole new world of observation
and I love the view from its perspective!

Genetics Perhaps?

A family reunion hosted by my mom's sister got me thinking about the genetics of gardening...

I've always suspected that this fascination and passion was passed down from my maternal grandmother.  She always had a little garden that she was tending and would lovingly tour us through describing the qualities and attributes of each plant. 

My aunt clearly inherited the gene.  My last visit to her lake house in Louisiana was 6 years ago and they had just bought the property.   Since then, she has transformed the garden into a lush and whimsical place where wandering is a pleasure and simple treasures are found around every corner.

Pieces of furniture are placed throughout and decorative displays are thoughtfully arranged.  One of my favorite uses of furniture was a sturdy, old chair she re-purposed as a plant stand.  

Her style lends itself to a cottage feel with picket fences, artfully placed birdhouses and swaths of colorful perennials.   There is a covered porch with plentiful, comfy seating and expansive views of the lake. It's the perfect setting for a relaxed family gathering.

Butterflies and dragonflies are at home here with seemingly endless supplies of nectar rich flowers to tempt them.  While there is a worrisome shortage of big butterflies in Central Texas, the numerous butterflies in her Louisiana garden bring me relief.

An eye-catching copper sculpture next to the front door announces to visitors that this will be an enchanting garden.

It was special to see how my grandmother's love of gardening has passed through the generations of our family.   My aunt's garden is uniquely hers with her personality woven in among the plants.  But there was also a bit of my grandmother's personality too in the way my aunt spoke to me about each of the plants that she loves.  Maybe others see that in me too when I walk them through my garden.