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.

A Moment in Bluebonnets

During a solitary walk among the bluebonnets at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, I was able to get up close and personal with a springtime favorite.

Honestly, I didn't hold out much hope for such a glorious spring filled with wildflowers after the brutal heat and drought we endured last summer but the welcome winter rains have encouraged so many blooms!  People eagerly spill out of their cars and pile into brightly colored swaths of bluebonnets along the roadside to have portraits made.  Little children frolic and even old men squat down amongst the flowers to have their picture taken {at their wives urging, I'm sure}.

A young artist sits quietly sketching a tranquil scene.

Cactus, bluebonnets and a shy appearance of Indian paintbrush at the top of the shot.

 A sublime spring palette of orange, yellow, green and blue.

 Moving in for a closer look...

and a different perspective.
 

Solitude sharpens awareness of small pleasures otherwise lost.

                                                                                                        ~Kevin Patterson

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!