Visiting a San Antonio garden with rocks, oaks, and deer

October 25, 2014


Ahh, I’m back and enjoying our mellow Texas fall after a garden-visiting weekend in New York City, and guess what I’ve been doing since I got back? Yep! Visiting more gardens.

Last Friday a few friends and I headed south to San Antonio to visit the gardens of two Alamo City bloggers and a gardening friend. I’ll give you our visits in reverse order, starting with Shirley Fox’s garden, known on her blog by its challenging features: Rock-Oak-Deer.


Shirley organized our visit and still made time to show us her garden as well. This was my second visit; I first saw Shirley’s garden in summer 2013 (click for my post). This iron bedstead, planted as a garden bed (wink), is new since then, and I think it fits perfectly with the rustic Hill Country style Shirley has cultivated. Plus it’s just fun.


In a pot, Shirley has corralled a clump of variegated St. Augustine. Yes, just like the popular lawn grass, only with stripes!


Her Circle Garden was in full, meadowy bloom thanks to a collection of grasses mixed with flowering annuals and perennials.


And there’s Shirley in the orange blouse, her own camera at the ready.


I collect metal spheres in my own garden, so it was fun to spot a few in Shirley’s as well. I like how she’s given this one some prominence by displaying it atop a pot.


Looking at the Circle Garden from the other direction, you get a better sense of all the grasses. That’s pine muhly (Muhlenbergia dubia) in the left corner, one of my new favorites since Michael at Plano Prairie Garden introduced me to it.


The tall wire fence along the side of her garden keeps deer out, giving Shirley space to grow particularly deer-tasty plants. She and her husband built the cedar-arbor gate.


Here’s another new, dynamic feature since I was last here: a crevice garden planted with yuccas, agaves, and cactus.


In the dappled light under live oaks, Shirley grows shade-tolerant plants and succulents in pots.


The fireplace wall along her back deck is a nice spot to display potted plants and garden decor.


I was intrigued by this fuzzy-leaved tradescantia.


A new screened porch is the biggest addition since I was last here. Shirley and her husband constructed it themselves at one end of their shady deck so they can enjoy being outdoors even during our buggy summer spring, summer, and fall.


It’s spacious inside, with an accent wall made of painted corrugated-metal roofing asphalt roofing panels. (Thanks for the correction, Shirley!)


The front-yard gravel garden — notice not one shred of thirsty lawn — was looking good with a mix of cool blues, golden yellows, and emerald greens, all foliage-based color.


Small boulders and Mexican-style terracotta pots add to the south-central Texas look.


A purple prickly pear looks especially lovely next to a pockmarked limestone boulder.


And I had to stop and admire Shirley’s large ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia), a little sunburned by the Death Star but still looking very content with room to spread its flukes.

Thanks, Shirley, for opening your garden to us and for organizing a fun day of garden-visiting in San Antonio!

Up next: Xericstyle Heather’s lawn-gone, family-friendly garden.

All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

32 responses to “Visiting a San Antonio garden with rocks, oaks, and deer”

  1. TexasDeb says:

    This is especially fascinating – to see a blogger’s garden I am already somewhat familiar with (as a reader/fan) from a second blogger’s point of view. Getting pretty “meta” here. I love it!

    That covered porch and the cedar arbor are especially impressive. I’m hauling The Hub in here to look at both in just a moment to see if either (or hopefully both!) projects strike that spark of inspiration in him as well.

  2. Melody McMahon says:

    I never get tired of seeing Shirley’s garden! There’s always something new and it just keeps getting more beautiful every season. Plus, I’ve learned from her what is truly deer resistent! Her yard is proof that you can have plants and deer live in harmony!

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Well, as a fellow gardener with deer, I don’t know if I’d ever say gardening with them is harmonious. But there can be moments of detente. 😉 —Pam

  3. Alison says:

    Thanks so much for this great look at Shirley’s garden. I read her blog, but it’s always good to get another blogger’s perspective. Love that crevice garden.

  4. Ragna says:

    What lovely photos! I’d say this garden is ready for any and every kind of tour … 🙂

  5. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Nice garden. I admire someone that continues to garden when she has to fence out the wildlife.

  6. rickii says:

    Your roving eye always lands on items of interest. Any gardener would be happy to have you and your camera visit.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      There are things of interest in any garden, aren’t there? It’s such a privilege to be invited into someone’s personal space. I hope to do each garden justice. —Pam

  7. Shirley has done such an incredible job!!!! I love how all of her areas transition…
    The way she puts plants together looks so natural and pretty.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I agree! I didn’t show any pictures of the shady side of her front garden, Heather, but that’s the area that I most enjoyed seeing this time. It was just hard to photograph because of the dappled light. She has opened up the area by her front door with expanded gravel paving, and the fountain right there creates such a pleasant sound. I found it very soothing and a welcoming entry. —Pam

  8. Great photos of Shirley’s garden and I love the porch addition. I don’t remember her writing about it on her blog.

  9. You really captured her garden, and I found a few touches that I missed seeing. Great photos.

  10. Shirley says:

    We enjoyed having you and the Austin bloggers visit our garden Pam. It’s fun seeing my garden through your lens again and reading the comments which I appreciate so much.

    The porch is awaiting a few finishing touches so I didn’t post a reveal on my blog yet. The corrugated wall is actually asphalt roofing panels which we painted.

    I’m already looking forward to our next opportunity to visit gardens with the Austin bloggers.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I hope I didn’t spoil the surprise by showing your screened porch, Shirley. Thanks for reminding me about the roofing panels; I made the correction. And thanks again for inviting me to see your garden — always a treat! —Pam

  11. I enjoy seeing your tour photos, especially when it is a garden that I am already familiar with. You always bring a new perspective. Thanks for the link. Love that pine muhly. Mine is looking great now.

  12. Thank you Pam, for showing Shirley’s garden! I like how Shirley uses plants which don’t require a struggle to keep them in shape. The garden looks natural and in peace with its surroundings.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Your description is very apt: her garden is very much in tune with its surroundings, and let me tell you, those surroundings aren’t easy! Shirley just makes it look like it is. —Pam

  13. Pam, it is great seeing Shirley’s garden through your lens. I love the way you capture vignettes for new angles, like the beautiful purple prickly pear with the pocket limestone boulders. I love the screen porch, and how you lined out summer : ) You have really been seeing some awesome gardens.Thank you for sharing them!!!

  14. Kris P says:

    As other commentator’s have said, I liked getting a look at Shirley’s garden from another perspective. That crevice garden is looking good! I like the St. Augustine grass in a pot too – when all my own lawn is gone, maybe I’ll put some in a pot as well.

  15. Krista says:

    I am also very intrigued by that gorgeous tradescantia! I am wondering what variety it is. If you could let me know. Beautiful gardens!