Evening garden design musings
Dusk is falling more softly as summer wanes, and the lingering evening glow is inviting, even if Austin is still hot and dry. Here are a few random shots from a recent walk-around at dusk. (The rest are in my post about foliage gardening apologies.)
This view emphasizes the arcs and circles that dominate the back garden design. The curvy swimming pool and two small, circular patios at each end were installed by the previous owners. I’ve continued to build on those curves with the stock-tank pond, sunburst paving, and stucco walls. Even the round pot fountain and boxwood balls emphasize the circular theme.
The limestone retaining walls along the back of the house (on the right) were also inherited from the previous owners, and they echo the curves of the pool. The new stucco walls repeat the curves, with modern flair, on the back side of the pool.
The commercial-grade string lights are from the Light Bulb Shop on Burnet Road. I love the soft glow they put out — perfect for parties! Hint: you can buy them online as well as in the store. We had ours wired into an outdoor light switch.
Looking in the other direction, toward the stock-tank pond and back deck. The gravel path leads uphill to the front garden.
Let’s check in on a passalong plant from Reuben Muñoz at Rancho Reubidoux while we’re here. Pilo (Pilosocereus pachycladus; do I have another named plant?) survived the spring deluge and has put on an inch or two of growth. Looking good!
My agave with the deadliest bite, the ‘Sharkskin’, is growing well too. It doesn’t mind heat or drought. I wish I felt the same way. But hey, it’s September, and fall is coming.
Right?
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Yep, it’s September and the end of the heat is in sight! It’s the only thing that gets me through…
Come on, cold fronts! —Pam
Fall is most definitely in the works. The kidney wood trees and obedient plants are both in bloom – two reliable boxes to tick off in the “Cooler is Coming” column, (one that includes beautybush berries and garlic chive flowers). In fact I just checked the radar, a move I hadn’t bothered with in weeks, and it looks like rain is most definitely heading y/our way. Today! Rain! Here! I’m giddy at the prospect.
I’m waiting with one eye on the sky, Deb. Sure hope we get some rain this week. —Pam
Your garden photos hold my attention for so long, as I investigate each detail of every view. Surely you must have some straight property lines at the outer edges, but your expertise – using curves – makes your gardens feel like a huge natural area. It is just so beautiful, without feeling ‘over-engineered’. So peaceful, while still exciting to see.
Thank you, June. That’s very kind of you. I decided to just run with the curves because they were already here, and the backyard has a naturalistic feel thanks to all the live oaks and the greenbelt just beyond the fence. My biggest challenge was breaking up the back garden into different spaces so that you don’t just look out and see it all at once. —Pam
Those lights make your garden look Party Ready. Yes, fall is coming. We are getting some much needed rain. YIPEE!!!!
Yay for rain! So glad you’re getting some, Lisa. —Pam
I LOVE that orange hanging thing in your last photo.
Thanks, Jeanette. My mom gave me that smiling terracotta face years ago. It’s moved with me from garden to garden. —Pam
I’m using this post to try convincing my sweetie that we need a stock tank pond. I fthis doesn’t do it, nothing will.
If you play your cards right, maybe your sweetie will even set it all up for you! —Pam
I keep hoping that the last – or I should say, the current – heatwave will mark the end of summer. We’re frying again right now but hopefully cooler temperatures will arrive next week and stay awhile.
I hope so too, Kris, especially because I’ll be visiting you next week! 🙂 Can’t wait! And yes, here’s to cooler weather and rain. —Pam
Kris, around here we don’t call them heat waves. We call it summer! Pam, what Lisa said: party ready! The Arizona cypress is really growing, and the Y. restart is such a good complement for it.
So true, Peter. It’s just called summer here. I’d heave a big sigh at this point, but we did get lucky with the spotty rain showers last night and received a very welcome 1 inch. —Pam