Thieves hit Tom Spencer’s former garden
December 30, 2009 When “Central Texas Gardener” host Tom Spencer sold his well-known garden (and home) recently, many Austinites mourned its passing and the chance to see it again. Tom had generously shared Possumhaw Hollow with the public over the years through garden tours and his beautiful photos at Soul ...
Thieves hit Tom Spencer's former garden
December 30, 2009 When “Central Texas Gardener” host Tom Spencer sold his well-known garden (and home) recently, many Austinites mourned its passing and the chance to see it again. Tom had generously shared Possumhaw Hollow with the public over the years through garden tours and his beautiful photos at Soul ...
Frozen pond after Austin's hard freeze
December 05, 2009 The predicted big snowstorm in Austin yesterday was a bust, as they almost always are—we saw a few flakes downtown; my kids saw a few more in north-central Austin—but the hard freeze arrived as predicted last night. By the time I checked the temps this morning, around ...
Frozen pond after Austin’s hard freeze
December 05, 2009 The predicted big snowstorm in Austin yesterday was a bust, as they almost always are—we saw a few flakes downtown; my kids saw a few more in north-central Austin—but the hard freeze arrived as predicted last night. By the time I checked the temps this morning, around ...
King Tut papyrus & other November sparklers
November 23, 2009 When Proven Winners asked me last spring if I’d trial some of their plants, I requested they send me only xeric plants, explaining that I am not a zealous waterer. So imagine my surprise when, among a nice selection of drought-tolerant plants, this ‘King Tut’ papyrus arrived ...
King Tut papyrus & other November sparklers
November 23, 2009 When Proven Winners asked me last spring if I’d trial some of their plants, I requested they send me only xeric plants, explaining that I am not a zealous waterer. So imagine my surprise when, among a nice selection of drought-tolerant plants, this ‘King Tut’ papyrus arrived ...
Fine foliage & reflections
November 04, 2009 Forget flowers, why don’t we? Let’s admire instead the silver, feathery soft leaves of ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia. My kids and I like to rub a leaf between our fingers and enjoy the strong fragrance. In a sunny spot this plant has spread out 4 to 5 feet ...
Fine foliage & reflections
November 04, 2009 Forget flowers, why don’t we? Let’s admire instead the silver, feathery soft leaves of ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia. My kids and I like to rub a leaf between our fingers and enjoy the strong fragrance. In a sunny spot this plant has spread out 4 to 5 feet ...
Pond watch & path work
October 05, 2009 Still ponds act as mirrors, reflecting the sky and the trees above. But this ghostly mirror image is of dwarf papyrus (Cyperus papyrus ‘Nanus’), a potted plant in my stock-tank pond. You can see the papyrus on the right. The ‘Colorado’ water lily is still blooming, and ...
Pond watch & path work
October 05, 2009 Still ponds act as mirrors, reflecting the sky and the trees above. But this ghostly mirror image is of dwarf papyrus (Cyperus papyrus ‘Nanus’), a potted plant in my stock-tank pond. You can see the papyrus on the right. The ‘Colorado’ water lily is still blooming, and ...
The garden that will be
September 23, 2009 Are you a gardener who remembers what was, and takes pleasure in all you’ve accomplished since then? I wish I could be like that. Instead I tend to look at what is, and think about all the things I must do to make the garden the way ...
Honeybee trouble: Fighting over water
September 06, 2009 The bees drinking at my stock-tank pond are no longer cute. They are too many, at least 50 at all times until after dark. They buzz around threateningly if you get too close. They are now fighting with each other over the water source. Yes, fighting. I’ve ...
Autumn promises
August 31, 2009 ‘Colorado’ water lily I’m walking on much cooler air this morning! On the way home from dropping my kids off at school, I was driving with the windows down, practically hanging my head out the window like a happy dog. ‘Colorado’ water lily I passed a high ...
Relief from the sky
August 30, 2009 My garden was one of the lucky ones late last week to get a little rain. Between Wednesday and Thursday nights I recorded nearly three-quarters of an inch, which was the most rain my garden has seen in quite some time. As that weren’t enough, on Friday ...
Water as a "sacred element" in southwestern gardens
August 27, 2009 Softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia) I nearly always read the last page of a magazine first. So when my Garden Design (Sept/Oct 2009) arrived today I flipped to the back to read about Arizona landscape architect Christy Ten Eyck. I’ve seen her work featured in magazines, and I ...
Water as a “sacred element” in southwestern gardens
August 27, 2009 Softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia) I nearly always read the last page of a magazine first. So when my Garden Design (Sept/Oct 2009) arrived today I flipped to the back to read about Arizona landscape architect Christy Ten Eyck. I’ve seen her work featured in magazines, and I ...
