January 21, 2011 Winter-blooming ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon is dangling her red-and-yellow bells under evergreen “maple” leaves. Since trying ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ as my first abutilon a couple of years ago, I’ve added prostrate ‘Candy Corn’ and a no-name pink that flourishes even in dry shade. I just picked up a 4-inch …

January 20, 2011 She’s eleven today, my nature-loving child who’s always bringing home interesting rocks, catching lizards, and taking pictures alongside me in the garden or on wildflower safari. She appreciates agaves and cute little succulents, but she loves flowers. She swears she’ll have an enormous flower garden when she …

January 18, 2011 The sun came out and I went out, out into the garden to explore after several dreary days spent indoors. Delightfully spongy earth, fungi on the coir doormats, and a revitalized winter garden attested to our recent rainfall—who knows how much, as I had turned my gauge …

January 18, 2011 The sun came out and I went out, out into the garden to explore after several dreary days spent indoors. Delightfully spongy earth, fungi on the coir doormats, and a revitalized winter garden attested to our recent rainfall—who knows how much, as I had turned my gauge …

January 16, 2011 On this chilly, wet Foliage Follow-Up, let’s revisit the fabulous Tex-Asian garden in east Austin designed and built by Grace Riggan and Joshua Bowles. Its intriguing name? Fatal Flower Garden. Aren’t you just dying to see what’s behind the wall? Me too. Just don’t look for a …

January 15, 2011 On this rainy, chilly Bloom Day I’m just not going to venture into the garden to poke around for a tiny rosemary bloom or withered Knock Out rose petal. Instead I’m treating you to a reprise of images from the Stone Palms garden, located in the Clarksville …

January 14, 2011 Driving through central Austin yesterday, I passed by two named gardens, neither taking itself too seriously, both begging for a slow-down or, in my case, a full stop for a quick photo op. Pictured above is the aptly named Casa de Colores, a paintbox of a house …

January 13, 2011 I’ve been away from the garden lately, fortunate to be busy with design work just now, and feeling disinclined to venture into the cold, gray weather of the past week. Here’s where I’m spending much of my time, at my drafting table, next to my shelves of …

January 09, 2011 Garden bloggers, you may as well make your reservations today. The 4th annual national garden blogger meet-up will be held in Seattle, July 22-25, and you will not want to miss it! Think about it: the green, temperate Pacific Northwest is a gardener’s paradise, and Seattle is …

January 07, 2011 The ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper finally bit the dust after a couple of hard freezes. Although the withered plant is bent and droopy, I still like the bright-red berries and will leave it uncut for the time being. Maybe the birds will eat them. Maybe I’ll even …

January 06, 2011 Austin has so many mild winter days that it’s really a shame not to be out enjoying your garden at this time of year. But what if your flowery perennial garden dies back in winter and you’re left with brown grass, leaf-strewn beds, and a shade tree …

January 01, 2011 The New Year’s ball has dropped. 2011 is a clean slate. I never bother with resolutions, in the garden or otherwise, but I do get antsy for a new project at this time of year. Pleasant temperatures, no mosquitoes, and a tamed and friendly Death Star (i.e., …

January 01, 2011 The New Year’s ball has dropped. 2011 is a clean slate. I never bother with resolutions, in the garden or otherwise, but I do get antsy for a new project at this time of year. Pleasant temperatures, no mosquitoes, and a tamed and friendly Death Star (i.e., …

December 30, 2010 Last week, when the balmy weather included a high of 80 degrees, we went for a hike at Hamilton Pool, a beautiful collapsed grotto (click for a previous visit). After skipping a few stones in the pool, we took the trail along cypress-lined Hamilton Creek, following it …