Around the stock-tank pond
Despite the heat (which may be coming to an end this weekend — yay!), I’ve been working in the garden nearly every day this week, doing the usual end-of-summer tidying plus cleaning up Moby’s old bed and potting up all his bulbils. It’s given me plenty of opportunities, sweat dripping from my hair, to enjoy the stock-tank pond, which always looks best in the hot summer months.
Looking slightly left toward the shed
Nearby, a handful of crimson spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) stand on flamingo legs.
And Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) is opening its first fall flowers.
I’ve enjoyed the summer garden, but boy am I ready for fall.
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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events
Austinites and native-plant shoppers, I’ll be at the member’s day Fall Plant Sale at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on October 14, and I hope to see you there! I’ll be signing books between 1 and 3 pm in the Wild Ideas gift shop. If you’re not a member, of course you can still come on out and see the gardens and stop in at Wild Ideas. Hope to see you there!
South Texans, come see me at the 2nd annual Planta Nativa festival in McAllen, Texas, on Saturday, October 22. I’ll be delivering the keynote talk, “Local Heroes: Designing with Native Plants for Water-Saving Gardens,” that evening. Tickets are on sale at Quinta Mazatlan. I hope to see you there!
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All material © 2006-2016 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Everything is looking so happy and healthy, Pam! Your garden looks so clean! I have so much weeding to do….ug.
Thanks, Heather! That cleanliness has taken a week of sweaty work, and I just pray it lasts more than a few days — ha! —Pam
I love the way the bricks circle into the stock tank pond. I don’t remember seeing that view before. Very nice!
Thanks, Pat. That area was one of the first sections I worked on when we moved in. Since you enjoy knowing about the process of making a garden, here are some old posts detailing the process that you might like to peruse:
https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=1865
https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=2867
https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=3318
https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=7797
—Pam
Everything is looking neat and tidy. I am with you regarding looking forward to some cooler fall temps. I love your pond. It looks cool even in the heat of summer.
Thanks, Lisa. Yes, it really helps the garden feel cooler. —Pam
Boy am *I* ready for fall, and I live far north of you. But here it is the first day of fall, and it was 90 today. I’m over it. My kingdom for a cool, refreshing breeze!
I almost don’t have hope for fall if you don’t have it yet in Indiana, Robin. Hope it comes soon for both of us! —Pam
Your garden looks great even after a summer of heat. I love the paint color on those shed doors.
Boy am I ready for fall, too! It has not quite arrived here during daytime, but the nights are cooling off.
Hoov, I’d love even cooler nights at this point. I do think cooler weather is arriving early next week. Fingers crossed! —Pam
The entire garden has a soothing effect and the colors of furniture and the plants echo each other. It looks great.
It’s my calmest area, Laura. I tend to go wilder with color closer to the house. —Pam