Lucinda’s Dia de los Muertos garden

November 01, 2016


My friend Lucinda Hutson celebrates Dia de los Muertos like no one else I know. Her colorful, Mexican-inspired home and garden in the Rosedale neighborhood of central Austin grows even more vibrant for Day of the Dead, and inside she stages elaborate table displays and beautiful altars around mementos and photos of her departed loved ones.


Lucinda invited me over for a visit on Saturday morning, as she was finishing up her decorating. She’s adorned her purple casita, as she calls it, with Day of the Dead grocery bags from HEB — clever!


In a ginkgo tree, colorful papel picado banners with skull imagery flutter in the breeze.


Fluttering throughout her garden, monarchs are fueling up for the last leg of their winter migration to Mexico.


They love the orange and yellow cosmos standing tall on leggy stems. To keep it from flopping, Lucinda has tied bunches of stems together and staked them upright.


A bed of yellow chrysanthemums makes a good lounging spot for four skeletons.


Purple mums fill round pots on her new brick patio, which replaced a small front lawn that was struggling.


Along the gravel driveway, potted vegetables on limestone blocks make a pretty border.


Chard and other edibles are easy to harvest here.


A long raised bed contains more vegetables. In the background, a butterfly skeleton hangs under an arbor of sky vine, with scattered blossoms arrayed by Mother Nature at her feet.


Lucinda found the dress, wings, and other costume elements in thrift shops and put it all together with the help of her longtime garden assistant Ernesto.


The wings catch the morning light.


On the old driveway in the back garden, a raised vegetable bed is edged with colorful salad plates.


Our Lady of the Bathtub is a permanent fixture in the garden.


As is the handmade gate that reads El Jardin Encantador: the enchanting garden.


Peeking in the back door…


…you see what Lucinda calls her “stairway to heaven” — a mosaic tiled back stair.


Along the purple wall of her detached garage, she stacks low tables dressed with Mexican oilcloth for a pretty succulent display space.


Her tiny front porch is all decked out too.


A Day of the Dead skeleton head greets visitors at the door.


Inside, the first thing you see is Lucinda’s Dia de los Muertos altar in her sherbet-colored living room, adorned with decades’-old (but amazingly fresh looking) sugar skulls, candles, family photos, and little mementos of things her loved ones enjoyed.


Lucinda lost her mom recently, and she pointed out old photos and items that remind her of her mother: queens on playing cards, a bottle of Dewar’s.


On her dining table, which she was setting up for a small party later on that evening, Lucinda had arranged a Day of the Dead display of skull plates and bowls, candles, wine bottles, sugar skulls, and skeletons.


Sugar skull and sugar caskets


So many fun details wherever you look!


A quick peek in Lucinda’s kitchen reveals strings of chili lights and and Dia de los Muertos cards with lights.


Another altar is set up on the dining room buffet.


More photos of her beautiful mom along with sugar skulls and lustrous silver containers and spoons.


Tiny skeleton musicians with spring necks, legs, and arms dangle from the chandelier.


Lucinda’s festive home and garden — and her own festive spirit — could brighten any dull day. My thanks to her for sharing her beautiful garden with me again!

I welcome your comments; please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading this in a subscription email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post.
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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events

I’ll be speaking at the Antique Rose Emporium Fall Festival 2016 in Brenham, Texas, on Saturday, November 5th, 1:30-2:30 pm. Come on out to the Antique Rose Emporium’s beautiful gardens for a day of speakers and fun! My talk, with plenty of eye-candy photos, is called “Hold the Hose! How to Design a Water-Saving Garden that Wows.” Meet me afterward at the book-signing table!

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All material © 2006-2016 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

28 responses to “Lucinda’s Dia de los Muertos garden”

  1. Laura Munoz says:

    I’ve always loved Lucinda’s garden, and it looks terrific dressed for the Day of the Dead. I love her exuberant use of color especially purple. Thanks for taking those photos.

  2. I love Lucinda’s home! How fabulous to see it for the Day of the Dead! Your photos really capture the essence of her home and garden! Thank you for sharing!!!

  3. rickii says:

    An exuberant spirit is brought to life in every inch of this home and garden. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Lucinda Hutson says:

    Oh Pam,

    As always, I thank you so kindly for sharing my love of Mexico, Day of the Dead, family and spirit. You do so with many gorgeous photos and lovely words and I am honored you showcase my garden, altars, and home so beautifully.

    Mil gracias!

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Yay, you were able to leave a comment! I’m so glad it’s working for you again, Lucinda, and thank YOU for the delightful visit. It’s always such a pleasure. —Pam

  5. Diana Kirby says:

    How special that you got to capture her Dia de Los Muertos decorations. They make her garden come alive, even more than before! I love all of her memorabilia and decor – I keep collecting small pieces every year but can’t imagine having her treasure trove of special things to honor loved ones. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Carol Freeman says:

    That was pure enjoyment. Thanks to both of you , Carol

  7. Alison says:

    I always love the posts you do whenever you visit Lucinda’s garden. It’s a treat to see how lively and colorful it is, even here with all these reminders of the dead. So sorry she lost her mom recently.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      So glad you liked the post, Alison. I remember how, when I was new to this part of the country, the skeleton decorations seemed macabre to me. But I don’t see them that way anymore. Well, maybe a little, as a reminder that all things pass, even ourselves. But Dia de los Muertos is a celebration, with such an emphasis on honoring family that the reminders of the dead seem not sad but joyful. —Pam

  8. Thank you for sharing this with us. Such a colorful joyous place.

  9. John Pozdro says:

    Very nice collection! Lucinda’s world is “target-rich” for photography, to put it mildly. :^>

  10. Nancy Combow says:

    Pam,
    You captured Lucinda’s home, gardens and Day of The Dead celebrations perfectly. This is one of my favorite gardens. Lucinda is an inspiration. She makes everything she touches…beautiful.

  11. Tomi L Rystad says:

    As an old family friend of Lucinda’s it was such a treat to see your post and pictures of her home. An outstanding article that truly captures the spirit of the day and the person. She is truly talented and a beautiful soul inside and out. Mom and dad would be proud!

  12. Jenny says:

    What’s not to love about the exuberant color and design in Lucinda’s garden. I think it is celebration time at her house all the time. If not it should be. I do sometimes wonder where she stores all her seasonal things although I know most is out all the time. Thanks for the Halloween visit. It always brings a smile.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I had the same question about where she stores all her wonderful seasonal decor, Jenny. She told me she used to have a storage rental but now keeps it in storage at home. It must require a lot of packing, eh? —Pam

  13. Believe it or not, some of the sugar skulls I have saved year after year, after bringing them back from Michoacán, Mexico. b It is indeed a labor of love to store and pack everything and bring out again year after year….but I love it and am glad to see more people here commermorating their own beloved deceased with home altars, even if they are simply a photo, a bouquet, and a candle. Thank you Pam for your lovely photos and words!!!!