Quarter Acre

Strange visitor

2011-08-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

At about 6:15 on Thursday morning this little fellow buzzed by my head on his way to the esperanza.

The pictures are horrible ones from my phone but he was so remarkable I had to post them anyway. I thought he had to be some kind of moth; I see hawk moths in the early mornings here all the time, but he is definitely a different flavor. He was so big he couldn't fit in the flowers and he would tear them down the side so he could squeeze in. He had a fuzzy moth body and fuzzy moth antennae so I cruised the internet until I found Wasp Moths. I never found a species picture that exactly matched him, but they were all so similar that I am sure that is what this little fellow must be. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know.

Quickie 2008

2011-07-24T14:09:00.000-05:00

Most gardening activity for 2008 was small.

All homes in this neighborhood have a rock front so that left plenty of leftovers for me to pilfer once construction was complete...

It was a mismatched hodge podge but rocks were to go to the dump when homes were complete and this packrat wasn't about to let that happen. I did most of my raiding in the wee hours before the sun came up because I embarrass every other member of my family when I push my wheelbarrow around in broad daylight digging through trash piles. They thought I was nuts but it seemed rational to me. I can't afford landscape rock on a budget and it's everywhere and F R E E !

I did little projects to fix traffic places that kept turning into mudholes when it rained. I knew they weren't permanent, but they were made with what I had and all they cost was some sweat and time.

I also did a couple of teeny beds to keep myself entertained.

I spent most the first year fighting weeds in turfgrass and playing with my two 4 x 8 veggie beds. I was still in planning mode; I watched the sun and the light and the rain and drooled over gardening books and blogs getting ideas and inspiration. I liked to be outside in the morning with coffee, pencil and graph paper and endless possibilities for this giant blank slate of yard.

Where to begin?

2011-07-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

Greetings.
I've been mulling over a "first post" since Mother's day. I know it was that day because I was going to be a genius and do my mom's garden and talk about her love of being outside. Then, I was going to blame all of the nonsense I have been attempting in my own yard on her. I think it was also a lame attempt to have a "thoughtful" gift so I didn't have to buy a present. I am an awesome daughter. Alas, it is July so I think I've missed my shot. Look for it next year!

Here she is in all her unfinished glory...

Pretty straightforward, but it's my first house so I love her and y'all be nice. The two real jewels are the inside where there is a living room upstairs for the million kids I seem to collect and the second is the super size lot for this subdivision. Most of the lots here are postage stamp .10 size. I get a whole .25 or close because I am ROUNDING and quarter acre blog sounds way better than .2467245 or whatever it is. I am on a corner and the lot is odd shaped so the builder couldn't squeeze two houses on it. They also like to squish houses right next to each other, but I lucked out with a cable eavesment on the one side that has a neighbor, so that adds a few feet of breathing room.

This neighborhood has a picky HOA, but I moved in eyes-open, so I can't complain... TOO much. We're here until the kids fly the nest and then we are moving out of town and not giving anyone our new address. We moved into the house fall of 2007 and U.S. was in full swing housing crisis shortly thereafter. The neighborhood building frenzy went to zero. There were only 2 houses on my side of the street on the entire block for a whole year. Here's what was out the windows:

The back yard is long and skinny:

Please excuse the fabulous photos, but they are all I had of when all was brand new and it's fun to compare it to what it looks like now.

This neighborhood was an empty field for a long time. Our rental home was near it so I have been driving past it for a couple of years. Flat, treeless, 3 builder baby stick live oaks, 5 builder foundation box bushes, all coated in Bermuda grass. A failed experiment gone horribly, horribly wrong could only turn out better! I am giving it my best shot.

Let the mayhem ensue...

2008-10-21T23:39:00.012-05:00

Golden Garden

I have to admit that I have driven by this house in Alamo Heights on several occasions on my many "drooling-drives" and have often wondered what this place looked like behind all the protective trees. I had no idea of the address when I saw it listed on the tour and took no notice. As I pulled onto the street and began to see familiar houses, though, I said "Yessssssssssssss." This one was a bonus for me!

View from the street:

I took *many* photographs in this garden, and it is hard to choose what to and not to post, but I'll try to edit as much as possible!

A tiny portion of front lawn and some hardscape - I liked the design:
All Texans recognize the need for one of these babies. We all know it does diddly-all for the heat, but it does dissuade some of the weaker mosquitoes. We only like the strongest and toughest to nibble on us! On a serious note, what do they do with this thing when there is a storm with high winds? I wonder if it can be lowered so that it rests on the ground when not in use... it seems kind of deadly if not.
The entry from the driveway to the backyard enclosed patio garden:

And from inside looking back towards the gate:

A little wider:

The walled courtyard contained a series of open air "rooms." The number of people in the garden and the number of seating areas were at odds. The chairs were almost in the way, but that would not be a problem with a smaller, intimate gathering. Wall fountains, ceiling fans, a table with art and potted plant accessories - there were pockets of eye candy everywhere.

The main, central feature of the whole area was a series of tiered water features. The first and second level were connected and contained fish and plants. The lowest level was for people. I had a hard time trying to get a view of the three together. I tried my best to show what they looked like:

A portion of the uppermost pool:

And lastly, some random shots from in and around the courtyard:

I enjoyed getting a peek into the garden of one of my fantasy homes and I hope you enjoyed my photos. I am glad Open Days came to San Antonio, and I hope there will be repeats in years to come. I know we have some wonderful public gardens so I bet there has to be more fantastic private ones out there somewhere. I hope I will be able to see the next Austin one in person, but for now I will continue to visit virtually through all of you other bloggers. - Thanks again for visiting.

The biggest thank you of all goes to the host folks who opened their homes for hundreds of strangers to ogle. I have new ideas and have learned something from all six places I visited.

2008-10-21T22:14:00.006-05:00

Oak Terrace Garden

The actual garden part of this home was very small, just the entry and two patios. In my opinion, the patio gardens complemented the house - there is no way they could compete with the architecture in such a small space, better to keep it a well-chosen accessory. The greens, plays of shadow and light, immaculately trimmed ivies, and classic hardscape only highlighted the home. The round windows, curved walls, custom doors, and coppered roof of the home popped against the palette the garden designer used.

From the front driveway, looking down the path towards the back patio:

A detail of the iron gate:

..and looking backwards towards the front:

I love little paths like this. Not being able to see the destination made me stop to admire things along the way as well as wonder what lay around the corner. The trees here are magnolias, very tall - and trimmed so all branches are far above the house. The view from the last of the stones on the mondo grass carpeted walkway:

The patio was intimate, and the only splash of color on the pillows and tables picked up the warm coral tones from the brick pavers. I failed you readers in two ways here. The walls of this garden were a green carpet of some sort of small-leafed ivy (fig?). All were trimmed perfectly and the green was soothing to the eye and, I imagine, pyscologically cooling in the summer heat. If the jeweled greens didn't bring you down a notch, then the fountain would. It ran the length of the wall side of the patio and was level with the floor. Water poured constantly over the hidden ledge to disappear and come out of the wall in 3 curved basins. The number of people in the small space, the indrect light and strong shadows did me in - I just couldn't get a shot that worked; I wish you all could have seen it.

Another well-done feature in this space was the use of very large mirrors on the wall above the fountain. They opened the space and the foilage frames disguised their presence - you really had to look to notice they were there.

Next, back out to the front drive, around the opposite side of the house:

I have a thing for gates so you will all be subjected to my photos of them:

To opposite side of the house was a smaller, private patio. I imagine this one was off a bedroom or study. The light in this little courtyard was very beautiful. I can imagine writing or painting, or just sitting with a book or a cup of coffee for many peaceful hours.

St. Francis:

This garden was intimate and relaxing.

I like to let my mind wander. I can only imagine what it would be like under moonlight or in the rain. There is something about raindrops hitting all of those palm and ivy leaves... the smell of the rain on the bricks... I know you other starved-for-water Texans know exactly that sound and smell.

2008-10-21T06:59:00.009-05:00

Fox Garden

This garden was 5 star resort manicured and everything was the kind of beautiful that money can provide. I was definitely wowed and I took away some small things I can't wait to try.

Dr. Fox's backyard garden is separated into two parts. The upper level is seating and patio around an outdoor kitchen and pool. It is breezy and tropical and colorful. Some killer parties surely go on here.

Color and texture everywhere:

I have shrimp plants and have tried lots of plants to hide their ugly legs, but these zinnias are a knockout with them... and so easy! I can't wait to try this color combo in my beds.

Shell planter pot, very nifty:

A stone stepping path led down a short stair to an open space flanked by a large limestone wall. This is the base wall to the upper level garden with the pool area. The firecracker plants and succulents(?) seem to love the sun-drenched, rocky location.

In this second part of the garden, open space below the wall contains two large vegetable beds. I think cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and some kind of beans in one, rows and ROWS of tomatoes in the other.

I hate to admit it, but I lusted for this man's tomatoes. These plants were almost as tall as me! And just look how thick! I wish I had the photo skills to show off these plants. The fattening young green tomatoes were already bigger than my fist.

My detective skills tell me that these sunken, empty plastic pots are where he dumps their food. There was one between each plant. Each tomato cage was wrapped with its own soaker hose... and not just once, loops and loops for each plant; I believe there had to be around 20 or 25 plants. I think I can try the sunken pot thing, but I won't be feeding them miracle grow, just nasty fish junk! I'll just have to dream of a world where I own that many hoses.

Coming back up the stairway, off to the side of the yard, one finds Dr. Fox's orchid greenhouse. It was everything one imagines when they picture a greenhouse for these enchanting, other-wordly plants. Fans hung from the ceiling kept the air moving. Orchids love moisture but they do not like it stagnant! (Most of them, anyway!) Like the Blocker's desert garden, this is the part I loved about this person's garden; I was able to get up close and admire each plant for itself. No fluff, just plant in pot--or basket in this case!

This was the first garden I saw for the day and it was lovely, there is no getting around it. The problem was that it was lovely in the way one thinks "lovely" should look. It didn't seem very personal in my opinion, but maybe it was not my style and that is what makes me think it impersonal? I saw a few plant combinations I can't wait to try. I failed to capture it well, but there was one bed that contained a mountain laurel and bananas all growing together! I never would have thought it could work; I know they both grow here, but I just would have assumed their individual needs are too different. Amazing. Dr. Fox also had a young foxtail palm - a palm variety you do not see around San Antonio very much, and it is one of my very favorites. I am sorry that I failed to take a photo, but I'll just have to update you all when I get my baby in the ground!

2008-10-20T08:01:00.005-05:00

Mrs. McNays Hermitage (1930s Walled Moorish Garden)

This garden is in the popular Alamo Heights area as were two others on the tour. I love the homes and yards here. Parking the car and walking to the proper address was part of the pleasure!

This garden was small and private and I was charmed by it, as I am sure are all who visit on a more intimate invitation. I loved being surrounded by the high walls and the noise of the splashing fountian. I would love to see it at night.

The popular location and the small setting made it hard to take any sort of photograph - the placed was packed with people! Even that drawback was a lesson to me, though. All paths should be two people wide if you want them to be able to come and go!

A shady sort of photo to get things started:

If I remember correctly from the description of this garden, this sago palm is between 70 and 80 years old. I had no idea they grew to look like this. It is too bad I did not include some of the eleventy hundred people in this shot, because then at least you would have some scale for this plant. The trunk was as tall as me, and I am just under 6 feet.
I wish I had a better camera for macro shots. The texture of the "bark?" for the palm was begging for a close-up.
The driveway gate from the patio back to the front yard (which is also mostly driveway) is next. There was a mockingbird in the yaupon protecting all of his berries from us human interlopers. Luckily he chose to warn us of his presence with endless cheerful song rather than dive bomb runs. My favorite part of this whole garden was this fence to the front porch! I said WOW! aloud from the street. The purple with the 'wandering jew' or 'purple heart' was smashing! I normally hate this plant for reasons with which I am sure you all are also familiar, but this was to be my lesson for this garden. Find a way to appreciate a plant's "goods" and work around the "bads." In this case the unusual color was worth playing up. The spreading is fixed with containers so you don't have to hate it because it is impossible-to-kill! In fact, the impossible-to-kill works in its favor because this location surely bakes in the sun for a good part of the day.

I hope you enjoyed the photos. I have been reading and living vicariously through all of you Austin bloggers for so long that I thought I would give something back. My photo and writing skills are a little lacking, but in this case my location gives me the only advantage. I will have the next three gardens posted tomorrow morning.

2008-10-20T07:57:00.002-05:00

Brian Hough

The garden for this backyard was a steeply sloped hillside. I think the owner did a great job with choosing plants and placing them in a such a way to block the noise from the heavily trafficked street directly behind the fence.

Vinca beds beneath the trees gives the green cooling effect of a lawn, but without the need to push a lawnmower up and down the hill. I imagine they also absorb a lot of sound.

The trickling of water also helps to set a person to ease. The koi in this pond were enormous.
At the very base of the yard were two large grapefruit trees laden with fruit. These grapefruit were half again as large as softballs. Yum.
The brick patio. While the weather remains warm, the only red-orange firelight is the potted coleus.
A pomengranate tree just off the patio. The colors on the fruit are lovely.
This garden was satisfactory in every way, and I couldn't help but get the feeling that the tour had missed it at its height. A lot of the under plantings were salvia with spent bloom flowerheads and I am sure they were looking much better a month ago. In fact, I was shocked they bloomed at all; I did not know the could be happy in so much shade, but perhaps that is why I did not recoginze some of the varieties.

I did enjoy the hardscape in this yard, and took away several ideas for shade plants, so I am still very happy to have made the stop at the Hough's garden.

2008-10-20T07:48:00.008-05:00

The Blocker's Desert Garden

Visiting this garden was taking a vacation to a whole new place.

I spent a lot of time oohing and aahing. Every where you looked there were tiny details, from genuine desert junk to funky little rubber snakes. Each plant had colors and form to be admired. I took WAY too many pictures of individual plants in this garden; I tried to keep it to a minimum in my post.

This is part of the view from the street.

This is still the front yard, but with my back to the house looking out towards the street.

Same shot, a little tighter.
This garden was in the front yard on a series of berms and there was a second raised bed in the back yard. Another detail from the front yard:
I had to take this picture for my father, who is crazy for all things railroad. All granite/gravel paths were rock-lined and the rocks were held in place with railroad spikes. The host said he just picked them up from the sand in the desert and "plonked" them into the ground here. I loved them.
As I toured this yard, I was in awe (and jealous) of the obvious amount of time that the Blocker's are able to dedicate to their obsession. The shelves in the greenhouse on the side yard were filled with hundreds of types of cactus and succulents.
More sheletered workspace continues around the yard. There was also a large greenhouse in the middle of the yard with a monstrous heater.
A second raised bed in the backyard.
This thing is COOL.
...and one cactus detail. I think the fibers look like snow.
The check-in table in the driveway had quite an assortment of young plants for sale. All were reasonably priced and in beautiful shape. I have have to admit I left here with loot. I am now a proud, and first time owner, of a couple of baby kalanchoes and a queen agave .

This garden was one of my favorites. This is not an example of the type of garden I would ever have for myself, but I was astounded at the numbers and shapes of hardy desert plants that will grow here. My dream garden always included some of these plants, but I now I know I will find a way to work more in to the grand scheme.