garden tour Archives | Page 2 of 5 | Diana's Designs Austin

Delightful garden tour on a challenging slope …

It’s a treat to get together once a month with other Austin garden bloggers to share stories, enjoy each others’ gardens, eat, drink and pass along plants at our plant swap.

On Saturday, we were treated to double the fun. In addition to our monthly gathering at the stunning garden of David and Jenny of Rock Rose, we also ventured nearby to their neighbors and were given a guided tour of another beautiful garden.

Located on approximately one and one third acre, this garden’s hills and vales are interwoven with ribbons of rock and drainage solutions that blend into the landscape.

As we walked into the back yard, I was immediately drawn to this line of dramatic whale’s tongue agaves. They sit perched atop a river rock berm, surrounded by softer foliage that draws the eye far out into the garden.

Here’s a longer shot of how they are incorporated into this first layer of the overall landscape.

A closer look at the other plants reveals a cottage-like aesthetic, complete with a bird bath, gazing ball and obelisk to serve as focal points throughout the space.

The blend of sun-loving plants crosses traditional garden style boundaries in some areas, making the garden more intriguing.

Then the path evolved into a more desert-like garden, filled with sculptural cacti and agaves and garden art.

As dry as the garden appeared, it was hard to imagine the torrential rains that must have swept through these beds only days before.

As you keep meandering through the back of the garden, you wind your way through a shadier, wooded pathway.

Just as the garden becomes sunnier again, so does the garden decor. Brilliant pops of orange and cobalt blue are sprinkled throughout this section of the landscape.

Hot garden plants fill the brightly colored planters.

A single orange slice of wall acts as a backdrop for this dramatic planter, home to either a sago palm or a dioon edule.

More beautiful tropicals.

This is a view from the garden back to the house and a covered patio area.

Another painted wall houses this creative trellis displaying an array of cacti in terra cotta pots.

Just past the driveway, this colorful rooster seems to be peering through the salvia to spy on our group of gardeners.

This chocolate mimosa makes a striking statement against this dark wooden gate the the bright limestone.

This Asian-style bench welcomes visitors as they near the front door — and just beyond — this imposing soldier seems to be guarding the entry area as well.

The garden was spectacular — I loved not only the collection of plants, but also the fascinating garden sculpting to address drainage issues.

Special thanks to the homeowners for inviting us to share in their beautiful space.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:01-06:00May 31st, 2015|Agave, barrel cactus, bench, Blog, cacti, chocolate mimosa, drainage, dry creek, focal point, garden art, garden decor, garden tour, pots, pottery, Sago, Sharing Nature's Garden, tropical color, whales tongue agave|0 Comments

Another beautiful San Antonio garden to share…

The second stop on our recent visit to San Antonio was Heather’s garden from Xeric style. Her style is certainly xeric, yet with many soft grasses, draping perennials and ground cover, it has a delicate feel. You can see my post about the first garden here.

Purple fountain grass frames a collection of other grasses and yuccas.

The sun was blazing hot that day, so taking photos was a real challenge. These yuccas were enveloped in a blanket of pretty purple trailing lantana, but it’s hard to see that here.

In this his view of the front of the house you can see that her landscape is well matched to her contemporary style house.

The pots scattered around were also full of drought tolerant native and adapted plants like this cactus, grass and silver ponyfoot.

Another special touch greets visitors at the front door. The sleek orange planter echoes the color of the front door.

This beautiful grass and its inflorescence shine against a backdrop of cacti paddles.

Retro/modern chairs next to the orange door and planted on the front porch complete the look as you enter the house.

Another beautiful agave, a grey weberi, I think, softened by a fuchsia salvia. Two plants that can really handle the heat.

In the shade of the back yard, we were treated to a show by her chickens, who were intrigued by the visitors to the garden.

Also nestled under the tree – a wonderful hammock for lazing about and pondering garden projects.

I was taken with this bed that included drought tolerant plants like the bulbine, with a lovely cairn painstakingly placed in the middle.

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Don’t forget the whimsy. This bright seating area was decorated with several plants in unique pots — plastic tub trugs!

I always celebrate Dia de los Muertos since I worked once a week for a year in my company’s Mexico city office. I learned to understand and came to love this unique celebration of the lives of lost loved ones. Needless to say, these beautiful ceramic plates caught my eye.

And yet another special touch — cacti planted in a pipe suspended on the fence.

Okay, so you’ve seen these in gardens, right? These are made from bamboo given to Heather by her neighbor and she spray painted them orange, her theme color. How clever. Now if only I knew someone with extra bamboo!

I was taken with this simple, elegant pot in front of the garage. I don’t know which I liked more — the beautiful pot or the cascading firecracker fern.

And here’s our friend, Lori, of Gardener of Good and Evil, who has found the perfect spot from which to survey the garden.

Heather professes that she’s stingy with water and is always on the lookout for plants and methods that conserve our precious water. Her garden was the perfect example of the beauty of a truly xeric garden.

Thanks, Heather, for sharing your beautiful garden with us!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:04-06:00October 24th, 2014|Agave, Blog, cairn, garden art, garden tour, garden tour 2014, grasses, pots, San Antonio, Sharing Nature's Garden, sun, xeric, yucca|0 Comments

A little garden trip down the road…

Last week I went on a jaunt to visit some of our blogging friends in San Antonio. They’ve come to Austin periodically, so it was time to venture south to see them. Our first stop was Melody’s beautiful and spacious garden. After a treat of delicious mini muffins and ginger cookies baked by her lovely daughter, we stepped into her sanctuary. The first view is a wonderful pool, surrounded by pots and plants that gave it a rustic, more natural look.

To deal with foraging deer, this fence guards Melody’s vegetables, herbs and some perennial favorites.

Garden art like this gazing ball catches your eye as you meander through the perennial garden.

Depending on which way you walk, this beautiful arbor marks the beginning or the end of a delightful path.

A shroud of vibrant green vines clothe the wooden structure.

This long view emphasizes the beautiful, though tough-to-photograph day with its bright light and deep shadows.

And then there were the gorgeous plants, like this salvia madrensis, one of my faves.

And then there were the gorgeous plants, like this salvia madrensis, one of my faves. Clever uses of ordinary things added such a nice touch, like this cracked cement birdbath repurposed as a planter with a small figurine in the center.

Carrying on with the wooden theme, this vignette beckons deep in the path and offers a place to sit and ponder the garden.

Pots like this one, overflowing with bougainvillea, are scattered throughout the garden landscape.

Another striking salvia, Wendy’s wish stands out among lower layers of perennials.

From the distance, the arbor is quaint, but standing underneath, it’s quite grand.

I almost passed this dragonfly by as he was well camouflaged by backdrop of the fence and the surrounding plants.

Another long view across the landscape.

Across the yard, this rustic trellis serves as a home to a vine and a birdhouse.

Coral vine adorns this rustic limestone wall to the tool shed…though it’s really more like a tool house.

Inside the safety of the high fence, a collection of tasty hibiscus grow with impunity.

Sunlight streams in to light up this seating area.

More friendly and welcoming plants in the garden.

My tools don’t look like this!

While not a blogger, we tried to convince Melody to blog so we can keep up with her garden, but we didn’t succeed – yet! Pam Pennick, of Digging, and our hostess, Melody, as we’re saying our goodbyes.

Thanks to Melody for graciously opening her home and garden to us for a wonderful morning.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:04-06:00October 23rd, 2014|arbor, Blog, bougainvillea, garden art, garden decor, garden seat, garden tour, garden tour 2014, hibiscus, pool, salvia, salvia madrensis, San Antonio, seating, Sharing Nature's Garden, Wendy's wish salvia|1 Comment

Chinese garden is an oasis in the heart of downtown Portland

The second stop on the Portland Garden Bloggers Fling was the city’s Chinese garden, located right in the heart of the downtown bustle of Portland. It encompasses an entire city block. Entering the garden, you leave behind the bus fumes, honking horns and scads of people click clacking their heels on the way to work.

Waiting for the doors to open.

I’m not sure if this statue was greeting us or trying to keep us away!

Intricate stone work greeted us as we walked into the garden.

It takes your breath away. This pearl nestled among skyscrapers provides a welcome respite from city life.The view across the lake makes you feel like you’ve become a time traveler to a faraway land.

I love the lines and the curves of all the pagodas.

I can only imagine how long it took carvers to create some of these intricate pieces.

Beautiful details adorn even the windows.

The point of this pagoda roof looks almost menacing as it peeks out from the trees.

Garden bloggers fan out to check out all the sights.

The sounds from this waterfall add to the spiritual sense in this garden.

Inspirational writings adorn the rocks along side the waterfall. I wish I knew their meaning.

The entire garden surrounded this lake. The blooming water lilies made me think of Monet’s garden and paintings.

A tea room on the grounds offered a resting place from some bloggers. But with the growing warmth and humidity of the day, I passed on the hot tea.

This clever pepper-shaped window offered a glimpse into the neighboring courtyard.

The courtyard is framed here by a life-sized circle.

Our visit to this garden was a beautiful and peaceful start to our day.

And a peek into the distance revealed the glint of the city lurking with its modern skyscrapers as we left the garden.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:05-06:00August 28th, 2014|2014 garden bloggers fling, Blog, Chinese garden, garden bloggers fling, garden tour, garden tour 2014, pagoda, Portland, Sharing Nature's Garden, stone work, tea house, water lilies|0 Comments

My special visit to Our Little Acre’s fabulous garden..

The clouds were foreboding as I started on my garden adventure on Monday, but the day brightened the minute I pulled into my friend Kylee’s driveway in northwest Ohio. Of Our Little Acre fame, Kylee and I have been gardening cohorts since she came to Austin for the first Garden Bloggers Fling in April 2008. Earlier this summer, when we were chatting at the Portland Fling, we realized that she lives a short 2-hour drive from Jeff’s family farm in Indiana. We’re here for a visit this week and I took the day to drive over and pay Kylee and her garden blogging mom, Louise, a visit.

Even in what she calls her Zone 6 garden, Kylee is an avid lover of succulents that find a home in the greenhouse during the cold winters.

Beautiful raspberries are getting some protection from netting and a new frame.

The edge of the garden overlooks the farm fields behind them. See those ominous clouds in the background? It drizzled through most of the day, but we didn’t let a little rain put a damper on our visit.

I could spend hours sitting on this lovely bench on this specially-made custom deck that flanks the pond.

Glass globes are suspended in the pond below the colorful garden art.

With the day’s rain, everything in the garden was lush and moist, and the grey skies overhead made for a great photo opportunity.

Beautiful echinaacea, flanked by a color guard yucca, and a big boulder, made me feel right at home.

Kylee welcoming me into the entrance to the back garden where more beautifully designed gardens await.

This may be my favorite view of the garden – a riot of color and texture with the farm fields flowing out behind.

And I had to take time to catch so many of the special details that Kylee incorporated into every part of the garden, like these quaint stepping stones.

Every spot was chock full of plants – and surprisingly, so many of them were plants we can grow in Austin, too.

A closer view of the back garden vignette with its own special garden art.

Oh, look, another inspirational spot to rest in the garden.

I love what she did with the winding line of grass interspersed with with colorful caladiums.

Her husband built this wonderful chicken coop, where her hens live in luxury.

She wasn’t too sure about me!

And the girls’ coop is adorned with this giant chicken statue.

I loved every inch of her garden – and she was so gracious to share it with me. Thanks, Kylee!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:06-06:00August 13th, 2014|Blog, chickens, garden decor, garden tour, Kylee, Ohio, Our Little Acre, Sharing Nature's Garden, stepping stones|0 Comments

Hot art and design spice up Portland De Sousa Fling garden

Full to the brim with ideas and a mile-long wish list of plants that I know I can’t grow here, I’m reacclimating to Austin and my own garden after 6 glorious days in Portland, OR.

My seventh Garden Bloggers Fling beckoned last weekend – with an agenda full of great friends, gardens, nurseries, and gift shops.

The whirlwind started early and ended late and wowed me all day long every day. Because there were so many gardens in every imaginable style – I just closed my eyes today and blindly picked one to begin my posting.

The JJ De Sousa garden was one of my favorites. Hot colors created a riot of interest in the garden – plants and art and seating everywhere shouting “look at me, look at me.” The rich and sophisticated hues of tropical colors were designed to brighten the shady spots of this garden and to celebrate the hot, sunny spaces.

This whimsical gate welcomes visitors.

The colors of the tropics permeate everything in the garden, plants, pottery and decor.

The plants looked happy and healthy everywhere I turned. Ah, the benefits of some rain in the garden.

Pots and gazing balls coordinate and contrast.

The side garden ends with a fabulous wooden gate — which leads to another pocket of paradise.

Come on in, the party’s in here!

More whimsical art sets the mood for this garden.

Every little nook and cranny was filled with some sweet something designed to delight the senses.

This precious little statue is squirreling away succulents instead of seeds.

This regal Egyptian dog statue comes down to earth with clematis and nasturtiums trailing all around.

These tall, elegant vases, capped with aeonium, added a little note of sophistication.

One of many seating areas that welcomed visitors to sit a spell.

Color joined texture in this garden — smooth ceramic pots, gritty gray concrete and the sleek look of the corrugated tin made a cool combo.

Ahhh – I could sit here for hours!

And, a little humor. Chicken nesting boxes now home to hens and chicks … ha ha.

And just past the shrimp plant in this bed, a colorful stock tank water feature with a metal shrimp sculpture and glass globes. Look up whimsy in the dictionary — this is the photo you’ll find.

The same burst of colors that enriched the shady front garden, with a drier, sunnier twist.

More whimsy around the corner.

This Buddha statue, hidden among the trees, looked just like a giant gummi bear.

There were little vignettes like this everywhere.

More color, radiating everywhere.

And back through the gate again.

This was one of many Portland gardens on the tour to feature trendy tropical-style colors and decor. But beyond the design, this hot garden would brighten any cloudy day. It certainly brightened mine.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:39:25-05:00July 15th, 2014|2014 garden bloggers fling, aeonium, Blog, coleus, color, garden bloggers fling, garden decor, garden tour, gate, metal sculpture, Portland, pottery, seating, shade plants, Sharing Nature's Garden, succulents, tropical, tropical color|0 Comments

garden tour

Delightful garden tour on a challenging slope …

Another beautiful San Antonio garden to share…

A little garden trip down the road…

Chinese garden is an oasis in the heart of downtown Portland

My special visit to Our Little Acre’s fabulous garden..

Hot art and design spice up Portland De Sousa Fling garden

Escape in the garden