grasses

Our first stop was the garden of Kris Peterson, who blogs at Late to the Garden Party.  We were late arriving, due to a flight delay, and missed meeting several other bloggers who were gathering to have lunch with us.  We were sad to miss the other gardeners and another garden tour, and we were sad to miss lunch! (We followed my standard M.O. for travel:  eat at every opportunity – you never know when you’ll get your next meal!)

We blew in like the wind – dismayed at being late and in a hurry to get there and meet Kris in person.

We took one look outside and stopped dead in our tracks.

You were going to ask why, weren’t you?  But now there’s no need to ask, is there?

This is the backyard view from her garden.  It’s amazing.  And her garden is equally amazing.  I soon lost track of the view as she led us from one beautiful vignette to another.  Creatively composed and expertly woven, the garden is a collector’s garden that flows like the water in the distance.

Nestled in many parts of her garden, Kris has included a wide variety of containers with water-wise succulents like these.

These little lovelies caught my attention.  While the hot, unforgiving sunlight made photographing the garden difficult, I did the best I could with these Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Echo Pink’ flowers.

Through much of the side garden, hardy ground covers spread between the stones.

Entwined among the layers of the garden, these beautiful Pennisetum advena ‘rubrum’ blow in the breeze.

 I love this stunning color and texture combination.

Mimicking the arbor on the side (or vice versa, depending on which approach you’re taking), this is the entrance to the front door.

 Lovely wooden benches with colorful pillows and potted plants flank the entrance.

My garden touring pal, Pam, of Digging, stops to smile for the camera, and me, before we head out of the garden.

 This stunning and lovingly crafted garden was the perfect start to our adventures around L.A.  Thanks, again, Kris, for your hospitality.  Loved getting to share in your garden.

The last stop on our visit to San Antonio gardens was another xeric garden, filled with drought-tolerant plants, both soft and sculptural. You can come along on the first two gardens of tour with me to see Melody’s and Heather’s gardens here.

Then we toured the garden of Shirley, who blogs at  Rock, Oak, Deer.  I ‘d seen Shirley’s garden through her camera lens many times, yet when we arrived, I was surprised to find that she wasn’t gardening in the country, but in a suburban neighborhood.  Her style and plant choices created an oasis that made the rest of the world seem far away.

Well-placed plants serve to let the grasses and yuccas and perennials all shine.

Shirley uses repetition in her garden to create a dramatic effect.

Definition draws the eye through the space.

In the back yard, the focus is on perennials and grasses.  Her rustic shed with its cedar posts and porch make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.  The arbor on the right is the entry for a deer-proof fence, protecting delicate plants and vegetables from the curious and hungry deer.

Leading to the shed, this circle garden is filled to the brim with flowing perennials and grasses.

Her unique rock garden design is home to a lovely collection of yuccas, cacti and agaves.

Rustic art and pots are scattered about to add interest throughout the garden.

The river rock path guides you around the plant-filled stock tank and circle garden to the shed.

Garden art on a rustic table is tucked away in the shade.

Whimsical elements make true garden art from a simple grapevine.

A collection of sweet somethings brighten up the front of the shed.

Because deer are frequent guests to the back yard, extra protection for new or special plants is a must. This rough cedar fence fits right into the landscape.

Up on the the large, shady deck, succulent planters adorn the windowsills.

All around the deck, pots and paraphernalia bring color to the shady spots.

Even the outdoor fireplace boasts a collection of perky little pots.

Since we’ve toured Austin gardens often with Shirley, it was a special treat to wander through her garden with her.  The entire garden was intentional and peaceful.  She’s clearly mastered the art of gardening with the rocks, oaks and deer that she writes about.  Special thanks to Shirley and her husband for hosting us in your garden.

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!

You can’t help but stare at them — those delicate grasses now in full bloom, swaying in the breeze all around town.  Fall brings beautiful plumes and seed heads to the native and adapted ornamental grasses in Central Texas.

As we face drier and hotter conditions in the garden, ornamental grasses make a wonderful alternative to some thirsty perennials and annuals.  They are extremely versatile.   Most varieties are hardy, drought-tolerant, pest free and low-maintenance. They range from a few inches high to more than 6 feet tall.

Their tiny flowers on long plumes are called inflorescence and their colors run the gamut from greens, golds and browns to pinks and maroons.  The decorative plumage and seedpods can be dried for decorative use in arrangements inside or outside.

Grasses look wonderful in the garden mixed in with perennials to add contrast and texture.  But there is nothing quite as bold as a mass planting of grasses to make a statement in the landscape. A long strip of Mexican feather grasses flowing in the wind can emulate a rushing stream – bringing life and movement into the garden.

Most grasses grow in the warm season and are dormant into the winter, but some hold onto their seed heads long into the winter, making for interesting structure and form in the garden and providing both food and habitat for birds.

Technically speaking, some of the plants we call ornamental grasses are actually rushes or sedges and even cattails.  Real grasses are in the Gramineae family.

When the Europeans began to settle in Texas, about two-thirds of the land was covered with our native grasses.  According to the Texas State Historical Association, grasses ranged from the desert mountains and foothills of the Trans-Pecos to the Rolling Plains and the Edwards Plateau.  There are more than 470 native grass species in Texas.

Grasses grow and reproduce in two ways.  Some spread by underground rhizomes or as a bunch grass, which does not spread underground.  Some seeds sprout easily, growing volunteers where the wind has dropped the seed.

Cool season or fall-blooming grasses should be left through the winter after they are done blooming and go dormant.  Keeping the foliage will help protect the plant from a cold or wet winter, reducing the chance of rot.  Grasses couldn’t be lower maintenance – just cut them all the way back in the spring and they will reward you with new growth and beautiful blooms year after year. You can shear them down to between 4 and 6 inches above the ground to allow new growth to come through.

As grasses go dormant in the summer, so you may have to rake or pull out some dead foliage mid-summer to keep them looking good.  With our long growing season, they will revive with cooler fall temperatures and put on a beautiful show.

Good Grasses for Central Texas

Ruby Crystals – The puffy pink flowers of Ruby grass can grow to 2 ft. by 15” and are stunning in fall bloom.

Mexican Feather Grass – These perky little plants grow to about 18” by 18” and just keep on performing in the garden.  It self sows prolifically, but is easily managed.

Gulf Muhly – The glowing pink hue of these blooms is stunning when massed in the garden.  This bunch grass grows to about 2.5 ft. by 3 ft.

Lindheimer’s Muhly – Tall creamy plumes of this bunch grass turn to silver in winter and provide striking structure in the winter garden at 2 to 4 ft. tall.

Bamboo Muhly — With an unusual tall and weeping growth habit of 4-5 ft., this muhly has an airy, ephemeral look, instead of the straighter growth habits of most grasses.

Little Bluestem – This is a true prairie bunch grass and can survive in many different soils.  Its very upright 3ft by 1.5 ft. growth habit has a wild look and works best in a meadow.

Purple Fountain Grass – The maroon color of the foliage of purple fountain grass, topped by its buff colored plumes, is striking in any setting.  Growing up to 3 ft. tall, it demands a place to shine in the garden.

Dwarf fountain grass – Fluffy cream-colored plumes arch above a short clump of delicate green foliage that turns golden in the fall.  At about 2 ft. by 2 ft. it’s a compact bundle of pretty form in the garden.

Switchgrass – Tall, airy switchgrass with its blue-colored plumes can grow between 3-8 ft. tall.  The plumes turn to a bright orange color in fall.

Maidengrass – One of the most common grasses, maidengrass has a narrow, arching foliage and many variegated options are available, creating even more interest.  Leave space for this one – it can grow to 8 ft. tall.

Inland sea oats – This grass has a weeping style with drooping branches of seeds up to 8” long.  Inland sea oats requires shade and more moisture than many other grasses. It grows to 2-3 ft. and is a great grass for dried arrangements.

Grasses are an easy, drought-tolerant addition to the garden. They are an excellent low-maintenance option for your landscape, and typically only require cutting back once as year when new growth begins in the spring.

Their billowy plumes and interesting array of colors will add structure, form and movement to your landscape.

With minimal care, they will reward you with new growth and beautiful blooms year after year.

Seriously, I thought I was in Texas when we toured the Botanical Gardens in Madrid (except for the rain that is). This beautiful Yucca recurvifolia one of many US plants.
Mediterranean style abounds in the flora and fauna of Madrid, but many of the plants we saw were Xeric varieties well know to Central Texas.
This Nolina was even labeled as the Texana variety and attributed to the USA.


This beautiful bottle brush tree reminded me again of how I lost two of these at home in the last two winters!
An entire section of the display gardens was dedicated to grasses.

This Coreopsis gradiflora loves this climate as well as ours.

The timing of their gardens is also similar to ours — the irises were almost all done blooming, and other bulbs were also going dormant as the grasses and summer perennials were coming into their own.

Next post, some of their beautiful palms.