Texas Dawn

In the heat and drought of this summer in Texas, Cindy and I traveled to San Angelo for my eldest sons wedding. As you can see from the image below it was so hot and dry the prickly pear cacti were even shriveling from the lack of aqua.

Some of you have seen the images I photographed in the serene setting of Cristoval Vineyards and Winery.  But, when I was there I also visited the International Waterlily Collection on my way home, almost as an afterthought. Cindy asked me where I was going after we left the hotel, probably wondering what wild gardening goose chase are we on now! "Do you know we have 500 miles to drive?" In other words I got the look. "Well, honey I want to visit the world famous International Water Lily Collection" I replied matter of factually.

  I got the look again 

Well after we finally got there, we both enjoyed it immensely. (At least I think I/we did? Didn't you honey?)  Seriously it was a pleasant surprise.

I'm sure many of the Texas bloggers have given previous posts about this little gem of a public park so I won't go into a full blown description. Below is a link to a pdf file describing the exhibition.

History of the International Water Lily Collection, San Angelo, Texas. 

 This blog post title was derived from a video about the 'Texas Dawn' water lilly created at the San Angelo park which in April 2011 was selected as the official waterlily plant of Texas. Interesting video.

Since this visit was in early October the lily's were in  full bloom. I won't show all the photos but a few of the high points.

Tropical lily pads.

immutabulus

 Rhonda Kay

St.Louis Marmorata

Texas shell pink? I think

Blue Cloud

Awesome flowers! Some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Well, I'm getting the look, time to wander back home.

Xeriscape Post San Antonio - Part Three

This is part three of the tour of the San Antonio Botanical Gardens Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. Part one dealt with the Manicured Xeriscape Garden and a typical traditional American Garden: Part One.
Part two demonstrates my favorite example of xeriscape - The Hill Country Landscape Garden: Part Two.
Click on those links to read those previous posts.
After reading the comments on the first post, Pam Penick from Digging fame left me a link of a past visit to these gardens by her and other fellow Austin bloggers. I will leave a link back here. Watersaver Lane
It was cool to go back and look at these gardens when they were "young". They have matured since this 2007 post. Also she gave me the name of the series of gardens, Watersaver Lane. Thank you Pam!

The fourth garden is the cottage garden: photo above. As you can see there is a nice transition from the Hill Country motif to a cottage garden motif. The cedar rail fence delineates the two very well. Also the Datura blends with both gardens.

This is a true cottage garden. Seedlings come up  and grow and are left to mature. Woah, do they grow. This is garden is definelty full.

Click on above image to read design elements, water requirements and other input requirements.

The signage fence design consisted of uniquely formed depressed pickets.

 The pathway materials consisted of decomposed granite with recycled and tumbled (to remove sharp edges) glass. Austin bloggers are very familiar with this mulch. Edging material consists of preformed limestone looking concrete uniform brick.

Flowering Pear in background with perennial salvia and bedding annuals.

Typical cottage garden stalwarts positioned in water zones common to their own water requirements. Heirloom roses, mexican mint marigold, artemesia, salvia greggi, shrimp plant and daylilly with Indian Hawthorne hedge among others. And of course reseeding annuals plan a part. An arbor over the front of the "home" distinguishes this garden theme, covered with Confederate jasmine I believe. I can imagine how much color there would be here in the spring and fall. Accessories adorn the theme.

By using plants with the same irrigation requirements we could all conserve much needed water resources. The next post will conclude my visit to Watersaver Lane, click on this link along with Pam's link above to look at more information about these "fun" demonstration themed xeriscape gardens. As Les from A Tidewater Garden put it: Xeriscape is more than Yucca and a sea of gravel, it can present color, texture, variety, and good design. David from The Desert Edge comments often about good and bad xeriscape designed gardens, you may want to visit his New Mexico garden blog site to learn more.

Onward through the fog! lol.

Xeriscape Post-Again You Ask?

I'm sure some of you remember my posts this summer about the Xeriscape demonstration gardens in Colorado Springs. I went on and on about the "rules", points, suggestions, etc., etc. etc. Well for the past two months I've been trying to put together another xeriscape post from the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The staff there has put together some unique demonstration gardens. They are well planned and installed exhibitions of "themed" gardens. I will start with the  Manicured Xeriscape Landscape Demonstration Garden.

On every garden there is signage explaining the details and management tips on having that type of garden. There is also signage giving the viewer the ability to call a number and listen to a recorded message explaining details of the garden. The signs were pretty dirty with droppings, as most of the staff was too busy hand watering due to the mega drought and probably not able to find much time to do housekeeping. Click on the images to enlarge.

The photo below is a wide angle view of the Manicured Xeriscape. Excuse me about this photo as it was a 108 and just a little bit sunny. The sign from the first photo is the same one on top of the small section of fence. Each garden has a sign with a uniquely designed section of fence below it. This one has a cattle panel section with a contemporary style.

Most of the turfgrass and plants are labeled. The turfgrass is zoysia, and yes that is jasmine ground cover. Many of you probably ask: how can that be xeriscape? Remember one principle is to put like plants together according to their water usage in the same zone. This example is a manicured garden for those who want to save a little more water (Zoysia lawn compared to a Saint Augustine lawn) and jasmine ground cover when once established can take some drought. Also you can allow Zoysia to go dormant as it is a warm season grass and it will recover when it rains. Rain? Well maybe. Once a week irrigation keeps Zoysia green and it can take partial shade. Also this garden has herbaceous perennials planted instead of annuals. Notice the architectural style of the small building. Each garden has their own unique building style.

 Decomposed granite is typical of the pathways leading to the different gardens. DG leads up to this building above with hardscape brick near the stoop. Wouldn't you call this manicured? I believe that is an existing live oak on the left. Shade is an important feature in this garden. Also you are viewing the sign and fence detail on the right which is an example of the next garden.

The traditional lawn. This garden is an example of the traditional American landscape. This is not a xeriscape garden.

I suppose this is not what to do. lol. Click to view the elements of the landscape and maintenance requirements in this region. Notice the high maintnance clipped Photinia foundation planting, Crepe Myrtle in the background, clipped box hedge, Saint Augustine turfgrass and annuals. It's actually a nice looking garden but uses more water to keep it green.

I suppose the only thing missing in this region is a Arizona Ash tree. In other parts of the country these plants would be interchanged with privet, large juniper, bluegrass or fescue turfgrass. The next four gardens will be posted in coming days. These will include The Texas Hill Country garden, the Cottage Garden, the Wildscape garden and the Spanish Courtyard Garden. Remember this tour was in late July this summer, so judge them on how well they look in this drought and what type of plants are being used and how much maintenance and water is being applied to "look" good.

Brown State of Mind (Texas Version)

 Its been one whole week since we came back from our visit to our son in San Antonio. Texas is in such a brown state of mind. That is: it's smokin! As in DRY and BROWN. Feel sorry for the Texas gardeners. It is the worst I've ever seen it, and I lived there during the last long drought in the late 90's. (that sounds weird, 90's). Of course you know what follows a drought-a flood.

 The dove didn't seem to mind the heat.

This is the newest irrigation technology developed by Texas A&M: the hose goes to a porta-johnny. I heard it will save thousands of gallons of water.

My next post will expound on my visit to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.