![]() ![]() ![]() They thrive in full sun and light shade, and can be allowed to grow up to 12 feet tall, or maintained at a lower height. One of the many things that I love about them is their versatility. These are tall, evergreen shrubs that thrive in arid climates such as ours. I recommended adding three hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa). In coming up with a solution, we had to select a plant that was relatively low-litter, due to the proximity to the pool and that looked attractive throughout the entire year because of the high-profile location. The pool was the main focal point of the landscape, and the dull wall wasn’t doing it any favors. I faced this dilemma last month at a client’s home. So what would you do to fix these problems? Have you ever encountered this landscaping challenge? This blank wall is rather boring, and the home behind it dominates the view. I must admit that I am drawn more toward more naturalistic gardens, filled with curves and staggered plantings but, I love the contemporary lines of B. Just the perfect spot to sit with my friend, Teresa Odle, who blogs at “Gardening In a Drought” and also just happens to co-write with me and two other writers, for our new blog, “Southwest Gardening”. Isn’t this a lovely seating area? I love the splash of red and the bamboo backdrop. Have I ever mentioned that I work in my dining room – that is, until my kids leave home and I get my own office (room).Ī group of containers filled with a variety of plants including hibiscus, rosemary, and basil – (yes, basil) adds interest to this corner by the pool.īamboo is used to help provide privacy from neighbors and shrub roses add a welcome pop of color.Įven the dog has its own space in B.’s garden with a patch of grass and his own fire hydrant! This is B.’s office, which is separate from her house – she simply walks by her beautiful pool on her way to work in the morning and enjoys a glorious view of her garden while she works. Now, we are at the point in the tour where I became seriously envious. A ‘Sticks on Fire’ succulent (Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’) basks in the sun, which is a plant that does beautifully in hot, arid climates. Low maintenance doesn’t mean that a garden is dull – often the truth is just the opposite as you will see as we continue on our tour.Ī rectangular pool runs along the center of the backyard, and colorful balls reflect the colors used throughout the landscape, which is a brilliant way to draw attention to them. Walking toward the backyard, I was quite taken with the square step stones and dark grey beach pebbles – this is a great look that is worth replicating.Īs you can see from the potted plants on the patio table, simplicity reigns in this garden, which is filled with native or adapted plants that flourish with little fuss. Asparagus fern adds softness around the outer edges, again, creating nice texture contrast. Silver ponyfoot creeps along the ground or can be used to trail over the sides of pots.Ī live oak tree (Quercus virginiana) is planted in a circular section covered in decomposed granite. It is a type of Dichondra, and I liked it so much, that I brought some home and now have it growing in one of my large containers by the front entry. The flat pads of a prickly pear cactus add rich texture contrast among the softer shapes of perennials.Īn agave nestles between asparagus fern and silver ponyfoot (Dichondra argentea), which is a ground cover, which I saw throughout the gardens we toured in Austin. The front of B.’s garden is graced by a large crepe myrtle, located between her two front windows, which help to frame her view from the house. ![]() If you had a garden like this, why leave home when you can vacation at home in a contemporary, low maintenance garden? Jane, which looks as if it came straight from the pages of a magazine with its resort-style design. Is your landscape style more free-form and natural or do you embrace a more modern, contemporary kind of garden with straight lines and right angles? On a recent visit to Austin, I had the opportunity to visit the home of landscape designer, B. ![]()
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