This summer, Laura Wills of Wills Family Acres, and I went on the Austin Pond Tour. It was blazing hot, and being in gardens with water feature focal points was a little relief from the heat. (But not much!)
I’m not sure what I expected. The ponds we saw ranged from absolutely amazing to I’m-not-sure-why-this-is-on-the-pond-tour. This one was my absolute favorite. I would never leave the garden if I lived there.
We arrived at the garden and began the tour in the front of the house next to the entrance.
It was a lovely waterfall that spilled down the side of the walkway and passed underneath the puddle on the other side.
Set on a hill, the front of the house was up a fairly steep slope so the pond looked very natural cascading with a beautiful rock design.
In addition to a collection of native plants and wildflowers, water plants were scattered throughout the pond, making it feel like a lush oasis.
Well done and surrounded by plants, it was lovely. It was a little small, though, and not quite what I expected. I also thought that I’d prefer to have it in the back yard, where I could relax beside it.
And then, we ventured around to the back.
Wow. Just wow. No other words. In the many private gardens I’ve been lucky enough to see, I’ve never seen such a beautiful landscape with a half dozen waterfalls and ponds.
The back landscape started deep in a ravine-like depression. Stone and decomposed granite paths criss-crossed up the steep hill to the back of the property. Interwoven with the paths and ponds and waterfalls, an array of the native and adapted plants of a collector delight visitors at every turn.
Even in the heat of a scorching summer day, we wound our way up and up and up, toward the top.
More waterfalls and ponds covered the sides of the back yard as well.
Nestled on one side of the main waterfall, a structure designed to look like a boat peeks out from the cover of trees and plants.
With a lovely deck and a large inside room, this haven must have been designed as a playroom for children or a secluded retreat for reading, writing or respite.
The garden (and the house) were for sale when we visited.
While the landscape was stunning, it clearly required a dedicated owner and garden lover who would attend to it with care. I wished it were mine, and came with a large contingent of diligent helpers!
You are right. All that cool stream-side planting on a hot day would certainly have me vacationing at home. It isn’t often you see really well done rock work but this one tops all. I get the feeling it may have been done by the people who did the Wildflower Center Hill Country Stream. The planting is gorgeous.
Jenny – It really left us breathless. I know they had help with the rock work, though I’m not sure who did it. But the owner is an avid and accomplished gardener and gets the credit for most of the planting.
Absolutely gorgeous! I can only dream of a water feature like that – and the thought of what the raccoons would do to it is more of a nightmare.
Kris – Those raccoons could go surf boarding and whitewater rafting in this waterfall, creek and ponds!
Lovely. I’m so envious of the stone you have in there!
This is a handsome space. I can see why you were so impressed. I am too and I have only seen the photos of the place. This is a great way to tame a hillside. I agree with Alyse about the stones. The Texas stones have such personality.
Well it’s 2022, and I just noticed this on the web. This wasn’t the Austin Pond Tour although these ponds have been on the APS tour in the past. In 2018 the APS didn’t have a tour, and three three pond owners in Westlake hosted a mini-tour.
Truly a garden paradise! Wonderful Austin Pond Tour! We look forward to this year’s event and hope to see you there!