Master Gardener tour Archives | Diana's Designs Austin

Inside Austin Gardens Tour – Breathtaking garden with Lake Austin backdrop

Last week I got a preview of the wonderful gardens that will be on the popular Master Gardeners Inside Austin Gardens Tour 2015 on Saturday, October 17. The tour provides a rare look inside six private gardens and a public experimental garden. With the theme of For Gardeners, By Gardeners, the tour showcases 7 gardens with distinctly different garden styles. Tickets for all 7 gardens are $19 in advance or $20 at any garden location on the day of the tour. Single garden tickets for $5 can also be purchased at each garden. Purchase advance tickets here.

Sunbathing Natives1012 N Weston Lane 78733

The relationship between stone and plants creates an intricately woven tapestry as you enter this garden. Beautiful yet unassuming in its simplicity, this garden entry and driveway area is lined with deer resistant, drought tolerant and heat-loving natives. And they are all doing much more than holding their own.

This imposing lion stands guard at the front of the house.

And behind the glass these two imposing figures make up the secondary security team!

Step through a shade-lined rock path and the rest of the garden comes at you with an intensity that is palpable. First, there is color. A lot of color. And plants. Bright, hot, tropical colors and plants.

And then there is this.

And suddenly, your eye isn’t quite sure what to look at. The explosion of plant colors, the water right here, the water wayyyyyy down there…there is just so much to see.

The hot tub was crafted to replicate the water feature just inside the entrance to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

We had a special treat and were invited in to see the view from the owner’s wife’s painting studio upstairs. I’m not sure I could ever take my eyes off of that view!

Not only was this a beautiful garden set on an amazing piece of property, but the garden design was wonderful, enhancing the space and adding to the wow factor with the composition of plants and stone. You don’t want to miss this one! Get your tickets now and get there early for some great photographs.

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:38:50-05:00October 9th, 2015|Blog, drought-tolerant, garden tour 2015, hillside, Inside Austin Garden Tour, Kirk Walden, lake Austin, Master Gardener tour, natives, pool, seating, Sharing Nature's Garden, stone, sun, tropical color|0 Comments

Austin Garden Tour on Saturday May 3 will delight and inspire

This Saturday from 9-4, the Travis County Master Gardeners, are sponsoring their annual Inside Austin Garden Tour. As always, they have a great garden tour in store — full of interesting gardens sure to give you ideas and inspiration to take home.

You can see the sneak peek of the first 3 gardens in my last post here. This post covers the other 3 gardens, which incorporate two very different design styles and also demonstrate the broad range of plants that will thrive in the Central Texas area.

Austin Neal’s garden — a contemporary and rustic design – showcases many water wise plants and creative containers and art work.

This fabulous fence sets the stage as you enter the garden.

Grave and wooden walkways create an interesting walk to the front door.

This mobile of wasp nests dangles in front of you as you approach the door.

A mix of succulents and native perennials fill this drought-tolerant garden.

Raised vegetable beds filled with good soil will ensure a season of good crops.

Planters lined the fence, made of re-purposed supplies and filled with tough-as-nails succulents and cacti.

The Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden was filled with native and adapted plants that should be on everyone’s plant list.

Stroll through these plants — they are all labeled so visitors and tour participants can take notes and head to their favorite local nursery with a shopping list.

Demonstration plants include everything from ground covers to trees.

Perennials and herbs are also part of the garden.

This stunning bloom was definitely putting on a show of us.

Lori Daul’s garden is an amazing display of soft and sculptural plants.

Her entire front yard — only lawn when she purchased the house, is now filled with both sunny and shady spots with layers and layers of plants.

Texture plays a big role in Lori’s garden, as do sight lines and paths that lead the visitor through beautiful garden spaces.

In her back yard, the beds are very wide, allowing for layers of plantings to stand out.

Instead of a free-standing, upright bottle tree, Lori created a unique look using her mesquite tree as a bottle tree.

Whimsical garden art fills her beds.

Several water features add sound and interest throughout the garden.

Her use of sculptural, drought-tolerant plants next to the soft beauty of her rose collection makes a wonderful contrast.

Containers also help to add interest and texture to her beds.

Her coordinating blue fence and swing create a lovely oasis to sit and enjoy the garden.

Mixed among the perennials, Lori also has quite a few edibles mixed in her ornamental beds.

As you might tell, Lori’s garden was my favorite. And, she’s a personal friend of mine.

Her garden is not to be missed. So include the Travis County Master Gardeners annual Inside Austin Garden Tour on your Saturday plans. It’s going to be a beautiful day. The tour runs from 9-4 and is self- guided. Click on the link above for ticket information.

Enjoy the tour!

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:07-06:00May 1st, 2014|Blog, garden tour, garden tour 2014, Lori Daul, Master Gardener tour, Sharing Nature's Garden, water feature, water wise, xeric|0 Comments

Saturday, May 3rd, don’t miss the Inside Austin Gardens Tour 2014 for inspiration & ideas

As they do every year, the Travis County Master Gardeners, have put together a great garden tour — full of interesting and inspirational gardens for experienced and novice gardeners alike.

This year’s tour – next Saturday, May 3rd from 9-4 should be on your calendar.

I was invited to preview the gardens with fellow garden bloggers last week, so I have some inside scoop for you here. This is the first of two posts that will highlight the gardens.

The first garden was that of Dugie and David Graham, high on a hill in north Austin where they deal with a serious slope and hungry deer. Their garden was full of beautiful bones and hardscape that made the best of their landscape.

A beautiful pond cascades down the back hillside, providing a home for plants, wildlife and art.

Stone beds with dappled shade make a lovely home for native and xeric plants.

On a landing, this beautiful wooden table sits atop a creative stone floor.

Guarding the path down the hill, these columns with trellises provide beautiful and unique support for some stunning roses.

The second garden was Jerry Naiser’s, owner of Real Green Pest and Lawn Service, Naiser’s garden is controlled by a highly sophisticated 32-zone drip irrigation system. The system includes moisture sensors that enable him to provide just the right amount of water to each garden zone.

This focal point as you enter the garden from the side yard is this dramatic trio of fiery fountains.

With a very lush, tropical feel, the garden sports citrus trees, caladiums, cannas and grasses.

Vegetables and annuals fill beds and vertical spaces as well.

As you follow the bed around the back of the garden, this longhorn sculpture guards the entrance to the back patio area.

A secluded seating area in the back corner of the garden is a hideaway for relaxing in hanging chairs and a hammock.

The covered patio off of the back of the house was transformed into this trendy outdoor kitchen, complete with flat screen tv.

The next landscape was that of Robin Howard Moore. Her garden was a mix of traditional and eccelctic.

Alternately, tropical and cottage-style.

With a few interesting focal points.

Cobalt blue pots and a bottle brush tree added color and interest.

A step back revealed the towering trees covering her beds.

This charming combination against a wall evoked an old-world feel.

Tomorrow, the rest of the beautiful gardens you can see on next week’s tour.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:07-06:00April 27th, 2014|Blog, cottage garden, fire feature, garden art, garden rooms, garden tour, garden tour 2014, Master Gardener tour, Sharing Nature's Garden, tour, tropical, water feature|0 Comments

Master Gardener tour