February 11, 2025
The exposed limestone slabs in the lower garden have always been one of the most remarked on features of my garden. New visitors often ask me if I brought them in. After all, moving limestone boulders around is a big part of landscape design here. We love our limestone in Central Texas, and that’s good because we have lots of it.
But no, this limestone was here when we moved in. My guess is, the rock was exposed when previous owners installed a pool and regraded the backyard. Or it was always exposed, and they worked around it. I like the exposed slabs and work to keep purple heart and widow’s tears from swallowing it. It’s a reminder of deep time, when all of Central Texas was under a shallow sea. We are a blip in history.
I find this notion comforting.
Spiderwort foliage sprawls from deep crevices in the stone like tentacled sea creatures. A Texas persimmon, long ago seeded into a crack, grows stubbornly in who knows how much soil. Tough plants.
Winter is when my foliage plants really shine in all their silvery green or silvery blue glory, like whale’s tongue agave, beaked yucca, and ‘Blue Ice’ Arizona cypress. A rebar bottle shrub adds more blue.
Soap aloes are looking good near the end of this relatively mild winter. Their speckled arms with orange teeth are beautiful all year long.
When in doubt, stick an agave or yucca in a container — that’s my philosophy. They add structure, winter interest, and almost never need watering.
Case in point, this squid agave in a fluted pot. Squid agave has proven to be winter hardy, summer hardy, shade hardy, sun hardy, deer hardy, and rabbit hardy for me. Wherever I put one of these babies, it performs. The ‘Alphonse Karr’ bamboo behind it, on the other hand, is more of a trial. It dislikes our recent colder winters and requires much trimming. Sure, it helps to shade the patio from the afternoon sun, but man, I wish I’d thought of something else for that spot.
Two little ceramic birds perch in a pot of winter-weathered purple oxalis. It’ll be back up soon.
Giant leopard plant still looks fresh and green, despite overnight lows in the 20s in late December.
Their round, veined, glossy leaves give snail shell vibes.
Passing by the squid agave again, I spotted someone hiding in the inner leaves.
I see you.
Hello, anole.
This squid is the queen of the garden each sunny afternoon, when light outlines her tentacled arms. A nod to the underwater world this place used to be.
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Digging Deeper
Attend the annual Budding Out Plant Sale & Festival on March 15th at the John Fairey Garden in Hempstead. Shop for rare plants from the garden’s nursery and select plant vendors. Local artists and artisans as well as food, drink, and demonstrations will also be featured. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members, children under 12 free. Hours: 10 am to 4 pm; members get early admission at 9 am (memberships available on day of event).
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
