When I first visited their garden the late winter 2012 it was still dormant yet I knew instantly it was a beautiful garden to share on my blog. Even though Ragna had just pruned the roses back and only a few perennials were beginning to emerge, it was a very special place to visit. Later in the spring I returned to photograph and post a tour of this romantic Texas cottage garden.
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Readers loved it which was no surprise since it is a beautiful garden. Linda Lehmusvirta, producer of Central Texas Gardener and writer of the CTG blog, loved it too and asked to tape it for a segment of the show. A few days after Linda and the CTG crew were there, Ragna and Bob invited local garden friends over after our plant swap to tour the garden in all its fall glory. I snapped a few photos while helping out with tours.
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There's always something new or different to check out. This mirror was added to the side of the large birdcage after my spring visit.
The Love-in-a-puff vine has grown up over the cage making it look different than it does in the spring.
Similar angle from spring 2012 shows the difference.
Everything looks so pretty, it's hard to say which is my favorite season in this garden.
Just one of many wonderful vignettes. The pottery figurine at the bottom was originally a clock. The old clock works were removed and now flowers spill through.
The voodoo lily was in full flower, it was covered later to keep the stink away from our snacks on the nearby patio.
I borrowed a couple of Ragna's photos from that day. This is Bob talking with visitors in the garden.
Ragna (center) poses with Patty on the back patio, Mara is on the left.
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Bob says welcome to our garden and lets get this party started!
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| Shirley, Tally, Mara, Bob, Lisa, Patty |
A special thank you goes out to Linda Lehmusvirta and the CTG crew for recognizing this garden and making the trip to San Antonio to document it for gardeners everywhere to enjoy.
Links to my previous posts on Ragna's garden.
Inspiration and Imagination
Xeriscape Front Yard
Ready for its close-up
That does look like a wonderful garden, and the owners look like a fun couple too. I love that large bird cage.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a nice addition to the garden for so many uses.
DeleteThis was a very beautiful garden. I so enjoyed visiting last year to view all the nooks and crannies filled with plants and garden art. A paradise in the midst of a city.
ReplyDeleteParadise works, just a lovely oasis not too far from a very busy part of town.
DeleteWhat a cool garden and gardeners! Your posts about this place are always enjoyable and inspiring! Love the Eye of Providence piece!
ReplyDeleteGood to know you can see that in the photos. As you can imagine trying to bring this through in photos is challenging.
DeleteAmazing! What a beautiful garden. Do you happen to know the name of the plant with purple blooms in the third picture next to the trellis? I've seen it at The botanical gardens in SA. It is a butterfly magnet. Thank you for the tour:)
ReplyDeleteI've emailed Ragna about your question. I'll let you know as soon as I hear back.
DeletePer Ragna's note below the plant is Blue porterweed. Hope this helps.
DeleteThank you Shirley! Now I just have to find it at a garden center:)
DeleteThank you again Shirley for your wonderful photos that always make my garden look good.
ReplyDeleteAnd now the long awaited day finally came when I got to see it through the eyes of Central Texas Gardener. The neatest thing about the segment is the camero appearance that the VERY personable Linda, who is the producer of CTG and the narrator of the garden visits, made via one of the garden mirrors.
Shirley will probably provide a clickable link to the segment of Central Texas Gardener that features my yard.
Stef, I think the plant you refer to is Blue porter weed. It's an annual, but reseeds. And yes the hummingbirds and butterflies love it.
Ragna
It is a fantastic video, I liked seeing Linda in the mirror too.
DeleteShirley, your pictures capture Ragna and Bob's story so well. In fact, your first post on it was so enchanting that I had to try to capture it just as well for Central Texas Gardener. Thank you so much! Linda
ReplyDeleteYou certainly did, we are enjoying it very much.
DeleteThanks for sharing this garden and for the reminder to check out Central Texas Gardener. It's nice that they post their programs on the internet. If there are any similar programs on a local SoCal station, I've yet to discover them. All we get is years-old replays of Victory Garden on PBS...
ReplyDeleteHaving access to all the CTG shows makes it a great resource for our area, with their focus on regional gardening challenges. The featured gardens and advice can be translated to any region.
DeleteNice. That's the kind of lush garden I like the best. The decorative pieces and hardscapes have so much personality, and the variety of plants is fantastic. I hope to get back to San Antonio one of these days and would love to visit this garden! Thanks for sharing it on your blog.
ReplyDeleteLet us know when you do visit and we'll arrange some tours. The garden has changed a lot since last fall and I'll be posting new pictures this year.
DeleteFirst how wonderful to have the PBS show...and what a fabulous garden to highlight. I love all the sculpture as it plays perfectly with the plants and flowers. Very special.
ReplyDeleteThe CTG gardening advice and tours featuring our specific challenges are so helpful and especially appreciated since most information out there doesn't work in our region.
DeleteI love a good garden tour. Thanks for the preview. Their garden is lovely. I'll look for the show on CTG. I never miss an episode thanks to the magic of DVR.
ReplyDeleteThe link at the top of the page is live now since Linda posted the show yesterday.
DeleteI've got my DVR set and can't wait to see it again on the big screen. I love that all their episodes are available online too.
I agree with Ally...love a good garden tour.
ReplyDeleteI record all the CTG episodes. I can watch over and over, on the big screen.
Looking forward to this one.
I'm always ready for a good tour too! I try to get to as many as possible.
DeleteWhat an enchanting garden - looks so lush and a place you could get lost in in every way. I especially like the way it appears to have such a cooling effect visually even though we know all too well how HOT it is here. Can't wait to see an SA garden on CTG this week - woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteIt does feel very much that way, I've been there on a hot day, though not 105 degrees, and it's always pleasant.
DeleteLovely garden. So much interest there. Everywhere you look, there's a new plant to see, and be enchanted by. Great photos, too.
ReplyDeleteEnchanting is a good word to describe it, I am mesmerized almost every time and always looking for the words.
DeleteI remember when you first posted about Ragna's garden. It looks enchanting. I'll have to watch the CTG episode online and see what Linda captured.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the tour Pam. It is indeed enchanting.
DeleteHi Shirley,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden! Especially I impressed by not only flowers but the combination of different types of leaves. They are awesome!I love garden tour, too. It's always fun to visit garden with friends!
Ragna will be so pleased to know you enjoyed her foliage combinations which are just as wonderful as the flowers.
DeleteI enjoyed the CTG episode and her garden - looks like a fun, laid-back group, too! Of course the pyramid / eye was one of my favorite scenes, a little jungle meets secret society and even more mystery.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery is a big part of the layout of the garden. Little surprises, secret gardens, fun combinations, they all work together.
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