"Sir Smitty's" Garden

Sir Oliver "Smitty" Smith is well known in San Antonio for his pond and native plant gardens so I quickly accepted an invitation from a local gardening group to attend Happy Hour in his garden.

The party was mainly in the back yard so I took the opportunity to explore the lawnless front yard on my own.

What was once a boring St. Augustine turf-grass lawn is now chock-full of plants with gravel pathways.

 
Since our host was busy, I didn't get to ask a lot of questions about the garden.  This little sign provides a clue into his ideas for the front garden.

I've admired this iron arbor in a local nursery so it was nice to see it used in a garden setting.

Plants and pathways with native stone borders to guide the visitor.

Under the big oak tree is a seating area surrounded with plants to provide privacy from the street.

A collection of feeders and birdhouses from the tree branches.
 
 
On to the backyard to admire the golf course view.

The hill is steeper than it appears in the photos.  The steep rocky slope was covered with thirsty St. Augustine lawn when Smitty moved here from California and now it is a forest of native and adapted plants.

One of several ponds and water features throughout the garden.

Plenty of plants, pathways, and arbors

Aniscathus Wrightii is a great plant for our hot, dry summer plus it attracts hummingbirds.

Bright red Turk's Cap

Here's our host on the left chatting with guests.

This Texas Persimmon tree has something ours don't, namely fruit.

Lots of fun details here too.  The doghouse is stone.

The small anole Mediterranean house gecko under the porch light is real.

 
What about that title?  You know I forgot to ask about the title, it sounds like a story as fun as the evening.