The Rockcliff Road garden, just west of Austin, is very naturalistic--making it fun to explore but not quite easy to translate to the blog. A live oak shaded path greeted us just inside the garden walls. Native plants have filled in the understory spaces in striking contrast to the typical oak-studded lawns of our area.
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Meadows of wildflowers appeared along the way.
Catching a glimpse of the home through the trees
Heading on down the path we arrived at a shaded garden house half hidden by the trees
Several waterfalls and streams running through the property are a dominant feature of the garden.
Native Hill Country Penstemon blooms in one of the natural spaces between water features.
Nearer the house the natural garden paths intersect with stonework and paving.
A fern covered waterfall softens the transition to hardscape.
Across the driveway more paths lead to features like this urn with palm.
Kidneywood trees in oil jars punctuate entry courtyard arches.
An outdoor fireplace set into the wall of the house defines the end of the courtyard.
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A carved and polished stump-turned-table evokes the woodsy setting.
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More woods and water features for visitors to explore.
We exited through the front gates where this draping nolina with bloom stalk caught my eye. I like the grass-like forms of our native nolinas.
The wildflower center has announced that this was the tenth and last of the Gardens on Tour events for a while. I hope they will bring it back from time to time as it's wonderful to enjoy so many special private gardens around Austin.
Definitely not an easy garden to photograph, as I've discovered myself, but your pictures do it justice, Shirley. It's a lovely space, and the grotto at the back of the house is a scene-stealer.
ReplyDeleteOh, I appreciate that Pam! The grotto was fun.
DeleteCertainly a garden to explore, and very notable are the fireplace and grotto indeed!
ReplyDeleteThey are quite amazing set into the walls of the house and not add-ons as one might typically see.
DeleteI love that grotto. Love love love. It was so nice and cool in there. And it's such an unexpected surprise when you find it. It was so interesting for me to visit that garden for the second time. I liked it a lot more. The first time I visited, I don't think the plantings had really had a chance to fill in. The house seemed a lot more integrated into the landscape this time, probably because the scale of the house to the plantings was much more in harmony. Last time, the house seemed to hulk over everthing and really dominate the landscape.
ReplyDeleteIt's been five years so pretty amazing to see how things have grown in. The house does seem to recede into the wooded setting. The grotto is such a unique feature.
DeleteSo many wonderful places just to sit and dream, read, or watch a fire. It's a beautiful property - and it looks huge.
ReplyDeleteNaturalized landscapes are tricky to photograph, but you've done a stellar job. (Just a note - I double clicked for larger images and everything made much more sense on that bigger scale. )
ReplyDeleteI love that grotto and fireplace too of course, but what really rang my chimes was seeing those kidneywood trees in containers. I've never seen them grown that way before and it has only increased my appreciation for what I believe to be an underused local star.
The other striking moments (for me) were all those draping, dripping ferns! If people were to state their go-to image of a Central Texas garden I'm betting fern covered walls would rarely be mentioned. The ferns in use here are gorgeous and testimony to how skillfully water and shade have been put to work in these spaces. Thanks for sharing the tour!
Oh those trees in oil jars! Oh that grotto! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love how the structures are integrated into the landscape rather than dominating it. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great place to explore and experience! Love the grotto especially, and that cool fern- covered waterfall, and...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour, looks so summery and the garden has a nice wild appearance. Loved the fern waterfall and the grotto!
ReplyDeletehmmm I covet the fern waterfall. Wonder how they did that?
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