Shopping for Inspiration

When we moved home to Texas in 2008 our yard was a blank slate and I needed garden inspiration.  I went looking for a beautiful, regionally appropriate landscape that worked with the strict watering guidelines imposed by our city.  I began by checking out commercial landscapes as I was out running errands and started putting a few ideas together.  It wasn't long before I headed out to The Shops at La Cantera in northwest San Antonio and discovered one of the best spots for my landscape inspiration.

Beautifully landscaped with an emphasis on native plants and details that were unmistakably San Antonio, I was presented with possibilities that I was not even aware of.  I was fascinated from that first visit and returned again and again as I put together a plan for my own yard.

These photos are from a recent trip

Celebrating Texas Native Plant Week in the garden

This week (October 14-20) is Texas Native Plant Week and I'm celebrating by highlighting native plants in my garden.

We learn over and over that "you can't fight Mother Nature".  Two years of drought and record heat here in San Antonio underscored the need to emphasize native plants in my gardens.  As you might expect, the Texas natives came through with flying colors while even many adapted plants gave up over the past couple years. 

Plants like Gregg's mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) have kept bees and butterflies busy all summer.