Open Days Garden Tour Austin: Jeff Pavlat and Ray Clayton Garden

The final garden on the Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour is the garden of Jeff Pavlat and Ray Clayton. A very special finale it was.  Jeff is an avid collector of cactus and succulents and currently Vice President - Education for the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society where he has also served as president.

The impressive garden terraces designed and built by Jeff and Ray are the first feature to greet visitors, and lead down the hillside from the street to the house.

Foxtail Cactus Blooms

This appears to be the week all our cacti decided to bloom and it's been a banner year.  They seem to be competing with one another, and the latest is this Escobaria vivipara with multiple bright pink blossoms.  It was relocated from my brother-in-law's place near Tijeras, New Mexico, just east of Albuquerque.

It's known by several common names, but my favorite is Foxtail Cactus.  We have been happy to have these in our yard for nearly three years now.  I know it's definitely hardy as it gets far colder on the east side of Sandia Peak than it does here.  

Also note the unusual spiral cactus in the background which remains unidentified.  The cactus collection is growing quickly now since the drought increased my appreciation of cactus in the garden.

Got Cactus?

This front yard (yes, FRONT yard) belongs to "Jean the cactus man" in San Antonio.  You may notice that he has a wee bit of a passion for succulents.