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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Opening up the front

The Texas sage near the street was one of the few plants remaining from the landscape installed by the builder and original owner of our house.

Since the yard was quite a mess when we returned to San Antonio in 2008 we were happy to have a large plant that needed little or no attention right out front.  Over time we have improved the landscape to the point where we now want to show off what was behind this sage, no longer needing to hide it from the neighbors.  So the sage you see here in the front began to look a bit out of place.



The form of this native shrub is more open than the fuller and more compact improved varieties like this Silverado sage planted along the driveway.


A bit on the scruffy side, it was pretty in bloom but that's a rare event.  Native sages are not meant to be kept trimmed plus it was too big for the space, so it needed to go.


So we took it out in early October and don't miss it at all.  There are two self-seeded sages remaining in front which hide the Bismarck palm from this angle and they also might go in the spring.


The front is opened up nicely and there's a space for something interesting.  I'm thinking of a columnar cactus like the neighbor's San Pedro I featured a few weeks ago.


Maybe this Argentine Saguaro in Jeff Pavlat's Austin garden (in front just below the rail) which is hardy to 15F would work too.



It will be a fun project to consider the options over the winter.

9 comments:

  1. Your plants look so nice. Even the scruffy looks great:) I am looking forward to getting out and working back in the garden again. This Thursday we are heading out to the courtyard and putting a fountain in....my first big garden project again. I can't wait! Your place is really looking great.....and I like the idea of the Columnar Cactus for some structure. I have several growing around the property and they are really filling in the spaces vertically! Happy gardening:)

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    1. Thank you Chris, I look forward to seeing the fountain in place.

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  2. I keep being amazed at how beautiful your landscape is, in such a completely different way than anything one would find here.

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    1. Danger Garden would be pretty close, but the dampness and the neighbor's conifers in the background give it away.

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  3. It was lovely even with the scruffy sage but I love your columnar cactus idea. That'll certainly look sharp (groan.)

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    1. We can always count on Outlaw gardener for a good laugh!

      There are several of the native sage in the backyard where they work better. Since we no longer needed to screen the yard from the street it was time.

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  4. Since you've taken the sage out, it coule be fun for you to photoshop all the different options. Personally, though, I love that San Pedro cactus. I think it would look great in that space.

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    1. I've thought about that and just might do this one that way.

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  5. That looks great Shirley - you sure did open up a beautiful view!

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