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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Visting Xericstyle Garden

"Have you two met before?"  asks a somewhat surprised David Cristiani of The Desert Edge just a few minutes after Heather and I began chatting about plants.  Well, no, we haven't actually met in person but we have been following each others' garden progress through our blogs for a while so we were already friends in a way.

And that's how I began my first visit with Heather of the San Antonio blog Xericstyle while David was in town a few days ago.  This is a modern and welcoming front porch.  Those are tiny succulent planters on the door.



Not too long ago this house and yard were in sad shape.  That was before Heather and her husband went to work fixing it up.  Heather devised a beautiful lawnless garden plan for the front yard which she is almost finished installing.  That's David on the porch getting his "money" shot



Plenty of room for plants to grow in this new landscaping


She hauled the rocks over from a neighbor's house


Heather has added cool touches like this gate with the hand.


A mature Texas Mountain Laurel anchors this bed at the front corner filled with agave, Mexican Bush Sage, lantana, and rosemary


  
Love this container of silvery plants and blooming germander by the front door.


Around back they first had to repair the siding, put new posts on the overhang and replace the roof.  After the repairs Heather added the frogfruit lawn (front left).

 
Red seating in the truck wheel firepit area makes a bold statement


The bamboo muhly she planted last year in the side yard is beginning to fill in


Hammock and bike parking for her young children under the pecan tree


Flowers and herbs near the patio


These galvanized pieces were in the attic and  they added irrigation covers for the ends.  Filled them with plants and they look so cool hanging on the fence.


Heather just keeps on going.  Here she continues to put down cardboard and mulch to smother the weeds and build a garden.


We enjoyed a yummy lunch at the tables in the background.  They call that area the "beer garden" and a shade cover is in the plan.  Here she is discussing the berms she built with David.  Heather used dirt removed from a parking area they had built near the garage.
 
  
They are a bit too steep so David is demonstrating the best shape for a berm.  I have no doubt she'll soon have them whipped into the right shape.  All this while working at a new job which combines her professional background with gardening.  How cool is that?


Of course we had visit with the now legal chickens.  That's another chicken coop over the fence in the neighbor's yard so they all have plenty of company.


She dug the holes and built this fence by herself while managing two very young children.


I enjoyed getting to know Heather.  She hails from Hundred Mile House, British Columbia in Canada which is pretty far north of here.   I didn't ask just how, exactly, she ended up in San Antonio, Texas but we'll save that for our next visit.

You can keep up with Heather at her blog Xericstyle.

21 comments:

  1. I so admire what Heather and her husband have done with their home and yard. Their neighbors must be thrilled! I've never seen the galvanized pieces filled with plants. Very cool!

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  2. I felt like I knew you before you rang the doorbell too, Shirley. Thank you so much for coming over and spending time with me, I learned so much and I appreciate all that you shared with me. I had a wonderful time. Thank you also for all your kind words! Looking forward to our next visit already!!!! David looks like we put him in a "time out" by the front door...heeeeeeeeee! CAN'T WAIT to see your garden in person too!

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  3. You captured her garden well...I hope to share my take on it ASAP. Great DC action shots, and so glad you didn't post me talking with my hands! Good times and what a skillful use of color she does, to be sure.

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  4. Heather has really transformed her home and garden in a short amount of time. I wish my projects moved along so quickly. Thanks for another great tour.

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  5. Beautiful landscaping. I am amazed all she has done in seemingly such a short period of time! How fun that you could immediately feel like old friends.

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  6. I have enjoyed instant friendship with other gardeners upon introduction. Blogging really helps to set the stage, doesn't it? Heather bears a striking resemblance to Superwoman, with all she has accomplished. I'm sure you will be back to record her garden's progress.

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  7. Beautiful job Heather and Brett! Can't wait to see it all in person!

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  8. Heather and Brett clearly do not require sleep! An amazing amount of work that continues and a beautiful garden! Thanks for sharing it! Gotta go check out Heather's blog!

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  9. Heather!!! My sister.... so PROUD of what you have accomplished! It is truly amazing! I LOVE it, and can't wait to visit... I only wish I had 1/2 your talent, and drive for my yard! xo

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  10. I LOVE it Heather! So proud...you did an amazing job, and I cannot wait to see is sister!!!! xoxoxoxo You are SO talented!

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  11. I dearly love what Heather and hubby are doing with their spacious landscape. No little narrow beds along the fence that a lot of us start out with. What a vision! I really like the colors and design shown in the front door photo and the hand print on the gate. What is the grass by the mailbox? It picks up the dark color of the house trim perfectly Bravo! >> Everything!

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  12. I've been reading Heather's blog for a while. She has done a wonderful job there.
    Nice to see it through your lens, too.

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  13. Thank you all for your lovely comments, I know Heather has enjoyed reading them too.

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  14. What a beautiful house and garden. I so want to do something like that with my yard; I just can't figure out how you both keep the weeds from popping up in your xeriscaped areas.

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    1. I use a thick shredded wood mulch or river rock gravel to help keep them under control.

      Weeds are present in a lawn too and have to be dealt with either way since they are a problem in most landscaping styles. Even with the weeding, I spend less time on maintenance now than on a lawn of similar size at our last house.




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  15. Heather is creating such a liveable outdoor space for her family. I love it and hope to be able to see it in person myself one day.

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    1. You would both enjoy meeting and touring her garden.

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  16. Wow she is far from home and different landscaping..nice to see her embrace her natural surroundings...it is stunning to see this type of landscaping coming from a cold climate but it is lovely and once grown in will be amazing...I loved the container.

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    1. That is an important point, that she had to first embrace a very different gardening style and then learn a lot about unfamiliar plants quickly.

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  17. Another outstanding xeric-style garden. My eye couldn't help but notice the creeping germander blooming away. I planted this last year and it quickly became a favorite.

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  18. It is really incredible what these guys have done, all while dealing with major home renovations, and 2 tweeny adorables. I can't decide what's more impressive, Heather's grand, decisive vision, or the energy that moves her through her plans into reality. I love seeing this!! Congratulations Heather, so happy for all you've accomplished, garden-wise, and professionally. You're a great role model!

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