Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Foliage is the "Word" in this San Antonio Garden

A garden designed by Austin's Mark Word in San Antonio?  Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to preview the garden ahead of the Watersaver Landscape Tour to be held October 24th.  I invited friend and fellow blogger Pam Penick to join me on a day of garden visits.  Pam has profiled Mark Word's landscapes in the Austin area on her blog Digging.

Spotting Berkeley Sedge from the curb is a giveaway that double-checking the address was probably unnecessary.  (I did check just in case.)

Entering along the sedge-fringed stone walkway builds anticipation for what's behind the gate.  Just in view above the stacked-stone wall a single sconce to the right of the front door echoes the gate and walkway details.  It was a delight to meet the owner of this home and garden, Pat Mozersky, who recently retired from writing a food column, Chef's Secrets, for our local paper.  Whenever I had the Taste section in my hands, Pat's column was the first place I turned for the scoop on favorite restaurant dishes.



A shallow terrace of limestone to the left of the walk leads the eye to a tuft of Inland Sea Oats with their seedheads browning up for autumn.


Masses of fluffy Bamboo Muhly fill in to the right.


By contrast, a stone edge marks the neighbor's traditional lawn.


Stepping inside the gate reveals more sedge under live oaks.  Large-leaved plants like ligularia, viburnum, and oak leaf hydrangea add textural interest.


Sculptural trees placed to be viewed from the house and ground orchids dotting the sedge add dimension.  The existing native Texas Persimmon on the right was left in place during construction.



Ming fern, variegated flax, and palm grass line the border.


CorTen boxes elevate plants at the windows and highlight textural contrasts.


Texas Redbud stands over the stylized metal bamboo gate welcoming you into the back garden.  


Matching stylized bamboo railing leads down from the back of the house to the garden


The teak bench, found at a shop in New York and shipped to Texas, is right in style and scale to anchor the space.


Notice a large metal object lurking in the back corner?  It's a Buffalo!  The owners are originally from Manitoba and the Buffalo is the symbol of their province.


Munching on sedge.  What, no Buffalo Grass?


Fringes of sedge and mounds of bamboo muhly repeat and create continuity with the front garden.


I just loved the mounds of sedge contrasting with the smooth stone walkways.



Large windows afford views of the garden from throughout the house.


Fabulous industrial light fixture from a German factory brings green up to the porch.


Pat's King Charles Spaniels run straight for the bamboo muhly whenever outside.


Stylized metal bamboo theme continues on the back gate.


More grasses to soften and contrast with the stone walls along the rear alley.


The garden will look even better for the tour, if you can imagine.  Wow, I can't wait to see it then, too.


Don't miss this chance to see a Mark Word designed garden here in San Antonio, it is worth the visit.  Since foliage is the focus for this wonderful garden, I'm linking with Pam's Foliage Follow-up meme today.

The Watersaver Landscape Tour will be held Saturday, October 24th from 9am to 3pm.

16 comments:

  1. Those mounds of sedge are gorgeous and easy to take care of as well. The German factory light a special touch. I'll have to mark my calendar for October 24th.

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    1. We'd love to have you visit our tour!

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    2. I can't find any details. Is there a website?

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    3. The website has not been updated yet. So far the only info available is the date.

      http://www.gardeningvolunteers.org/gvstwp/nw_tour/

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  2. Isn't it soothing and delightful!? I knew you and Pam would loooooove it! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I do.

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    1. We did, and thank you for thinking of us! I'll link to you in the next one which we also loooved!

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  3. A very peaceful and green garden. While I could never pull off such a great look, I admire those who do.

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  4. I love how the grazing statue brings a touch of whimsy (albeit an enormous one!) to what is otherwise a fairly formally arranged space. The softening of well placed grasses is wonderful. These spaces are so soothing and peaceful, I don't miss the sight of flowers in bloom one bit. Thanks for sharing this with those of us who won't make it to SA for the tour!

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  5. I love this garden and it has been very interesting to see it via two completely different sets of photos.

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  6. You captured numerous details I missed with my camera. Which is of course the wonderful thing about seeing a garden anew through someone else's lens. And I really do think Pat needs to put a pot of buffalograss under that buffalo's nose!

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  7. Beautiful garden and so very green, I do miss the green. Until the fall rains return to Portland it's rather golden in these parts.

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  8. I loved this garden, even without flowers (and that's saying a lot for me). The contrast between Mozersky's grass and the neighbor's flat lawn is telling - one has the feel of an expensive carpet and the other a cheap carpet remnant.

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  9. What a magnificent garden!
    Wonder what the neighbours think of it?

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  10. Fab! And those stone walls are amazing!

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  11. Two views (yours and Pam's) of a sumptuous garden. I could love living there.

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  12. Thanks for the tour - before the tour. I like how all the green brings a sense of calm to the whole area. Nice. Jack

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