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Starting with a rocky
hilltop, John first
designed and installed
fencing to enclose a
9,000 square foot area
for the back
garden. Imported soil
was used to fill in
areas for planting.
Rocks from the property
were used to form beds
until the beds settle
in. Plant material is
native, adaptive and
experimental. Agastaches
(Hybrid Anise Hyssop) in
pink, salmon and blue
attract hummingbirds.
Thirty four trees have
been planted, among them
various oaks including a
now six-foot tall cork
oak, anaqua, smoke
trees, rusty blackhaw
viburnum and Eve’s
necklace. Part of this
garden is devoted to
vegetables and herbs.
Drip systems were
installed, and a
1,500-gallon water
catchment was added for
landscape use. |
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The Madrone tree (Arbutus
xalapensis) on the left
is one that John planted
14 years ago from a
one-gallon size we
purchased from the late
Betty Winningham at
Natives of Texas
nursery. It has the dark
red bark characteristic
of Madrones found here
in the Hill Country. The
Madrone has a reputation
of being very difficult
to transplant, but with
Betty's blessing, who
can lose? One thing we
have learned is that the
Madrone benefits from an
annual application of
cornmeal to treat fungus
which can cause leaf
spotting.
The Smoke Tree behind
the Shasta Daisies
is another of John's
favorites |
