January 13 , 2024

Hill Country Habitat Romance

“ In the dead of winter , when a lot of the plants have go bad back , I can see the stones , ” James Truchard enjoin us on our sojourn in April 2023.“So , the rock are always there and they ’re always beautiful . It lay down wintertime a full clip of yr than it would be otherwise because the Stone do n’t mind the cold . ”They certainly charmed us as we cast up and down tortuous paths , scrambling to keep up with enthusiastic James as he pointed out layer upon level of native plants , some come forth against wane bound former birds and others in full baseball swing . He truly loves the ground , and since 1995 when he buy this wad , he ’s restore aboriginal plant diversity from bare rock and a few alive oak trees . Climate challenges have lead his visual sense and regard for Hill Country resources . He document his conversation with the demesne inMemories from a Hill Country Garden — Flowers , Stones , and Critters , dedicated to his first married woman Lee who passed away in 2012 . Both a touching and witty chronicle , it ’s also a guide to Texas problematic bloomers in all four seasons . James and the garden have shared concentrated freeze , chalk storm , blusterous wind instrument and drought . plant life soar and others run out . “ Growing up on the farm , I think is a good object lesson about how to deal with reverse and in business as well . So , on the farm you get adverse weather conditions and the craw may flunk . Or you planted too early and you have to replant . These are the form of example that assist you in business to be adaptable to adverse thing and take them in stride . ”Gradually , James work a sanctuary for category and generation of wildlife as he layered tier of retaining paries . “ I also make love the rocks , the natural stone ; like Willie Nelson would say ‘ older kinsfolk , Fords and natural Edward Durell Stone . ’ So I ’ve used Lucy Stone generously around the property to make trails to make retaining walls , to give the character I wish and the feel of the Hill Country , ” he said . He backfilled with soil and compost ( these days , they make their own ) . Rock squirrels love the wall to build their plate , and in return , assist him with planting . “ Over the old age I have a compounding of plants finding their own spot and me learning where to plant them , ” he order . Sometimes excavations hit the jackpot with natural Edward Durell Stone sculptures . I see a different critter every sentence I see this picture!This dolphin jump from rock , cleverly wax by craftsman David Stalker ( who we met atJohn and Jane Dromgoole ’s garden).Positioning garden art just the right way have time . Plants germ with abandon in their stony substrate , include aboriginal twistleaf yucca and flameleaf sumac . White ageratum / shrubby boneset , lantana , and various shrubs insert into corner and crannies . “Of course , there ’s the armadillo that come there , our neighbors , so we experience with them even though they savvy hole and dig out plants we just plant , ” James laugh . “ But they ’re our neighbor , so we live with them . ”From the start , it made good sense to him to layer and bench for unlike natural habitats . Gardener Nida joins him in the upper garden . Even on a cloudy twenty-four hours , director Ed Fuentes spotted bees and even a few faineant butterflies . Native red buckeye ( also predict red buckeye ) , is one of James ’s favorite humble tree . Named for its early bound flowers geared for hummingbirds and bee , rock squirrels cherish the seeds that they cleverly replant for him .

Note : I planted one in a part shade area . They are very tiresome growing , and tend to mislay their leave in summer . No reason to panic , as I did the first year !

James set up an underground 36,000 - gallon ferrocement rain collection cistern to capture rainwater to mitigate downhill implosion therapy and to irrigate . Then he direct a dry brook bottom to infiltrate rain as it moves downwardly . David Stalker worked with wood ’s natural grain to bridge the dry creek for entrance access . Every day is truly a walk in the woods for James , wife Marci , and their adventuresome grandchildren . As James would say , “ Let the populace turn on its own for a while . ”

stone walls and native plants against dry creek bed and gravel path

Watch his level now !

Thanks for stopping by ! See you next week , Linda

tags :

native stone edged pond framed by plants and tall sculpture

smiling man next to native stone wall and plants

live oak trees against native stone walls framed with plants

book on rustic wood chair: Memories of a Hill Country Garden

smiling man on limestone framed patio overlooking stone walls and native plants

native stone walls and steps framed by plants

native plants against stone rustic stone walls

limestone with eroded pockets to resemble an animal or character

limestone that resembles a dolphin

gravel path and stone path bordered by plants lead to a pedestal-mounted limestone that resembles a dolphin

stone firepit framed by stone “benches”

Article image

native plants along gravel path and cascading in and out of native stone walls

life-sized St. Francis sculpture against tree

native plants against stone retaining wall; man and woman working in garden above

formal native plant gardens with gravel paths

small tree and man with camera recording it

gravel path against native plants and native stone retaining wall

dry creek bed against stone retaining wall and native plants

multi-toned wooden bridge over dry creek bed framed by native plants and flowers in containers

smiling man and woman against sloping woodsy gardens