Might 01, 2024
You wouldn’t look forward to finding an enormous prairie backyard right here — the yard of a non-public residence so near downtown Austin that blue-glass skyscrapers peek over the treetops. Proprietor Colin Corgan purchased a historic Eighteen Eighties home within the Travis Heights neighborhood a couple of years in the past and launched into a metamorphosis of each the home and the property, a metamorphosis that respects the historical past of every.
He restored the previous Victorian residence, retaining its reference to the previous, whereas including onto the again a up to date, glass-walled annex that embraces gentle and out of doors views. Even earlier than development was completed, Colin turned his consideration to the 1.3-acre lot, which occupies a complete metropolis block. Rather than a jungle of weeds and invasive timber that had colonized the property over the a long time, he envisioned a local prairie backyard flowing round current stay oaks.
Colin introduced in prairie-restoration professional John Hart Asher of Blackland Collaborative to organize the soil and set up a local prairie backyard and a green-roof meadow atop the pool home. (Different elements of the backyard have been designed by Shaney Clemmons of Shademaker Studio.) John Hart gave me a tour of the backyard final week.
As John Hart yanked up an invasive bromegrass (Bromus catharticus), he informed me that the prairie is turning into nicely established in its second 12 months. Upkeep contains reducing it again onerous every year in February, earlier than it breaks winter dormancy. In any other case, he prefers to differ the upkeep schedule of a prairie to maintain from unintentionally creating situations for just some species to dominate. “Upkeep is a time for analysis,” he says. “The energy of a prairie is the interactivity of it.”
As with all backyard, weeding is vital. Woody crops particularly threaten a prairie backyard, John Hart warns, as a result of they shade out sun-loving annuals and perennials. To drag woody crops with deep taproots, he recommends utilizing a weed wrench.
Later I requested Colin, who spoke with me by cellphone, why he wished a local prairie backyard. “As a result of that is what was right here,” he replied. “For me, it’s not simply the crops. It’s the ecosystem. Since planting this, there are extra birds and lizards. They comprehend it’s right here. It takes time for that to occur. And it’s lovely. I derive pleasure after I’m on the market. It’s applicable for this atmosphere.”
A local Texan initially from Dallas, Colin appreciates that his half-acre prairie, when absolutely established, would require a lot much less water than a standard, lawn-dominated panorama. Once I requested him what occurs with the prairie in summer time, he was matter-of-fact: “It goes dormant, proper? It turns brown. And that’s OK. It doesn’t hassle me. I imply, it’s 109 levels. What’s it speculated to do? I am going dormant additionally.”
In fact, a prairie doesn’t go fully dormant in summer time, even a blistering one. “You continue to have exercise in summer time,” Colin added. “It’s simply that the colours aren’t there. However that’s additionally a part of Texas. It’s a tradeoff.”
Chunky slabs of limestone lower a rugged path by means of the backyard, curving underneath a shady belt of stay oaks and junipers.
Blue curls, a captivating annual or biennial wildflower, attracts bees.
Blue curls seedheads
Colin doesn’t have conventional turfgrass, and he has zero regrets about opting out. “What I inform my associates, and I firmly imagine this – folks have an idealized picture of what their yard goes to appear like: close-clipped inexperienced grass year-round, and it’s going to be lovely. I perceive that’s what you need. However that’s not going to occur. It’s not the top end result. So many associates with ‘regular’ yards — they don’t look the best way they thought it will look, and so they require loads of repairs.”
He sees the prairie backyard as requiring much less work total. “I moved in in late October and didn’t do something till March, or one thing like that,” he stated. “It’s simply fantastic. Typically talking, I really like the low upkeep with durations of excessive upkeep, versus somebody coming by each week to edge and mow.”
In a again nook, out of the principle view of home and terrace, Colin put in a faux-turf {golfing} inexperienced for leisure enjoyment.
The limestone path takes you there, by means of prairie crops abuzz with bees, butterflies, and birds.
Standing cypress simply coming into bloom
Texas grama and standing winecup
Standing winecup
Coreopsis
Large coneflower
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Coreopsis and painted woman butterfly
Sipping from a flower
Yellows dominate now, after the blues and pinks of early spring
View from the swimming pool terrace, with a lap pool under. Downtown’s skyscrapers may be glimpsed by means of the timber.
By the home, a sunken patio with a swooping, modern arbor makes a shady vacation spot for enjoyable outside.
Shademaker Studio collaborated on the design with Ken Johnson at Michael Hsu Workplace Of Structure, which designed the house’s modern addition.
Large view of the prairie
Grackle taking a stroll
Large coneflower with standing winecup and pink night primrose
Coreopsis
Engelmann’s daisy and standing cypress
Feathery foliage of standing cypress
John Hart is like each gardener I’ve ever identified — he can’t not pull a weed if he spots one.
In the midst of the prairie, a big berm conceals a sunken patio edged with dark-gray stone — a fireplace bunker, Shaney calls it. Her agency, Shademaker Studio, constructed it.
A Cowboy Cauldron stands within the heart, encircled by a council-ring bench, able to heat up cool nights with a fireplace. “I wished a spot away from the home,” Colin informed me. “I like the truth that in case you’re sitting in it, you’ll be able to’t actually see the home. You’re feeling such as you’re form of tenting out. On the home facet, the south facet, we planted a bigtooth maple. It turns crimson within the fall — it’s actually fairly — after which loses its leaves within the winter, so the solar will are available in there to heat you. I believed that was a pleasant contact.”
One other good contact is a backyard mural on a wall by a again gate.
My because of Colin for sharing his lovely backyard with me, and to John Hart for the tour and sharing the wonders of the prairie. When you’d wish to be taught extra about this prairie backyard, watch John Hart’s video at Central Texas Gardener (Season 28, Episode 3).
I welcome your feedback. Please scroll to the top of this submit to go away one. When you’re studying in an electronic mail, click on right here to go to Digging and discover the remark field on the finish of every submit. And hey, did somebody ahead this electronic mail to you, and also you wish to subscribe? Click on right here to get Digging delivered on to your inbox!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Might 4: Discover “good backyards, excellent swimming pools and pergolas, and out of doors rooms and gardens” on the ATX Out of doors Dwelling Tour on 5/4, 10 am to three pm. Panorama architects, designers, and builders can be readily available to reply questions. Tickets are $33.85 for adults, $17.85 for youths age 10-17.
Might 11: Tour 4 Austin gardens on 5/11, from 9 am to three pm, on the Inside Austin Gardens Tour. Every backyard “is created and cared for by a Travis County Grasp Gardener and demonstrates practical gardening practices that inform and encourage.” Tickets are $20 upfront, obtainable by means of Might 5, or $25 on the day of the tour. Youngsters 12 and underneath get free admission.
Might 11: Save the date for Austin House’s Nice Outdoor Tour on 5/11.
Might 18: Pop as much as Dallas for the 2024 DCMGA Backyard Tour on 5/18 from 10 am to five pm. Tickets are $18 if bought on-line prior to six pm on 5/17, or $22 after 6 pm on 5/17 or on the occasion. For a sneak peek, click on right here.
June 1-2: Take a self-guided, 2-day tour of ponds and gardens in and round Austin on the annual Austin Pond and Backyard Tour, held 6/1 and 6/2, 9 am to five pm. Tickets are $20 to $25.
Come study gardening and design at Backyard Spark! I arrange in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, authors, and gardeners a couple of instances a 12 months in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out shortly, so be a part of the Backyard Spark electronic mail listing to be notified upfront; merely click on this hyperlink and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Keep tuned for more information!
All materials © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized replica prohibited.