A Tiered Garden in Austin, Texas, Slide Show
Photographs of a garden in Austin, Texas, that was transformed from a scrubby two-acre parcel into a dramatically tiered, lushly green outdoor space, with water everywhere, including a waterfall feeding into a creek.
The heat- and drought-tolerant Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ cascades over the Cor-Ten steel retaining walls.
For more about this Austin, Texas, home, read "A Tiered Garden in Austin, Texas."
A dusk view looking across the lawn planted with Zoysia japonica ‘Palisades’, a drought-tolerant and disease-resistant turf, into the sitting room of the house. A live oak is planted in a raised bed constructed of limestone with a ground cover of Mexican beach pebbles.
A staircase to the creek, constructed of steel and stone, appears to float in the air. Rough limestone, quarried locally, is used to stabilize the slope.
The entrance of the house is planted with a live oak surrounded by Mexican beach pebbles and cut limestone. Cor-Ten steel edges retain a bed planted with Equisetum hyemale (horsetail), which is kept cropped for a modern, clean look.
Dichondra, which tolerates the drought and heat conditions common in Austin, Texas, is planted as a ground cover on the “contemplation” landing on the way down to the creek.
A Devon table and benches provide a casual dining area poolside.
Stately Agave americana welcomes visitors and is underplanted with creeping rosemary.
Looking back at the western section of the house into the dining room, which overlooks the creek and a hillside planted with the soft textured grass Muhlenbergia dumosa (bamboo muhly).
Cor-Ten steel retaining walls act as planters along the creek bank. Strong winds blow through this area, so Rick Scheen decided on Muhlenbergia dumosa and Nassella tenuissima (Mexican feather grass) to show movement.
Inspired by Japanese tea rooms, this outdoor area fashioned with Devon benches as a table and bright yellow cushions feels secluded and is perfect for quiet gatherings.
