Secret Gardens

After retiring to Texas in 1993 and suffering through the summer of in 110 degree F heat we had a pool built in the early part of 1994. Only problem was that the pool took up 80 percent of our yard. Not much gardening area left.



There was one little piece of 'dirt' with a big cotton wood tree that filled my neighbors pool and mine with leaves in the fall. Down came the tree, but what to do with that little piece of dirt?

Looking into the garden.
First came some fill dirt as there was a four foot slope away from the upper edge. Then I found some extra, not so good flat stone from a contractor. With that I laid a small rock deck. Of course a garden needs a garden shed, so I had this one built. While flea marketing one weekend I found the antique door and window and installed them. This gave the shed a little more rustic look befitting a garden.

The rocks are laid out in an arch which leaves a strip about four feet wide on the north and east sides for planting.

Looking out of the garden back towards the house.

At this point the view shows the entrance to the "dog run" which is stone and lose river gravel. Requiring only raking now and then. There is another small piece of grass at the end of the run area for the dogs constitutions.

The palm tree was added late last summer, survived a winter and looks none too bad. If we can avoid a harsh winter for a couple more perhaps it will survive even longer.

In the pot is a bay leaf plant that comes inside during the winter months. In fact many of the herbs come inside then also. The little iron fence near the center of the photo was bought at a Farmer's Market in Dallas, where they have not only farmer's products but vendors from Mexico. These come in very handy in directing the dog traffic and protecting my little planting areas. Notice the grass is green. Before the little iron fence and stone path our dogs kept the hill void of any grass.

A view of my prize fig tree.

The iron arbor was also bought at the Dallas Farmer's Market. Notice the very large (wooden) rooster, he keeps an eye on the inner garden for me. Plants in view are various herbs such as oregano and basil.

The fig tree was a lunch time find near my Ericsson office in Richardson, Texas about four years ago at a little nursery. The early fruit was good, but ones developing now are very sweet. In that same little nursery I found on another lunch time adventure a nice clump bamboo plant. It now takes up the N-E corner of the garden planing area. Mornings there one can enjoy their coffee to music of some nice song birds that hide in the bamboo.

A bird house is built and will be placed on a pole next to the bamboo very soon. Possibly a couple of houses will be placed around the area.

One of the garden protectors.

Misha is a mix breed collie-black lab. Rescued by my grown son in Alvord, Texas. She moved in with us a year ago while her master went to school. She joins two others, perhaps soon I will do a "dog" entry.

Here is wishing all a great week to come and hope you enjoy the garden photos and story.