October 31, 2025
Last week I got a sneak peek of the 5 Austin gardens on the November 8th Garden Conservancy tour. Woo-hoo! I thought I’d miss the tour this year because I’ll be manning a book-signing table at one of the gardens (Belmont Parkway). But now I’ve seen them all, and I can tell you — there’s not a lackluster garden in the bunch. I enjoyed every single one! And me being me, I’m sharing the sneak peek with you.
For more tour information and tickets — each garden is sold individually — click here. Be aware that two of the gardens, Pollinators’ Paradise included, have timed entry due to limited parking, so get your tickets now if you want to see those.
Pollinators’ Paradise
My first stop was Pollinators’ Paradise, the garden of Jo Clifton and Roger Duncan in the Barton Hills neighborhood. Designed by Leah Churner of Delta Dawn Gardens, it’s largely a sunny, flowery pollinator habitat. But evergreens like Texas palmetto also play a role, providing year-round greenery and bold form.
Palmetto and canna
Toothy palmetto stems catch the light.
The lot slopes down from the street, but terracing tames runoff and gives plants an opportunity to soak up the rain, when it comes. At the bottom of the slope, a small patio under a floating shade sail offers a spot to enjoy the garden.
Lower path with ‘Country Girl’ mums starting to bloom
A wooden table on the patio is inset with three pretty botanical tiles.
Lindheimer muhly was in full bloom, even before last weekend’s rain. It’s such a beautiful grass in the fall.
The terraced garden glows in the morning light.
‘Benny’s Gold’ flame acanthus, a summer-tough native that attracts hummingbirds
A stone stair bisects the garden, providing direct access to the patio from the upper garden.
Groundcovers like woolly stemodia, snakeherb, pink skullcap, and silver ponyfoot cascade over retaining walls, softening the stone.
There’s rock under those plants.
Bachelor’s buttons gomphrena and silver ponyfoot make a sweet combo along the steps.
Across the garden, fall aster was in purple bloom.
I like the way it’s scattered among waterfalling woolly stemodia and snakeherb. In back, a cistern collects rainwater off the shed roof.
Annual cosmos and fall aster
‘Strawberry Fields’ gomphrena echoes the red flowers of Turk’s cap along the fence.
Butterfly weed and Drummond’s aster — pollinator bait
A queen butterfly flew in for a sip of nectar while I was photographing.
Here’s a clever vignette — an old pump from the garden was placed in a “stream” of silver ponyfoot. You can imagine the water trickling, can’t you?
Red yucca and silver ponyfoot
Frostweed, another pollinator magnet
A closer look
Tithonia
Every flowering plant in this garden will entice a bee, butterfly, or other pollinator. I bet it was aflutter with monarchs when they arrived a few days ago.
Birds like this wren find habitat here too.
Against the shed, a row of terracotta pots shows off the owners’ collection of succulents.
To get tickets for this garden, click here.
Up next: Este Garden on the Open Day Tour.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’ll make a great holiday gift for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
Come see me on tour! I’m speaking in cities across Texas to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Appearances in November include: The Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham on 11/1; Garden Spark in Austin on 11/6; Travis County Open Day Tour at Belmont Pkwy Garden in Austin on 11/8; Redenta’s Garden Shop in Dallas on 11/15; North Haven Gardens in Dallas on 11/16; Wichita River Native Plant Society of Texas in Wichita Falls on 11/17; Grapevine Garden Club in Grapevine on 11/18, and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin on 11/22. Join me to learn, be inspired, and get a signed copy of the book!
Nov. 6: Learn about garden design and ecology at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. The next talk on 11/6 is my own — a presentation on resilient Texas gardens! Tickets available here. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.
Nov. 8: Tour 5 Austin gardens on the Open Day Tour for Travis County, sponsored by the Garden Conservancy. I’ll be at the Belmont Parkway Garden with a book-signing table for Gardens of Texas, so come say hi! Tickets for each garden must be purchased online in advance, and some gardens limit attendance, so reserve your spot early. Find full details and ticket links here.
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
