April 18, 2026
I stopped by Lucinda Hutson‘s purple casita this week and couldn’t resist a quick tour around her garden. Mexican flame vine, its flowers molten orange against the purple house, makes a bold opening act.
I love this annual vine, but I remember mine waiting until fall to flower. What magic is Lucinda working here?
Lucinda’s stashing her empties in the window boxes. “The bottles are too pretty to throw away,” she said.
The Mermaid Garden with its seashell arch and strands of pearly capiz. Snake plants and sticks-on-fire surround the iron mermaid, standing in for coral and seaweed.
Nasturtiums with parasol-like leaves, each one marked like a Trivial Pursuit pie piece (now that’s a dated reference)
Peek-a-boo
Alongside Lucinda’s bathtub shrine — a charming piece of folk art — a cedar bench beckons.
Lime-green Jewels of Opar with its pretty pink and red seedpods
In a raised bed along the driveway, nasturtium, chard, and other cool-season edibles thrive before summer’s heat comes on.
A purple patch of petunias and ornamental cabbages mark the garden’s entrance.
Layers of mistflower, salvia, ruellia, and roses add more color through the seasons.
‘Mystic Spires’ salvia is a wonderful perennial that flowers all season long.
The bees adore it too.
I’m glad I got to see Lucinda’s colorful garden one more time before I leave Austin. It’s one of my favorite places to while away an hour or two among the flowers. I’ll miss its colorful, fun-loving, and hospitable gardener even more.
I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!
__________________________
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’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibi
