February 11, 2026
Last November, landscape architect Curt Arnette and I visited another of his Sitio Design landscapes. Located in southwest Austin, this garden features low-maintenance grasses and waterwise plants like agave, prickly pear, and sotol.
Limestone boulders play a hefty role in the garden. Curt used them to elevate naturalistic planting beds…
…add separation between lawn and garden…
…and create a sense of enclosure. Notice how the curving line of stone seems to ripple out from the curve of the entry walk.
The boulders live harmoniously with prickly pear, woolly stemodia, and Lindheimer muhly — a “gardened up” version of exposed limestone and native plants in the wild.
Near the front door, I appreciated cotton-candy clouds of Gulf muhly in full bloom.
The rosy-pink inflorescence of Gulf muhly stands out against a gray-green backdrop of woolly stemodia, Wheeler’s sotol, and cenizo — all native to Texas.
Side view: zoysia lawn (“left long to mound,” Curt says), limestone, and entry garden
One of my favorite moments: woolly stemodia, Wheeler’s sotol, Gulf muhly, and skeleton-leaf goldeneye
Woolly stemodia waterfalls across rock, softening the scene.
A whale’s tongue agave perches amid Berkeley sedge on the other side of the front porch.
Beyond, a large raised bed built up with boulders extends the foundation garden into the lawn. This peninsula creates a sense of enclosure near the front door.
The rusty grasses in back are exuberant little bluestem.
Looking outward from the porch, your eye is led by a stepping-stone path to a large fire pit.
The fire pit patio, sited at the edge of a natural bluff, overlooks trees and the neighborhood below. Little bluestem grasses in fall color stand around like pregamers warming their hands.
Looking back toward the house, with a sunlit bluestem
Here you can see how the property falls away to the left of the front door, and how Curt built it up with boulders and plants to keep everything in scale.
Side view with woolly stemodia, spineless prickly pear, little bluestem, and Wheeler’s sotol
Gulf muhly showing off in fall bloom
Woolly stemodia, prickly pear, and Gulf muhly grass
In the sloping backyard, I admired a naturalistic limestone retaining wall, placed to evoke an exposed ledge of stone. A red yucca tucks into a nook behind it. Skeleton-leaf goldeneye, Wheeler’s sotol, and Gulf muhly add color and texture against a shadowy belt of cedars.
Gulf muhly, Wheeler’s sotol, and woolly stemodia soak up the sun.
When Gulf muhly is backlit — shazam!
A row of Gulf muhly edges the driveway too. I imagine it quietly biding its time all year until fall, and then — poof! An explosion of color and swaying texture.
‘Heavenly Cloud’ cenizo in violet flower
And I’ll end on a glorious haze of Gulf muhly.
My thanks to Curt and the owners for allowing me to share the garden. For a look back at another of Curt’s designs, the Piano Rock garden, click here. Up next: A backyard retreat and meadowy entry garden in central Austin.
Heading to Houston
A quick note to say I’m heading to Houston next week for two events, both open to the public. If you’re in the area, I’ll hope you’ll join me. And if you have garden-loving friends in Space City, please share the word!
February 18, 6-8 pm – Meet the Author: Rice University
Free and open to the public. This is a hybrid event: when registering, you can choose to participate in person or through Zoom. You’re invited to attend a conversation-style discussion at Rice University, my alma mater, moderated by one of the gardeners featured in Gardens of Texas, who’s also a Rice alumna. I’ll talk about my background at Rice, how I became a writer, and how my new book came about. After the discussion, in-person attendees are invited to a reception with heavy appetizers and drinks. Presented by the Office of Alumni Relations and Friends of Fondren Library. Register here.
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February 19, 6:00-9:30 pm – Houston Botanic Garden
“Gardens of Texas: In Conversation with Houston Gardeners”: In a panel conversation moderated by me, Houston gardeners featured in Gardens of Texas will join me on-stage to share what they’ve learned about making inviting outdoor spaces, choosing plants, supporting wildlife, and tending gardens that are both resilient and deeply personal. Expect practical insights, local perspectives, and a close look at the beauty of gardens grown in harmony with place. I’ll have books for sale and signing before and after the discussion. Register here; tickets are $30 for members of the Garden, $40 for non-members.
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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’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
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. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
