February 26, 2026
The 400-year-old live oaks at Becks Prime on Augusta Drive beckoned me for a return visit while I was in Houston last week. I stopped by for lunch on the deck under those enormous, snaking limbs.
Every time I see these two live oaks, thriving amid high rises and pavement, I’m in awe of their hardiness, longevity, and size.
Becks supports their tentacle-like limbs with a scaffolding of posts and beams. The restaurant’s drive-through lane passes under a web of branches. Hand-laid pavers, rather than solid concrete or asphalt, helped preserve the trees’ health, according to an informational sign.
Just look at that mighty, splayed trunk — each limb itself the girth of a mature tree.
The Becks trees are a hidden treasure in the city, well worth seeking out. I’m glad I got to commune with them again.
For earlier posts I’ve written about them, visit:
Heading to San Antonio
A quick note to say on Saturday I’m heading to an event at San Antonio Botanical Garden. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join me. And if you have garden-loving friends in San Antonio, please share the word!
February 28, 1-3 pm – San Antonio Botanical Garden
Join me for a “Gardens of Texas” presentation and discover practical strategies and inspiration for creating gardens with the resilience to weather Texas’s extreme climate. I’ll have books available for sale and signing too. This event is free with admission or Garden membership! Reservations recommended due to limited space. Reserve your spot here.
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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.
