January 13 , 2021
Slippery Slopes to Gardens and Outdoor Living Hangouts
“ mode back ” in October 2019 , as clouds loom in pre - pandemic times , we headed up a unconscionable street to an even more dramatic side of a garden . From the topmost tier , director Ed Fuentes and traveling bag Steve Maedl document outstanding views . In a gradual process across 20 twelvemonth , Michael Harper and Jed Duhon turn harsh slopes into tempt livelihood area and landing slur outlooks for their tiddler and two basenjis . When they bought their nursing home in 2000 , they gave their 1950s ranch stylus home a contemporary facelift . In front , alternating layers of blade , concrete , limestone and gravel convey cohesive visual get-up-and-go to clean lines and evergreen texture . They carve into the perilous slope to the street with a flat living room , replacing grass with Tejas Grey gravel . Michael told us , “ You could n’t mop it if your shoes were cockeyed or you would skid into the street with your lawnmower . It was a minuscule intriguing . ”Since Jed ’s an designer , when they need an elevated view , he design an upper deck off the kitchen . “I want a little planting space that I could just walk out the kitchen and doodle , ” Michael said . head around to the back , a pea plant crushed rock path infiltrates rainwater . An open - weave fence and intricate metal logic gate keep cervid out of the backyard without obstructing their neighbor . For several years , the backyard was just two inhospitable cant of grass . “ Before Jed designed the greenhouse there was the tool shed and a cluster of grass . I wanted more landing place areas where you could stand and have a sentiment , ” Michael read . Eventually , they naturalize the slope and slenderize lawn while unite both sides of the yard with architectural tiers of alternate steel , concrete , limestone and crushed rock . Michael , a passionate patron of local greenhouse , dramatize each level with various evergreen plant textures and seasonal flowering beauties . Originally , a stone wall at the back room access did n’t leave way for even a tiny patio . They hollow out the narrow space for a dining room designed with rectangle to visually enlarge the intimate distance . The concrete wall ’s erect lines complement the horizontal planes of Leuders limestone slabs , heightened by contrasting Tejas Grey crushed rock . A steel retaining rampart contains the lawn while steel denture planter cant the next level . Michael softens the passage with plants punctuated by sparkling gazing balls . He clear an inset bed with his Dominicus - washed salvaged rock collection . Up the stairway of steel risers and Tejas Grey crushed rock , the dining way ’s concrete panels also form the retaining wall of a crushed rock playscape for the child when they were youthful . The next level chair to the vegetable garden and limestone - bank pavilion . Then Michael decide , “ Well , I need a pond . Everyone needs a pond . So a pond . And then , everyone needs weewee lily . Well , they ’re very reproductive and that ’s a task in itself if you prefer to let it be . ”Designed and built byHill Country Water Gardens and Nursery , this tier floor out emotion with its gentle falls and Michael ’s clusters of containers . Michael need a more formal pond for this space that invites contemplation on many stage . In this linear surface area , the pond aligns with the tool shed , given a magical makeover . One level up bring us to the greenhouse where Michael overwinter his insensate - tender container plant . Designed by Jed , it ’s an pay for room whatever the season . A limestone pavilion tops the upper tier as the ultimate viewing platform . When it was built in the 50 , you could credibly see all the style to the UT Tower . nuance sails provide stylish enclosure and blue-blooded shade break . The pavilion overlooks a limestone - edged depository financial institution where Michael pairs morphological succulent , grasses , and native perennials for pollinators . On the shady side of the yard , Michael offset architecture with plant structure inspired by his making love of Japanese gardens . Nipponese maple in full fall glory graciously overhang another of Michael ’s pet part tincture loves : huge heart - shapedLigularia . To branch out their plant life choice , they enclosed the backyard with an eight - foot fencing . An open panel design keeps deer on the other side without being a neighbourly blockade . They inserted cattle control board into some panels for vine adornment . The family ’s act on to a new plate and garden adventure , but Michael carry his example and ism with him wherever they ’re planted . “ There ’s always a project , ” he said . Watch now !
Thanks for stop by ! See you next week , Linda
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