Another of those special "post-fling" Austin gardens that I got to see — thanks to Pam — was the personal garden of designer Curt Arnette (Sitio Design)...
![]()
Curt was the designer credited with the Mirador Garden, a yucca and steel lover's paradise which the Fling proper toured on the first day, I will be writing about it on Thursday.
![]()
It was a revelation to see how he approached the design of his own garden, which takes up a large corner lot. Here we're entering the shady front garden, via the driveway, shown above.
![]()
The succulent lover in me had to stop and appreciate the sun-illuminated Kalanchoe pads.
![]()
I suspect there will be a lot of detail to soak up in this garden.
![]()
We've walked through the private front garden now, on the way to the back. Worry not! We'll return.
![]()
A view of the side garden, from the public sidewalk.
![]()
A little further along the sidewalk.
![]()
And now stepping back into the previous photo, but walking up the pathway to the back garden.
![]()
The name of this plant escapes me, but I do love the foliage. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it gets yellow flowers that I find rather unpleasant, and that's why I've never planted it in my own garden.
![]()
Sharkskin (Agave)!
![]()
This beautiful pond, and the sculptural "rill-delivered" flow of water running into it, was simply perfect.
![]()
![]()
I somehow managed to tear myself away to explore the rest of the garden.
![]()
The planted-up limestone steps...
![]()
Were pure magic. Why just have steps when you can have plants in the steps?
![]()
And that block wall! Palm Springs done up Austin-style.
![]()
So seriously fabulous, and isn't that little Bougainvillea the perfect touch?
![]()
![]()
![]()
Heading around to the shade, in back of the planter now.
![]()
![]()
More Piper auritum perhaps? (the big leaves) Along with my favorite Austin "weed" Tradescantia pallida...
![]()
Agave (almost) buried by Alstroemeria pulchella.
![]()
And an Alstroemeria almost-bloom.
![]()
More shady garden-goodness in a part of the garden that's still a work in progress.
![]()
Did you spot the bird girl statue in the photo above? "The famous Bird Girl statue, originally designed both as art and as a birdseed holder, was originally located at Savannah's historic Bonaventure Cemetery. A Savannah photographer, Jack Leigh, was commissioned to take a photograph for the cover of the book. The cover image became immediately iconic, with author John Berendt calling it "one of the strongest covers I've ever seen", and the statue became a popular stop for tourists. Owing to rising concerns about the integrity of the statue and the cemetery's privacy, Bird Girl was relocated in 1997 for display in Telfair Museums in Savannah. In late 2014, the statue was moved to a dedicated space in the Telfair Museums' Jepson Center for the Arts on West York Street, in Savannah." (source)
![]()
![]()
Heading back out into the sun...
![]()
I wanted to get a closer look at the wall, I'd noticed in places it actually seemed to be floating.
![]()
That's because instead of being buried in the ground it's on a short metal platform. Pam got the low-down from Curt and shared it in her recent blog post on the garden (here). The blocks are adhered to the metal and each other with a product called Fuze-it. I think the black metal base adds a modern artistic touch. So much better than just having the blocks disappear into the ground.
![]()
The chairs add another dose of Palm Springs atmosphere.
![]()
Back out on the side-street sidewalk.
![]()
And in the front garden. The gate opens onto the street in front of the house. The hedging provides privacy since an actual wall wasn't allowed by the neighborhood association rules.
![]()
Many Austin Sagos still showed the destruction of last winter, this one didn't look touched.
![]()
Out front there were several striking Agave ovatifolia, of course.
![]()
![]()
And blooming Dyckia.
![]()
![]()
This vignette marks the corner of the property.
![]()
The dish planter Bougainvillea is my new "personal favorite" treatment for this plant.
![]()
Wouldn't you know it a monarch happened by to add a splash of orange and movement to the planting.
![]()
The perfect touch to an already perfect garden.
![]()
Thank you Curt for letting our small group invade your garden and take up your time, and thank you Pam for arranging it!
![]()
Weather Diary, July 9: Hi 71, Low 60/ Precip trace (enough to make the dust on the car splotchy)
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Curt was the designer credited with the Mirador Garden, a yucca and steel lover's paradise which the Fling proper toured on the first day, I will be writing about it on Thursday.
It was a revelation to see how he approached the design of his own garden, which takes up a large corner lot. Here we're entering the shady front garden, via the driveway, shown above.
The succulent lover in me had to stop and appreciate the sun-illuminated Kalanchoe pads.
I suspect there will be a lot of detail to soak up in this garden.
We've walked through the private front garden now, on the way to the back. Worry not! We'll return.
A view of the side garden, from the public sidewalk.
A little further along the sidewalk.
And now stepping back into the previous photo, but walking up the pathway to the back garden.
The name of this plant escapes me, but I do love the foliage. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it gets yellow flowers that I find rather unpleasant, and that's why I've never planted it in my own garden.
Sharkskin (Agave)!
This beautiful pond, and the sculptural "rill-delivered" flow of water running into it, was simply perfect.
I somehow managed to tear myself away to explore the rest of the garden.
The planted-up limestone steps...
Were pure magic. Why just have steps when you can have plants in the steps?
And that block wall! Palm Springs done up Austin-style.
So seriously fabulous, and isn't that little Bougainvillea the perfect touch?
Heading around to the shade, in back of the planter now.
More Piper auritum perhaps? (the big leaves) Along with my favorite Austin "weed" Tradescantia pallida...
More shady garden-goodness in a part of the garden that's still a work in progress.
Did you spot the bird girl statue in the photo above? "The famous Bird Girl statue, originally designed both as art and as a birdseed holder, was originally located at Savannah's historic Bonaventure Cemetery. A Savannah photographer, Jack Leigh, was commissioned to take a photograph for the cover of the book. The cover image became immediately iconic, with author John Berendt calling it "one of the strongest covers I've ever seen", and the statue became a popular stop for tourists. Owing to rising concerns about the integrity of the statue and the cemetery's privacy, Bird Girl was relocated in 1997 for display in Telfair Museums in Savannah. In late 2014, the statue was moved to a dedicated space in the Telfair Museums' Jepson Center for the Arts on West York Street, in Savannah." (source)
Heading back out into the sun...
I wanted to get a closer look at the wall, I'd noticed in places it actually seemed to be floating.
That's because instead of being buried in the ground it's on a short metal platform. Pam got the low-down from Curt and shared it in her recent blog post on the garden (here). The blocks are adhered to the metal and each other with a product called Fuze-it. I think the black metal base adds a modern artistic touch. So much better than just having the blocks disappear into the ground.
The chairs add another dose of Palm Springs atmosphere.
Back out on the side-street sidewalk.
And in the front garden. The gate opens onto the street in front of the house. The hedging provides privacy since an actual wall wasn't allowed by the neighborhood association rules.
Many Austin Sagos still showed the destruction of last winter, this one didn't look touched.
Out front there were several striking Agave ovatifolia, of course.
And blooming Dyckia.
This vignette marks the corner of the property.
The dish planter Bougainvillea is my new "personal favorite" treatment for this plant.
Wouldn't you know it a monarch happened by to add a splash of orange and movement to the planting.
The perfect touch to an already perfect garden.
Thank you Curt for letting our small group invade your garden and take up your time, and thank you Pam for arranging it!
Weather Diary, July 9: Hi 71, Low 60/ Precip trace (enough to make the dust on the car splotchy)
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.