Visiting Pam Penick's garden again—Part Two

I'm picking up in the back garden, just about to turn the corner and walk out front. Such a nice wide, tidy, pathway...
Now standing just a little beyond that tall Yucca rostrata you saw above, and looking backwards. 
Having walked thru and closed the side gate (not wanting Cosmo to escape), it was fun to see that same Yucca rostrata highlighted in the gate's small window.
Just to the side of the gate is one of a pair of fabulous cantera stone columns, Pam says a friend passed them along. This one is topped by a simple bowl planted with a foxtail fern.

Here's the second column...
Topped with a large metal bowl and a variegated Agave americana, perfection. 
As I recall Pam placed the mirror-backed lattice rectangles along the wall to break up the expanse of brick. Since I know her home was recently painted, including the brick (see photos here), I wonder if she's planning to rehang them?
There are a couple private sit-spots along the side of the house. I envy people with generous side yards.
Looking back...
I forget how many Texas stars there were in the pathway—I only photographed one. 
That agave was begging to have it's photo taken again, I obliged.
I saw this dark pennisetum in a couple Texas gardens, I'm jealous as it's an annual here in Portland and it's been years since I've bothered to find a spot for it. Such a great plant...
While photographing this raised area with the retaining wall by the garage I started to wonder if this was another of the many upgrades Pam has done around the property. I've been reading her blog for years, but of course don't remember everything she's done, so I asked. It turns out this area was a steeply sloping berm when they moved in. Pam had the berm cut back from the driveway and put in the retaining wall. See some seriously old photos (her kids were so little!) of that area and the project here. 
Plants in the raised area include Dasylirion wheeleri (wheeler's sotol) and Yucca pallida. The groundcover is Stemodia lanata, aka woolly stemodia. Pam says all three are native to Texas.

A photo with dramatic morning light...
As I mentioned Pam recently had the house painted and as a result (in her words) "No more busy brick!" I guess I shouldn't admit that I kind of liked the busy brick?
Then again I didn't have to live with it!
Standing in front of the garage and aiming my camera out across the driveway towards the neighbor's house. 
Of course I realize now that I've managed to avoid mentioning the very attractive elephant in the room, aka the live oaks that tower over Pam's garden and the neighborhood. I am guilty of forgetting to look up, instead concentrating on the ground plane. 

An iconic Pam planting.
I love everything about how Pam has planted up the island surrounded by their u-shaped driveway. I didn't ask, but assume the Agave ovatifolia is being protected from male deer rubbing the velvet off their antlers. During my visit we saw so many deer hanging out in her neighbor's yards, wandering the streets... gangs of them!
The agave's a beauty, even in a cage.
I'm also kind of palm dumb, unable to ID most of them. This one though, Sabal minor (aka Texas dwarf palmetto), I've got a major crush on it.
Just a few more photos to go! Up against the front of the house Pam planted a lovely patch of Carex leavenworthii as a (better than) lawn replacement. Of course my eyes are drawn to the tractor seat plant, Farfugium japonicum ‘Gigantea’. 
Looking across to the spiky side.
Pam's inspired collection of rusty circles filled with spiky plants is the perfect way to end this in-depth look at her fantastic garden. 
I previously mentioned how different our USDA Zone 8 growing conditions are, but I'm happy we can both grow a mean Agave ovatifolia! (or three, or four, or...) Thanks again for sharing your home and garden with me Pam! I can't wait to come back...