Pride of Barbados by CMG Ronnie K.
By CMG Ronnie K
With the drought comes an opportunity. It’s an ideal time to take a look around and see what plants are surviving or even thriving in your neighborhood or nearby communities. Make a note of those plants. Look for ways to incorporate them into your garden and landscape beds for a remodel or replacement of plants that gave up. Don’t let the heat parch your psyche. It’s a refreshing time!
Look over there. That esperanza is gorgeous. The dwarf yaupon holly is thriving. Thryallis are filled with hundreds of yellow blossoms. Around back the Mexican Bush Sage is filled with velvety purple flower spikes attracting bumblebees galore. The red yucca long ago finished flowering but the spiky leaves are still standing green and proud. That Rising Sun redbud is showing its wear but still promises a brilliant spring bloom. On the side giant zinnias are putting on a show, laughing in the heat. Yes, plants are amazing.
Esperanza in bed of Purple Trailing Lantana by CMG Ronnie K.
Selecting plants that are native or adapted to your area is xeriscaping. What? I bet you thought xeriscaping was a harsh landscape of cacti and rocks. Nope. That image of xeriscaping applies to deserts like Arizona. Many cacti can’t take the cold or the extreme surges in rain that come with our “drenched to parched” cyclical climate in Comal County. They are poor choices for us. Our area has a different xeriscape look. Really?
Giant Zinnia in the pollinator garden by CMG Ronnie K.
Leave those cacti in the desert and select plants that are native or adapted to our Hill Country climate. Xeriscaping or water-conserving or draught-tolerate or smart-scaping are all ways of describing the same approach to landscaping. It’s a landscape that respects the climate of the garden and yard through plant selection and more. The 7 principles for this water-conserving landscaping cover planning, soil, turfs, plants, irrigation, mulches and maintenance. It’s all about building and maintaining a garden with plants that work for your area and you. By doing it right, you will create a sense of place and something of pride, around your Hill Country home. Done properly it will be a work of beauty while simultaneously conserving resources. Now that is really cool!
Yaupon Holly, Red Yucca and Thryallis and Bottle Bush (a guaranteed drought survivor) by CMG Ronnie K.
There are many references for xeriscaping from Texas A&M to our broader community. When you aren’t watering, give Texas xeriscape a Google. Or try any of these links to lean more: Xeriscape™ Landscape Water Conservation from Texas A&M or water smart plants for Bexar County.
Let’s get back to dreaming.
That cherry sage is thriving. Turk’s cap, red or pink, is eye catching. Texas sage in its magnificent silver green is still standing tall waiting for rain to burst into blossom. Green santolina and rosemary look lush. Many of the sages are pulling in the hummingbirds and bees with their assortment of dainty but colorful flowers. The lantanas from white to purple to yellow to red are gorgeous. The energizer rabbit of the salvias, Salvia Greggi, just keeps going and going. Pride of Barbados provides a stroll stopping show of red and orange. Wow! Wow! Wow!
Mexican Bush Sage by CMG Ronnie K.
There are abundant plant choices for a water-conserving or a xeriscape Hill Country garden. Many plants are making it through this extreme drought and offer good choices to add to your garden. Now, aren’t they an inspiration for your future garden?
Note: All photos taken in August 2022.