By Kirk Walden
On May 16, 2020, the Travis County Master Gardeners will host our 10th “Inside Austin Gardens Tour.” We will be opening five personal gardens plus Extension’s Demonstration Garden for the public to tour. Our recurring theme is “For Gardeners – By Gardeners” in order to show the public what each gardener achieved by using native and adapted plants in their landscape, allowing for less water use, less fertilization, and less chemicals, even in areas with deer populations and poor soils. Each month we will feature one or more of the gardens and some of our wonderful tour sponsors.
For details on our upcoming tour, and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.insideaustingardens.org
The dreaded “S” words—three of the most challenging conditions in gardening: shade, soil, and slope. That’s what Brenda and Shimon Bekker encountered when they left Fort Worth and moved into a home in Austin near I-35 in 2014.
The city-sized property was loaded with mature trees, shading the entire backyard save for a narrow strip near the back porch. The soil, as is typical west of I-35, was mostly limestone, shallow and alkaline. But the slope was nearly overpowering. Situated on a hillside, the ground level at the back fence was higher than the roofline of the house at the bottom. Drainage and erosion were serious concerns.
Recently retired, gardening was new to the Bekkers when they started on the backyard in 2015. They decided to do all the work themselves, so they could learn along the way. Their objective was to create an inviting space for themselves, for entertaining, and for meditating.
First came terraces to slow water flow and create defined flower beds. In the middle of the garden at the top of the hill sits a rain curtain that flows down to a small pond stocked with goldfish. The soothing sound of running water can be heard throughout.
Several small seating areas dot the property, connected by narrow stone pathways. A lighted gazebo is a favorite spot for morning coffee and evening relaxation. Perennial shade-tolerant native and well-adapted plants are grouped to emphasize varying colors of green and complementary textures. Cast Iron plants contrast with River Ferns. Dwarf Ruellia plays against Heartleaf Skullcap. The sun strip gets bright-blooming annuals for a pop of color not possible in the shade.
Clearly, Brenda and Shimon Bekker are up to the challenges. Their garden testifies to it.
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