Austinites are blessed to have access to a fantastic trail that is unlike any other. Wrapping around the newly named Lady Bird Lake, the hike and bike trail provides ample space to run in nature. Most of the trail is well shaded and bordered by wild and natural edgings along the lake. Strategically placed along the path are garden spaces where community oriented individuals and businesses can care for the trail. This summer we decided to get involved in keeping Austin not only weird, but also beautiful, by adopting the three gardens along the trail around South Lamar and the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.

After gaining approval from the city to maintain the gardens, I went out to survey the space. It was predominantly shady which provided some great challenges – for instance, the flowering plant pallet is limited when it comes to what will bloom in shade. Also, the area was mostly sloped so certain types of gravel – such as decomposed granite – could not be used over much of the area as mulch because it would easily wash away.

The garden layout was already set and much to our delight already sported many great plants such as fully matured Red Yucca, great trees, and large rosemary shrubs. To keep the garden in line with the “eco-friendly” theme we all love so well, I picked a lot of Columbine, Texas Sedge, Coreopsis, and other native and well adapted plants. Up in the areas under the bridge that got no sun at all, I used Cast Iron Plant to provide evergreen foliage.

As usual, the actual installation varied a bit from the design. This is very normal for garden design. Once you get on site and start laying out plants the eye catches new texture combinations to highlight or notices that the lighting is a bit different than originally thought and the plants are adjusted accordingly.

At the Pfluger Garden the plant locations remained mostly the same in the translation from paper to real life, but more gravel was added to spruce up the edges and highlight certain plants. The arroyos were extended to help with water and add more aesthetic interest. Arroyos (dry creek beds, or the simulation of them) are wonderful additions to any garden; they can help collect and direct water in low spots, or break up areas where large amounts of water land (such as at the end of a gutter or under an eve) and help diminish the wash out.

I hope you get a chance to go see the gardens and let us know what you think! For now, please enjoy the before and after shots below.

Lady Bird Lake Design 1- Before and After

Lady Bird Lake Design 2- Before and After

Lady Bird Lake Design 3- Before and After

Happy Hiking and Biking,

Kate Higdon

Perfect Lawns and Landworks