Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The garden of Tait Moring, a stop on the 2018 Garden Bloggers Fling

Sometimes the buses we take to the Fling private gardens can't park right at the garden entrance, it's a fun game to guess exactly which garden it is that we're touring. For Tait Moring's garden—which we toured on the last day of the Austin Fling—we parked near this cistern/fountain creation, just around the corner from his garden. I never did find out if it was part of his garden, or not.

The garden description, in Tait's words, from our Fling paperwork: "I've been developing my home garden over the last 20 years, so it's an eclectic mix. Based on an overall aim to celebrate the Hill Country's natural beauty, the design of the property has grown organically over the years. The key components of the space are the house/studio, a simple swimming pool, terraced vegetable gardens, multiple water features, a fire pit, and a trails system. There are a lot of salvaged pieces here: stone, wood, and iron. The masonry utilizes limestone found on site, and the fences are made of Ashe junipers cleared from the property."

I really wish my photos of this garden weren't so contrasty, but c'est la vie when you're touring on a sunny day.

This garden was quite outstanding, lots to discover spread around the developed section of the 22-acre property.

Everyone knew the name of this fabulous Opuntia, except me. I vowed to remember it. I do not.

This may have been my favorite part of this garden.

Walking under an arch with a skull and Opuntia on it, yes please.

Clean straight lines...

I don't think this is the yew I covet (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata', aka Spreading Japanese Plum Yew), but I liked it, a lot. The presentation was marvelous.

Fantastic gate details.

And naturally the Agaves were top-notch.

Tait identified the swimming pool as his favorite feature, I might have to agree: "It was inspired by local spring-fed swimming holes, where I spent a lot of time as a kid. It was designed to be very simple, with clean lines disappearing into the surrounding landscape. A limestone wall that serves as a backdrop was constructed from stone gathered on-site and helps to screen pool equipment.

It's the wall, and the way it acts as a dramatic back-drop, I really loved.

Well, that and the fact we were allowed to dip our legs in the cool water.

At the far end of the pool...

Finally the deck off the back of the house (if my memory is correct).

And the view.

Loved this garden...

Weather Diary, Dec 10: Hi 44, Low 37/ Precip trace

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

22 comments:

  1. Goodness, "22-acre property!". The word 'organic' comes to mind when I look at these photographs. I totally appreciate making use of material found on the grounds. The fence as well as the stone wall are wonderful. Love the rusty-nails pillar. I couldn't figure out the chandelier(?) behind the agave.

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    1. I couldn't either! (the chandelier) And I was there in person...

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  2. Love his hardscaping and art objects. He really knows what scale and contrasts are needed to work in his garden.

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  3. The pillars, the skull, the plants - so much to love in ths wonderful garden. Not to mention the blue sky and warm temperature which hit the spot on this soggy dark morning.

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  4. Unique and eclectic garden - I loved the gates esp.

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  5. Thanks for blogging about Tait's wonderful garden, Loree. I love all his handmade details cobbled together from found objects, rocks dug up on site, and even his childhood rock collection integrated into one rock wall. He has the soul of an artist.

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    1. He is definitely an artist, thanks for making sure we were able to see this wonderful garden!

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  6. Such a lot to love about this.
    rickii

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  7. These photos don't cover the whole 22 acres, do they? That's a big space for an hour or two's visit!

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    1. Oh gosh no, I stayed in the developed area around the house, and we were only there for (maybe?) an hour.

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  8. The chandelier actually came from one of Tait's clients who was remodeling. You see a lot of capiz wind chimes, so I assume that's why he put it in the garden. I find it pretty funny, because he's really not one for the whole "whimsy" garden ornament thing, but that, to me, is straight-up whimsical. (Sorry about the use of the W-word, but I think you know what I mean!)

    Did you know that pond you like is actually a galvanized stock tank that he rocked over? I asked him about the construction, because I love it too, especially how it's built into the side of the hill. It used to be full of goldfish, same with the fountain by the front door, but a heron ate every single one. I am super attached to my goldfish, so that was not great to hear...I need a much deeper pond!

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    1. Thanks for the chandelier low-down, and yes...it's definitely whimsical.

      So pond, are you referring to the round one with the stone edging? Fabulous! Well except for the poor fish.

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  9. As usual, you captured thinks I entirely missed and can't even remember seeing. And however did you manage a photo of the pool without a dozen or more people trailing their feet in it?

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    1. With the pool I think I just lucked out and happened to be over there before the masses descended!

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  10. Yes, this was an incredible garden, and your post shows how many things I missed. Darn! I should have wandered more. I seem to remember having a fun discussion with folks during this tour, though. :) I do remember the fencing, and the view, and that giant wall of Opuntia. Was it O. humifusa or O. lindheimeri? I remember thinking that, although a couple of Opuntias are native to Wisconsin, these were gigantic (everything's big in Texas!). ;-)

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    1. It wasn't O. humifusa, it seems like people had an outstanding common name for it, like Old Gold or something. Isn't it fabulous that you've got native Wisconsin Opuntia? Now that's a plant that gets around!

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  11. As others commented I missed a lot that you saw.

    I admit I did spend a lot of time with my feet in the pool. Felt so soothing and refreshing on that very hot day.

    The Cistern-like thing out on the main highway--I got the impression it was the showpiece announcing the McMansion development on that street off of the highway, where the buses pulled off to let us out. It had a sign with the name of the development on it. (Very SoCal, so I notice things like that.)

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    1. Ah...thanks for the cistern-thing explanation, that makes sense. Good eye!

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