Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Visiting Pam Penick's garden again—Part One (I had it all to myself this time!)

As I've mentioned a time or two, I was in Austin back in October. During that visit I had the luxury of staying at Pam and David Penick's home. This meant I was able to walk out into Pam's garden (of Digging fame in case you didn't immediately make the connection) and wander about at my leisure. Sort of. Pam and I were on the go from the moment I arrived until the moment I departed, thus I didn't get nearly as much time in her garden as I had hoped for—not that I'm complaining. 
That said, at least this time I had it all to myself! My previous visit, back in 2018, was with dozens of other bloggers as part of the Austin Garden Bloggers Fling (my post on that visit can be found here). 

Rather than starting out at the front of the house, this tour will begin as I walked off the back porch tucked in between the living room and the master bedroom. I loved looking out at the pool through a jungly surround of foliage.
Since my last visit Pam's Austin sign has moved from one of the short colorful walls at the backside of the pool, to the fence at the back of the garden, I like it there. The green "groundcover" is Justicia spicigera, aka Mexican honeysuckle (thanks Pam for this ID and several others).

Here's another photo of the garden looking out across the pool. 

Being a Pacific Northwest gardener I can't imagine giving over that much of my gardening space to a big bowl of water. Then again, put me in a summer of Texas-style heat and I might be begging for it!

Also against the back fence are this pair of stately Yucca rostrata and some of that Texas limestone. Note the blue wall that backs the pool...

...here's the far back side of the house (with it's generously sized deck), from behind that wall and the agave perched atop.

Yucca rupicola, I believe?

Callicarpa acuminata, aka Mexican beautyberry

Pam has been gardening here since late 2008, and I should also note, she and David inherited the pool with the house.  You'd never know though that it wasn't part of her masterplan for the space, the way the garden flows perfectly around it.

Agave bracteosa

I should have asked for ID on her bamboos, they look so lush and healthy.

Here's that patio I mentioned at the beginning of the post, where I began my garden walk. The roof is a COVID-time addition, creating a year-round gathering space for friends and family.

Another photo, a little lighter, attempting to show the big ass fan (literally) and some of the seating and decor.

Just out of frame in the last shot, a baby of Moby (Pam's Agave ovatifolia)—grown from the tiny bulbils on Moby's bloom stalk.

The plant with the colorful fruit growing in and over the metal agave is Capsicum annuum, aka chile pequin, a Texas native pepper. Had I known it was edible I might have begged a couple of fruit to take home and try!

Looking across the pool to the Yucca rostrata and container-topped blue wall we saw earlier.

I will forever be amazed that Pam and I garden in the same Zone 8, according to the USDA Hardiness map. Aloe maculata, the soap aloe, does so well in her garden, but I've never been able to overwinter it in the ground in mine. Our winter wet is the death of it—hardiness Zones only tell part of the story.

It is however an easy going container plant for me, keep it dry and it can withstand the cold. Blooms are less regular though.

Here's a photo from another day's walk around the garden, you might have noticed a change in the quality of the light? 

Looking beyond the pool we see the former stock tank pond area. I know, some of you still haven't gotten over the fact she got rid of that iconic garden feature.

Maybe some gorgeous agave photos will help?

I asked Pam if this stunning plant was a specific cultivar or named variety, her reply: "The variegated agave was an unnamed pass-along from Jennifer at Victory or Death in the Garden. She moved to New Zealand and gave it to me. It was marked as just Agave ovatifolia at the nursery where she bought it, but she spotted the variegation even then."

Not only is it beautiful but it's tough, having survived the horrible February 2021 freeze in Austin that killed many agaves.

Pam's bottle tree survived the cold too.

Here are those Yucca rostrata again, this time seen through the yellow blooms of Salvia madrensis, aka Forsythia sage,.

One more look out over the pool, which I am really starting to see as a garden feature.

These plantings are along-side the raised deck off the back of the house.


The Orbit Planters from Potted are filled with Dyckia choristaminea 'Frazzle Dazzle' and Dichondra argentea.

We're up on the deck now, where there's a table and orange Fermob chairs I didn't get a chance to use while I was visiting.

Potted characters...

And another unused (by me) chair grouping.

Just a couple more images in today's post. Here we're looking down at the garden from the deck level.

And here checking out a Hover Dish planter hanging from Pam's inherited crepe myrtle. Come back Friday for a look at Pam's front garden!

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

24 comments:

  1. Where are the people? That was first (and recurring) thought, seeing how the only time I've seen Pam's garden in person was during the Fling.

    I'm so happy that you shared so many photos of (almost) every nook and cranny. Like you, I'm not a big fan of swimming pools, but I couldn't imagine Pam's backyard without it.

    What I love most about this space is the restraint in the plant palette and the colors. Maybe because it's not something I'm capable of? Pam has discipline, I don't.

    Chile pequin - gotta try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pam definitely has a considered color palette, something I've always appreciated as it comes through in her blog posts. Having spent time inside her home now my admiration of her design skills has doubled.

      Delete
  2. P.S. That variegated Agave ovatifolia is super special. 'Orca', a cultivar with essentially the same variegation, goes for big bucks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the subtle variegation on Pam's Agave ovatifolia even more than what I've seen on a lot of "Orca"...

      Delete
  3. What a treat to see Pam's garden without dozens of people clustered about! It's always fun to see a garden I think I know (in this case from the Fling and Pam's own posts) through another lens. I love the metal agave with the entwined pepper plant but I adore that variegated Agave ovatifolia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't that metal agave and pepper combo look like it was meant to be? I don't think I would like either one quite as much without the other.

      Delete
  4. Great photos. the problem with USDA zones is that they only take average winter low temperatures into consideration. The Sunset zones (50 for USA verses 10) are more useful but have not caught on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I know, but I have issues with the Sunset zones too. Nothing beats experience.

      Delete
  5. It's a delightful garden and I enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Garden looks different than it did in '18, yet every bit as good.

    A big bowl of water does take up space but when it's 105F out, it must be most welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome indeed. As for the changes since '18. Word is there have been a few even since I was there just 4 months ago. Pam is not one to sit on her laurels, or agaves (ouch!)

      Delete
  7. How fun to see my garden through your lens, Loree. You captured a couple of views I haven't shown on my own blog, like the Yucca rostrata seen through the forsythia sage. Man, I'd forgotten about all the rain -- everything looks so wet and kind of bedraggled to my eyes. But I'm sure we needed it.

    The bamboo by the patio roof is 'Alphonse Karr' - new since the big freeze of 2021 killed the agave that used to be in that bed.

    Re: Gerhard's comment about restraint, I am restrained in terms of colors of pots, paint, and accents. But not particularly in terms of plant foliage or flowers. Any restraint there is imposed by my garden's conditions -- dry shade, extreme summer heat and humidity, and occasional 20-something temps in winter. Plus, out front, deer.

    The pool was actually the reason we bought this house -- ha! Back in 2008, when our children were young, we couldn't imagine one more summer without some way to spend comfortable play time outdoors, and the pool does the trick. Nowadays it gets much less use, but I still enjoy it. Come in summer and you'll see! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The best thing about the rain was that it fell at night, not interfering with our plans!

      I bet the pool was a game changer for your young family. We had a big above ground pool when I was a kid (having 3 acres it didn't take much away from my mom's gardening space) and my brothers and I loved it.

      Delete
  8. A welcome return walk down Pam Penick's garden paths and patios! Like Gerhardt, I keep thinking, "where are all the people?" And it's so interesting to see how things have changed since the Austin Fling, like the circular garden where the stock tank lived, and that snazzy new patio cover. Thanks for the fun of reliving our Fling visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would have been fun to have you all there with me!

      Delete
  9. I regret that I won’t be able to visit Pam’s garden in the future as many times as I have done in the past. Pam has created a wonderful outdoor retreat with her great sense of the design and her choice of plants. I also I’m surprised when I think you live in the same zone is central Texas. Worlds apart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What USDA Zone are you gardening in now Jenny? I know it gets cold in Tucson at night.

      Delete
  10. Oh, what a treat to spend some quality time with Pam in her beautiful garden! I love the pool centerpiece, and how the garden undulates around it. And, I don't think I have ever seen an Agave with that kind of variegation - very cool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Variegation in an Agave ovatifolia is indeed rare, Pam's got a treasure there.

      Delete
  11. You know I had to read your 2018 post, as well as Pam's post of the entrance' remodel. Changing the front door's color made a huge difference and seem to set a tone for blue touches throughout the garden. I think the removal of the stock tank help enhance the fabulous circular stone pattern, which I just love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pam put those stones in herself, can you imagine!? Glad you took a deep dive, such an inspiring garden.

      Delete
  12. Getting rid of her stock tank encouraged us to get rid of our pond.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!