Comments

1. 
   HelloFromMD 08/20/2015

   Love the sphere in photo 3. I imagine your plant palette is quite different than mine here in Maryland. How hot does it get in Kingwood and do you get much rain? My favorite is the walk to your front door so welcoming and colorful, but everything looks wonderful! Do you use some of the Texas Superstar plants?

2. 
   meander_michaele 08/20/2015

   Sandra, I'd definitely have a smile on my face strolling up your colorful front walkway to start the garden tour. I'm sure you had many pleased visitors who so appreciated your sharing your garden. The pathways in your backyard are very inviting with the pleasing curves and securely seated in pavers...it gives a great look.What is the flowering plant in the huge open metal planter? It certainly is eye-catching!

3. 
   user-3565112 08/20/2015

   Gardening magazines & books tell you I've read tell you to start with the hardscape. You folks nailed it. The whole garden came together beautifully.The island with the pond is unique & the plant selection compliments it all.

4. 
   user-3565112 08/20/2015

   Please excuse the typo in my post.

5. 
   user-4691082 08/20/2015

   Sandra, your property is beautiful! I too, want to know the plant in the gorgeous metal container. Did you do the hardscaping yourselves? What part of Texas do you live in?

6. 
   Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 08/20/2015

   So nice! I'm crazy about your succulent containers, especially the large, scalloped one. Your fence, structures and hardscaping really set the stage for the garden. As the living parts change and grow, they've got great structure around them for order and even inspiration.

7. 
   Quiltingmamma 08/20/2015

   Lovely. Oh to have a clean slate to work with, and design with. Just a beautiful back yard. I can see you wandering in a morning with a cup of brew, or an evening with a glass of wine, reviewing the progress of your plants and fish. I think the frequent and repeated shots of yellowy green really stands out. Thanks for sharing.

8. 
   hontell 08/20/2015

   Sandra, I love it, your garden has it all, color, structure, art, fantastic

9. 
   user-7007076 08/20/2015

   What a colorful and warm welcome to your home your front garden makes! Is especially love the contrast the chartreuse ground cover makes. Is it creeping Jenny? If so, how does it behave?

10. 
    sandradunphy 08/20/2015

    Thanks everyone! So glad you like the yard! The large metal basket (fondly known as "Big Bertha") is holding begonias. The bright green is lemongrass sedum which stays that color all year long. In the fall/winter I plant deep blue and burgundy pansies in it for a real pop. We put the walkways in many years ago - been in the house for 30 years. I was trying to achieve an English Cottage Garden look in the front - I wanted shutters but the house design was not amenable to that so I stained the bricks on either side of the windows to get the same effect. Then replaced the windows with a craftsman style design. Kingwood is just north of Houston, near IAH. I don't use too many TX plants as oftentimes they are too big for a small one-story house. I do try to use as many perennials as possible and LOVE drift roses!

11. 
    lms062 08/20/2015

    Inspiring!

12. 
    GrannyCC 08/20/2015

    What a welcoming entrance to your garden. Love all the hardscaping and landscaping. Your backyard is so serene and private.

13. 
    VikkiVA 08/20/2015

    I'd say you definitely have a cottage garden in what you have made in the front. How ingenious to stain your brick to have the feel of shutters. Your plant choice is beautiful and I am all about order so I especially love the "neatness" of your back yard. Is the grey grassy plant surrounding "Big Bertha" some variety of Carex? What great pathways and yard art you have. Yours is most assuredly one of my favorites. Vikki in VA

14. 
    gringopeligroso 08/20/2015

    Sandra!!!
    I'm impressed!! Having lived and gardened on the Texas Gulf Coast in a past life, I know first hand of the challenges in your neck of the woods.... the heat, humidity, clay, bugs, etc, etc. And, a traditional cottage garden is going to be a formidable challenge, there. That being said, you've selected some elements which pull off a beautiful compromise to that very end!!! Well Done!! As you stated, much has filled in since these views, and like others, would love to see the covered spaces one day!

15. 
    BoxwoodBarbara 08/20/2015

    Sandra,
    So much thought went into your garden. I especially like the textures of the brick paths and the metalwork, as well as those containers.

16. 
    wGardens 08/20/2015

    Wonderfully inviting. So many things to see! Nice choices of varied plants/trees/shrubs. Nice blending of landscaping/hardscaping and garden art! Love what you've done and I look forward to more photos!

17. 
    user-7007778 08/21/2015

    Just so well done.Wish we could do this in the cold north