Garden centers are wonderful sources of inspiration. They also have staffs of people manicuring the grounds. If you’re looking for low maintenance ideas, peruse commercial sites that do not frequently have landscapers ripping and planting new beds.
In Austin, the landscaped stone ledges along the trails of Town Lake and the University of Texas campus are good examples. Note particularly the beds near the parking garages at UT. You will see many varieties of sages, salvias, and rosemary. All of these are low water usage plants that can tolerate part shade to sunny conditions.
The most informative books and resources are those specific to the area. Local climates can be quite complex and it would be near impossible for a general gardening guide to cover the subject in detail. Here in Central Texas, my favorite resources are:
Publications:
- Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity
- Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, a free (in Austin) publication through the Texas Cooperative Extension
- Landscaping With Antique Roses (“Fine Gardening” Books)
- The Organic Rose Garden
- Roses in the Southern Garden
- How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest: Revised and Updated Edition
- Perennial Gardens for Texas
- Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region
- Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
My two favorite nurseries are:
Informative websites:
Happy Fall Gardening!!!
