Tag Archives: Agave

Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

October 23, 2023

My heart is beating fast just thinking back to my four hours at Chanticleer in September. The history of the garden is interesting because without philanthropic foundations like Chanticleer’s, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to visit such awe inspiring gardens. This historical information is taken from their website.

The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine built their country retreat in 1913, remodeling and expanding to make it a permanent residence in 1924. In 1990 following the death of Adolph Jr., the entire Chanticleer estate was set up as a foundation for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Thirty five acres are open for exploration.

Map of Chanticleer Garden

The teacup garden, named for this fountain is reinvented every year. This year’s design was taken from historic Persian gardens with silver and variegated plants. See Starla on the left in focus!
I am not sure the name of this garden but loved the yellow foliage and the large leaves of the banana below.
Asparagus for days! A truly inspiring asparagus border located next to the vegetable garden.
The ruin garden, notice the firestick plant in front, flanked by cactus, agave and euphorbia and an espaliered magnolia holding up the wall(so to speak).
The dry garden reminiscent of a Mediterranean garden and also looking very Texan. This garden of agaves and Yucca rostrata with many self -sowers, like Mexican feather grass, echinacea, poppies and asters; faces the same challenges we have at Raincatcher’s. Edit, edit for beauty.

The Serpentine beds-an inventive way to celebrate agriculture. Sweet potatoes are planted in these large swaths and were recently harvested. Yes, sweet potatoes can be beautiful.

The great lawn below the main house, part of Minder woods, is planted with blue, purple and orange flowers. Cosmos, Zinnia ‘Queen Lime Orange’ and asters, Russian Sage and blue salvias along with lusty dahlias.

My favorite pot with an other-worldly bromeliad, brownish-green Hoffmannia roezlii, caladiums and purple at its feet. I couldn’t name all the plants but plan to have this in my garden someday.

Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005

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Garden Bloggers Tour Austin Gardens

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Garden bloggers from all over the United States, Canada and England gathered in Austin in early May to tour the finest and best gardens.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center, the Zilker Botanical gardens and fourteen private gardens were viewed over three days. The first night’s event started at the Austin Central Library where we enjoyed their rooftop sustainable garden with a view of Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake. This eco-friendly building and its landscape were a perfect start for the Garden Blogger’s Fling.

Rooftop Garden of Austin Central Library

We saw many garden styles from large estates to cottage plots. All of them shared a fondness for yucca and agave (I have never seen so many different kinds), deer resistant plants, water-conserving methods, and phenomenal hardscaping (usually using rocks from their own property.)

Yucca baccata in front of sun-baked limestone wall

What we didn’t see in Austin is a story in itself: no bedding plants and hardly any bushes because of deer pressure and no weeds because of the true grit of the owners themselves or in some cases, staff.

I am awed by my fellow Texas gardeners.  We say gardening in Dallas is tough but Austin gardeners may be tougher!  Less water, rocky soil and more critter problems (deer bedding down in the garden, eating the garden and rutting in the garden.) In the truest sense, they turned problems into brilliant design.

Starla and I want to share pictures from the Garden Bloggers Fling 2018 over the next few weeks. We think you will be inspired, learn and renew your commitment to good gardening.

Ann Lamb

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