Hummingbird Garden
Hummingbirds are one of my favorite magical creatures to find in my garden. They are so swift and elusive it feels like a gift each time I find one and they are so spectacular to see drinking from a flower. We also happen to have the same favorite color which is red. They are attracted to flowers by color which is why artificial food is red. That being said, there is a huge advantage to adding these plants to your garden space. Long tubular orange and red flowers are a sure invitation for hummingbirds throughout the season.
Firecracker fern ,full to part sun, 2.5 x 2.5 ‘deer resistant , low water. Semi evergreen zones 8-11
Red Prince Weigela 6×6 full to part sun. Semi evergreen
Mexican Bush Sage, 5×5′ full to part sun, deer resistant and low water. Deciduous, Zones 8-10. Though it’s not red, it is tubular and these types of flowers hold the most nectar. Hummingbirds are high energy and they need the most food they can get from each flower.
Aloe Vera 2 x 2 full to part sun, low water, deer resistant except flowers. Evergreen
FIre Bush 5 x 5 part sun. Deciduous
Pineapple Sage, 3×3 ‘ full to part sun, annual will reseed.
Texas Star Hibiscus, a Texas star indeed ,medium water full to part sun, deciduous
Fireman’s Cap / Helmet Coral Bean-Full Sun 10 x 10 full sun, low water, deer resistant. Deciduous
Of all the birds that have visited our gardens, I still get excited every time a hummingbird graces us with its presence. We have some amazing hummingbird species in Austin and the surrounding area. Because they are so quick and fleeting, you really have to position yourself to be in the right place at the right time to see them at work, but you can create a perfect space that attracts them to make the sightings more common. Be sure to place seating areas throughout your space so you have different vantage points throughout the year. Here is a guide to central Texas hummingbirds.
Tropical Sage, 2 x 2′ sun to shade, low water, reseeds readily. Deciduous
Pink Salvia is the most common, bright pink and a great hummingbird and butterfly attraction. 3×3′ full sun, deer resistant, low water. Evergreen. There is also a beautiful red called Furmans red, Hotlips which is red and white and a lavender and white variety that are not quite as hardy as the red and pink, but worth the effort if you find the right spot.
Mexican Oregano 3×3′ low water, deer resistant, full to part sun. Evergreen
Yellow Bells Esperanza-beautiful and drought tolerant, full sun 8×6′ . Deciduous
Lily’s of all kinds are also great for hummingbirds be there are many to choose from. So for the next spring or faIl season add some of these beautiful plants to the landscape or pots close to a window or patio where you can enjoy the view and the hummingbirds too.
If you are in Austin or the surrounding area and would like a landscape design or educational consultation to include theses and many more beautiful native and adapted plants, shrubs and tree to your landscape, call me at+15127337777 or email me at lisalapaso@gmail.com.
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Lisa’s Landscape Design and Consultation firm
First of all, thank you to those of you who have followed and supported me through the years. It is a huge honor to share my passion with all of you.
I am very excited to announce that LL&D will be changing gears to a full-time design, consulting and home owner education firm. I have been installing landscapes from $5000 to $50,000+ for the last 15 years in Austin and I have been a professional and personal gardener for over 20 years. The flora of central Texas is stunning and I have made it my mission to know the best plants and trees that are successful in nearly any space. My specialty is full sun to full shade deer resistant, low water gardens. If you are in the market for a large or small landscape project, wouldn’t I be of great use to you BEFORE you hire another professional? Or worse, someone who calls themselves a landscaper but doesn’t really know what they are doing, but you don’t know the difference? I can save you thousands on costly mistakes and up sells by telling you how things should really be done, what materials you could use based on my years of design experience. I can help you choose the right plants for the job; not the plants or stone contractors make the most mark up on. My average consult fee is from $100-$150 per hour for the greater Austin area and that small amount of money now can save you thousands later. Take what I have learned from working with sub contractors over the last 15 years and use that information to be an educated consumer when shopping for the right crew. Here are some examples of my designs that have been completed.
If you have recently purchased a new home and need to know what plants and trees you have and how to care for them, you would like to begin a garden of your own or need trimming instruction, soil, sod, trees, plant and shrub selection or design instruction and organic gardening techniques a Garden Coach or Educational Consultant is an excellent tool for the do it yourselfers. I LOVE Educational Consultations because it is such a gift to be able to teach people to live a symbiotic life with their own space while creating an extended living area where everyone in the home gets what they need. We can use the hour to fill in empty spaces, draw a quick sketch for new bed or improve your overall landscape. Should we decide that what you really need is a design (some projects are too big or complex for one hour) The cost of the consult goes towards a design. An average design ranges from $500-1500 plus tax.
Design planning is a personal experience. You need to know that the person who is designing your space understands your needs. I provide a design anyone could follow so they are well suited for the do-it-yourselfer over the course of several years, or to those who plan to bid the work out. With a well thought out design you can take multiple bids on the same product instead of confusing “free” Consultations where each is selling the items they make the most money from. How do I know this? 10 years of Subcontractors… I have done it all from brick laying, to fire pits, patio, water features,organic gardening, plant and tree installation, trimming to full maintenance on estates in the Austin area. I want to share those years of experience with you so we can create the space that suits you best while staying on budget and addressing the needs of your specific property. This is a large 1 acre design I finished recently. Each design is hand drawn, each plant is listed and planting instruction, timing and materials are discussed at the final meeting.
Hand drawn designs are drawn to scale with a list of plants and installation instruction
I also provide a plant layout service. If you have an educational consultation or design and have your beds prepared, I can have your plants delivered and lay them out on site. This is a great way to be sure the best plants are selected and the layout is perfectly spaced for optimal success. Once I provide you with a consult or design you have access to me by phone, text or email indefinitely to ask follow-up questions about maintenance and general care to be sure you have optimal success.
So let me help you plan the space of your dreams; simplify your life by reducing water need, maintenance and ensure that the money you spend going forward is well spent. I provide consults and design work for the greater Austin area including San Marcos, Wimberly, Buda, Kyle, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Cedar Park and Bastrop. Please call me at 512-733-7777, or email me at lisalapaso@gmail.com to schedule your landscape design or consultation appointment. I have appointments available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m depending on your area.
I look forward to creating with you,
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Garden Coach Austin
If you are in Austin, Pflugerville, Leander, Cedar Park, Buda, Kyle or Wimberly Texas and you would like to be trained to care for your landscape by a professional on your own property, a Garden Coach (or Landscape Consultant) can be a great value to you.
If you are a new home owner looking to plan, I can provide you with design ideas, plant suggestions, timing and instruction from beginning to end. If you have purchased a home with an established garden and would like plant identification and maintenance instruction, or have an overgrown landscape that has become too much to handle, a Garden Coach can help navigate the plants to keep, and those to give back to Mother Nature. If you are selling your home and want to make the most of your landscape and curb appeal, I can help.
I am a Master Gardener, Certified in Organic Gardening (including food crops and trees), Water Conservation and Oak Wilt and I specialize in native and adapted, low water, low maintenance lush landscapes from hard Texas sun to full shade. I have work with Central Texas flora for over 20 years and have owned and operated my organic landscape business for over 15 years. I provided installation of hardscapes, plants and trees as well as design and consult for projects ranging from $6,000 to 60,000 but in the fall of 2016 I decided to use my experience to your advantage. I now only provide designs and consultation and I love every part of the process. Best of all,when we are done you will be very prepared to take on your space. You will also have access to me for follow up questions after the sale.
A session is typically spent talking about your entire landscape from soil to trees, general maintenance and plant ID as well as “fill in” plant options, watering, organic pest solutions and much more. Sometimes we have enough time to make a quick sketch though additional hours can be purchased for this as well. I am also a great resource for information on patio design, hardscapes, installation and materials.
A one hour consultation with me runs from $100 to $150 per hour depending on the area (one hour minimum) and can save you thousands on costly mistakes. This is a great tool for the do-it-yourselfers or for those wanting to have the work done, but do not know where to begin. Honestly, a landscape consult from an educated Garden Coach can make all the difference whether you only want lawn, tree and shrubs or an elaborate garden design.
I also provide a series of coaching programs though the seasons. This is a great way to work through a project with a clear vision and steady access to a professional. If you are interested, rates vary according to need.
This service is hugely popular and appointments are limited during the peak seasons so call me today at 512-733-7777 or email me at lisalapaso@gmail.com to get on the schedule to create the space of your dreams.
Lisa’s Landscape & Design (“like” me on Facebook!)
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Central Texas Gardener for Life
For those of you who know me and have followed my blog it is a no brainer that I would be excited to be featured on the local PBS station KLRU for my low water, minimal maintenance, mostly edible garden. I actually fueled my passion for gardening here in Central Texas by watching this show faithfully each Saturday back in the day to educate myself on some of the spectacular plants that thrive in Central Texas. As I became more water conscious I decided to specialize in low water , lush designs (not a fan of cactus), I realized that I had become addicted to the flora of Texas.
This past weekend CTG featured my previous home garden built by my husband Cavin Weber and my little old self on a real family budget one plant and rock at a time. The only help we had was with the patio, the rest of the space was entirely planted, composted, rocked and cared for by our 4 little hands and backs. Like many of you, we live on a budget so everything could not be done at once, but over the course of about 4 years we managed to create a sanctuary for ourselves and our family to escape from everyday life and to meld into nature.
We picked hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of food from this small North Austin yard and we shared thousands of beautiful memories, laughs and tears. This is the space where I worked though my youngest son’s fears and sensory issues related to Autism. This is where my eldest son came out to us. This is where my husband and I sometimes argued, made up and got back to work on our grand plan. Just like any other family, we had to work hard for what we have and this space gave us solace from the daily grind.
I want to thank my beautiful husband Cavin Weber for all of his support through the years as I could not be who I am today without his unwavering support and faith in me. I started this business as one girl with a shovel and a mission to “Save the Planet One Yard at a Time” and over the last 14 years, that is just what I did though I still have a lot of yards to go! So call me at 512-733-7777 or contact me at lisalapaso@gmail.com to set up your one hour landscape consultation and let’s get you started in the right direction!
Central Texas Gardener is a great resource for local plant selection and excellent organic gardening remedies. Watch it each Saturday on KLRU at noon and 4:00 or subscribe online to catch all the action!
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
I’m on CTG!
Hi friends, I wanted to share with all my readers that I will be featured this weekend on PBS’, “Central Texas Gardener”! They are sharing my personal drought tolerant garden that I designed to incorporate food and color in the landscape along with fruiting trees for shade and fruiting vines.
Aside from the Moon Flower, everything in this shot can be eaten. The Coral Bean has to be cooked not to be toxic, but the daylilies, rose petals, cactus and of course the nectarines in back all have edible properties.
I have moved recently and had to leave this beautiful space behind but I was so honored to have this beautiful memorial to one of my greatest works of art.
I can still smell the flowers when I see this space. This is an irrigation free garden! Planting like the rain forest allows a symbiotic relationship that requires very little water.
I am also really excited to be on the show not only because it is a legend in Central Texas Gardening, but for me personally it was my original inspiration to do what I loved for a living. My husband and I used to tape this show every Saturday on our VCR (over 25 years ago) then watch it later in the day over a cup of coffee. We had a great apartment with a balcony that my honey built railing planters on and we had a beautiful collection of potted plants, roses, food and anything I could fit out there. It was our tiny sanctuary and I was inspired by watching CTG. Having come from IL, I was in a complete culture shock and knew nothing about the flora of Central Texas so each week I boned up on my CTG plant collection and when we moved to our first home I bought one of each!
Creating exquisite Xeriscape and edible gardens that are organic, low maintenance and low water. There is no place for chemicals here.
As my design style changed, so did the garden and before we knew it, we had a master piece the neighbors were clamoring about. When we moved to our next space we took it up a notch and removed the lawn to make more room for flowers and ponds and created a wildlife sanctuary.
Finally in this house I went for more food. I figured if I was going to water at all I better get something to eat out of it, so we planted 3 pomegranates, two pears, a peach, a nectarine, a plum, grapes, lemons, blackberries, raspberries, kumquats and native edibles as well as peppers, tomatoes and herbs of all kinds. The result will be featured on PBS’s Central Texas Gardener this coming Saturday the 9th at noon and 4:00 on KLRU so set your DVR and enjoy…
For more show times and local listings check this out!
Lisa LaPaso
Humble gardener 🙂
Top 5 Landscape Design Tips
The first thing to understand when taking on a landscape project is that sometimes it really is harder than it looks. The good news is that there is a ton of great information to help you take on the challenge. It is important to take into consideration how unique each space is and needs to be treated as such. Be sure to educate yourself by hiring a professional for a landscape consultation, or by reviewing the hundreds of available YouTube “how to” videos or ocean of blogs for Central Texas Gardening. Here are some basic rules of design that will help set you in the right direction.
A Stunning landscape begins with a professional, knowledgeable landscaper/designer/consultant who listens to your needs and gives you the most bang for your buck!
- Pick a lane
Yes, pick a lane indeed! We have all seen the crazy pot lady who has 14 different kinds/colors of pots in the front yard that don’t match the house or each other. Or how about the “I found 10 different kinds of stone for free on Craigslist” guy? Sometimes a bargain is only a bargain if the outcome just doesn’t matter to you. If the finished product matters and you really want to improve your property value, you have to pick a lane. That begins with only choosing a maximum of 3 colors/textures.
So for example, if your house is brick and stone, use either the same brick and/or stone in your landscape and perhaps add some colored metal edge and river rock as accents. If your front door is red, carefully use red accents in your pots, bench, art, etc. as too many colors can begin to look riotous when used by an amature. Understand that accents should be used sparingly or it can look “chochki-ish”. Finally, have a plan when choosing your lane, think about the cohesiveness of the overall design and be sure it carries throughout the space.
2. Use the right materials for the job
Cheap products are not a bargain. Free limestone left over from a neighbor’s project is great if that is the material you planned to use. Pre-formed concrete pavers that can never be matched (and frankly are outdated) are the beginning of a disconnected project. Avoid plastic edging, (that should be against the law), and don’t skimp on the details. Buy the landscape fabric for mulch on a hillside or plastic liner for beneath the river rock. Don’t use crushed granite in areas with runoff (it will wash away completely), or pea gravel in a walkway that stays fluid like sand on a beach. Don’t be in a hurry to do the whole project if money is an issue, take your time and do it right the first time. Do consider a landscape design. This can be a great way to see the big picture and tackle bite sized pieces over the course of a few years.
There are many free software programs available online that are very user friendly. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, visit the nurseries and stone yards, and grab samples of the stone to compare in your space.
Remember, stone varies greatly from pallet to pallet if they are not cut at the same time, so if you find a match you love, buy all that you will need.
3. Choose the right plants for the job
This is a HUGE problem many people know well for having inherited the standard “builders” beds planted with whatever they had left on the back of the truck. In my neighborhood they made it easy for themselves and gave everyone the same 5 shrubs, liriope and 1.7 Oaks (which I yanked). Or perhaps you have the “previous owner blob of plants”. They lost control of because they were planted too close together and now they are constant maintenance. If you have sick, unsightly or oversized plants in your space remove them and replace them with plants, trees or shrubs that belong there. Use native and adapted plants, and know their mature size so you can properly space them. Plant at the right time in the right light.
Shade plants go in shade and sun plants need 6 hours of sun, part sun typically means it can do well with less light but it may also mean morning sun only, so do your homework. There are tons of sources for plants here in Central Texas but the best ones have pictures, light requirements and mature size, height and width.
Check out my facebook page and YouTube channel for some great plants and trees for our area. Sounds simple, but of all of my consultations, and I have done HUNDREDS of them, the most common mistake is to choose the wrong plant and/or plant it in the wrong place so map out your beds and measure. Colors of plants should never be restricted, if you like them all use them all but be carefull with heavy colors like red that will take the eye to it. If you use red on one side of your yard, use it on the other. It does not have to be the same plant, but symmetry will help your yard feel more balanced.
4. Timing is everything
Late Fall/Winter is the best time to plant trees, fruit and many roses. Spring and fall is the best time for plants and shrubs. Summer is the best time to plan, design, install hardscapes and install (empty) mulched beds for the fall. Never take on too many plants at one time. If you have a huge project it may be best to plant in stages so you can water adequately without breaking the bank or the watershed. I suggest you do the front yard one year and the back the next.
5. Improve the value of your space
Not just monetarily, but functionally as well. Over personalizing a space can really hurt the resale of a home not to mention be an eyesore. Just because you’re a UT fan does not mean you need an burnt orange patio. The potential future buyer could be an Aggie 😉 When I design a space I drive through a neighborhood to see what the norm is. If the norm is not impressive I take it up a notch, but building the taj mahal in a middle income neighborhood will never get a return on investment. Intelligently enhancing your landscape will not only improve your quality of life but also improves the quality of the neighborhood and the resale value of your home.
Before, (above) an outdated landscape with overgrown shrubs and antiquated stone work.
After, simple and elegant with updated stone work and deer resistant, appropriate sized plants. Over sized plants shrink the house and hide its assets.
A final note, be sure improve your soil (or in my case dirt/clay) with lots and lots of compost and mulch. Expect to compost every spring and mulch every fall and NEVER use chemical fertilizers or weed control in your yard unless you have exhausted organic efforts first. Most importantly, whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, have fun. If you aren’t enjoying the process you are doing it wrong.
Now go get your garden on!
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design (“like” me on Facebook!)
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Deer Resistant Plants for Austin and Central Texas!
Deer are a big problem for those who live among them. While they may be cute and fun to watch, they can wreak havoc on a landscape. You need to know what plants to use to prevent them from turning your yard into a salad bar.
The good news is that there are many “deer resistant” plants, the bad news is that even deer resistant plants can be nibbled on if the deer are hungry enough. It is recommended that you do not feed deer to encourage them not to eat your yard as it can have the reverse effect, but starting with deer resistant plants can definitely help your overall success.
The best plants to use are those that are stinky, spikey or stabby. There is a pretty great list so let’s go over some of them.
Texas Lantana, full sun. All lantana are deer resisant and my favorite varieties are Dallas Red, Confetti, Gold, Trailing purple and of course, Texas.
White Salvia is also a great choice for deer issues, low water low maintenance, sun to part sun. All Sages are good deer resistant plants.
Butterfly weed, full to part sun. Huge Butterfy Attraction.
Squid Agave, evergreen, full to part sun.
Any plant with spikey margins, spines or thorns will help deter deers but they will eat roses so be cautious of those.
Greggs Mist is an excellent choice because it almost glows in the dark at dusk. deciduous, full to part sun
Moon Flower Datura, deciduous, full to part sun
Paprika Yarrow is an excellent plant for Central Texas, evergreen, colorful and medicinal. Full to part sun
Mint is an excellent deer resistant ground cover, paddle cactus and bluebonnet, full to part sun
Oregano, evergreen, full to part sun, edible, medicinal.
Many herbs such as basil, mint, rosemary and oregano are for the most part are deer resistant, though some can be exceptions.
Mexican Bush Sage, semi evergreen, Full to part sun.
Upright Rosemary, evergreen, full sun, edible
Trailing Rosemary, evergreen,full to part sun, edible
Fireman’s Cap / Helmet Coral Bean-Full to part sun, deciduous 10 x 10
Golden Showers Thryallis, semi-evergreen, full to part sun 4 x 3
Wonderful Pomegranate, full to part sun, edible fruit 8 x 8
Yellow Bells Esperanza-beautiful and drought tolerant. deciduous, full sun. 8 x 6
Pride of Barbados-super drought tolerant. Deciduous, full sun. 8 x 6
Bearded Iris, Evergreen, full to part sun 2 x 2
Texas flowery Senna tree, semi evergreen, full to part sun 8 x 8
Evergreen Wysteria, Spectacular Bloom! Full sun.
The Jerusalem Sage has a really fabulous flower form and a beautiful true sage color to the leaf. Evergreen, full to part sun. 2.5 x 2.5
Confederate Jasmine (or Star) vine is an Incredibly fragrant, evergreen and beautiful. Full to part sun. 15 x 15 spread
Desert Willow Tree, deciduous, full sun. 20 x 20
Pineapple Guava, Lg. evergreen shrub, full to part sun. 8 x 6
Mexican Feather Grass, evergreen, full to part sun. 2 x 2
Pink Salvia is the most common of the salvia greggi but all varieties are deer resistant, a great hummingbird and butterfly attraction. Full sun. 3 x 3
Echinacia, Purple Cone Flower. Deciduous, medicinal. 2 x 1
Firecracker fern, semi evergreen, full to part sun. 2 x 2
Mexican Honey Suckle, semi evergreen full to part sun. 3 x 3
Flax Lily in the front and Cordiline (the purple leaves) in the back. both are full sun to shade and are awesome evergreen plants for contrast. 2 x 2
knife Acacia, evergreen full to part sun. 6 x 5
Twist Leaf Yucca, evergreen, full to part sun. 2.5 x 2.5
Gulf Muhly full to part sun. Low water and little maintained. Trim back to about 1′ after the last frost to encourage growth.
Pigeonberry, shade, deciduous. 2 x 3
Foxtail Fern, evergreen, shade to sun. 2 x 2
Ferns of all kinds are great deer resistant plants. Be sure you are choosing the right fern for your light requirements. Kimberly Queen, Wavy Cloak and Asparagus ferns are great for light and river, holly and wood ferns are great for shade and low light.
Paddle Cactus, Agave and Palms are all deer resistant, evergreen and very low water/ just be sure not to place them near cars or people like these guys did.
Kidneywood Tree, Deciduous, sun to part shade. Super fragrant when it blooms. 10 x 10
These are just some of the plants I love to use in problem areas to deter deer from inviting thier friends to your buffet. With many colors, textures and light requirements you can find an array of plants to choose from. Plant strategically and send those pesky deer over to the neighbors house for lunch 
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design (“like” me on facebook!)
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Winter Watering Schedule
If you aren’t enjoying the Central Texas winter, wait a minute and it will change. It is no surprise if you live in Austin or the surrounding areas that you may be wearing a sweater one day and shorts the next. While it may be simple for you to add or remove an article of clothing, your plants aren’t so fortunate, so here are some general rules to get your plants through a typical Texas winter season. Continue reading
Front Yard Design Inspiration for Austintastic Landscapes
When considering a design, it is so important to think about what the space you are designing is going to be used for. When I meet with a couple to talk about how the space will be used, more often than not, there are a few disagreements about what they want, and how they want to go about it. Each client has a unique set of wants and needs and it is the designers job to create a symbiotic relationship between the two. There are many things to consider when creating a new space and it should be something special to everyone who uses it.
This client likes a linear look, so I infused a little native and adapted color and texture to create depth in an otherwise small space.
In this intimate space (above), the need was to add color, hide the neighbor and give the illusion of more space. I created a layering effect that draws the eye upward to the front of the house, the interesting architecture and I created curves in the rectangular beds to add warmth with an organic feel.
The house below is an older home with updated architecture to bring it out of the 70’s, so I infused this design with a modern style and color theme and the home owner added a contemporary flair in the way of Cedar wood front door and accents.
Modern Hill Country landscapes also call for linear lines but in this case, clean simplicity is achieved with Lueders and limestone blocks to modernize an outdated stone wall. Modern Hill Country landscape design is a beautiful trend right now that adds a “modern” look to homes built from the 70’s up to today.
Contemporary landscapes like the one shown below are using warm tones in the stone work (hardscape)and native, deer resistant, low water plants in the landscape (softscape). This is a perfect marriage for any Central Texas home.
You should first consider how long you will live in the home and whether or not your remodel will be worth it. (see “Staging Your Home For a Sale“) Creating a new space with colored rock, or something so personal that only you could love it, may not be the way to go if you know you will be moving in a short time or even in a few years. Spending money on something the next owner may not see as an asset is not always a good plan, but if you design wisely, your new additions may just add value.
A stunning landscape begins with a professional consultation or a well laid out plan by the home owner. A knowledgeable landscaper/designer/consultant who listens to your needs and understands your use will give you the most bang for your buck. This remodel increased the value of this home as well as its functionality.
The above property is a 70’s ranch style home that had zero curb appeal and a terribly outdated landscape. The addition of rock in a contemporary, yet artistic layout added depth, interest and allowed the assets of the property to “pop” from the street. In this case the rock was used to glorify the Oaks, lead you from the street to the front door and to give a modernized design to the existing landscape.
In this photo I demonstrate the use of river rock as drainage, but also as a border (lined in metal) to allow the plants in the background their proper distinction against the lawn.
My main goal with each client is to create a space that represents all parties in the most thoughtful and cohesive way. I strive to enhance the home, your lifestyle, your garden, your extended living area…Your landscape.
This next garden is obviously a heavy shade space and while there is not a whole lot of color for these deer resistant, low water gardens, there are a lot of textures that play beautifully against one another. When considering the big picture of a space, the designer has so many variables to bring together that it can feel like a puzzle of color and texture but in the end, it is all about how well they play music together. When designing your own space I suggest you lay out all of your plants and live with them for a day so to see how they look to you, do your homework on the types of plants you are using or hire a professional you trust to create that space for you.
A Design is only as effective as the plant list is successful. If the designer is not knowledgable about the plants they are using, even the prettiest layout will not be successful in the end. I have been working with central Texas plants for over 30 years and understand their nature and growth habits, light requirements, mature size and bloom patterns. I know which plants will remain evergreen and which will go dormant over the winter. These are crucial to the overall success of a landscape design.
Softscapes, or plant material are of course any living plant, tree or shrub and they should not only be pretty to look at, they should be spaced properly for the least maintenance, grouped with the same light conditions and water needs as the others and it should provide color and interest year round.
Hardscapes are the metal, stone, concrete, river rock, patio or brick frame you use to add interest to a garden, to add value to your home or to include a place to gather or to get away from it all. They are (for the most part) a permanent fixture so you want to be sure you always carry the same materials throughout the space, front and back for continuity. You do not want your project to eventually look like an afterthought when you have use materials you can no longer find, or use too many stone colors making it look riotous. Buy your stone at the same time if you can because the colors can change dramatically with certain stone, if cut at different times.
Hopefully, I have inspired you to start something special in your space, as the front yard and flower beds are the picture frame of your home and the first place you see when you come home after a hard day at work. shouldn’t that space represent everything you are and hope to be? It should be warm, inviting, and most importantly a soft place to fall, not just another chore.
If you would like a little help creating the space of your dreams, give me a call me at 512-733-7777 or email me at lisalapaso@gmail.com to set up a consultation or bid appointment.
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design
“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
“like” me on Facebook!
Orange Flowers for the Texas Landscape
Oddly enough, orange is one of the least favorite color choices when I do landscape consultations with clients. I however, happen to love it in the landscape and it is my best friends favorite color (Hi Dalen!) so … Aside from the fact that I think it is a really a great color, I also think the plants that just happen to be orange are really spectacular.
Here are some of my favorites,
Firecracker fern, full to part sun, semi-evergreen, low water, low maintenance. 2′ x 2′, hummingbird attraction. (Perennial.)
Cosmo, fun to part shade from 2-4′ x 2′. low water, low maintenance, re-seeds profusely. Deciduous. (Annual)
Butterfly weed, full sun, low maintenance and low water. semi-evergreen, butterflies love it! (Perennial.)
Canna Tropicanna is a great plant for a wet spot or part sun. I also recommend using this in a controlled bed to prevent unwanted spreading. Deciduous, cut back leaves in the spring before new shoots come up. (Perennial)
Shrimp Plant is a shade plant that reaches from 3′ x 3′ and provides beautiful color most of the summer months. deciduous, cut back in early spring. (Perennial)
Wonderful Pomegranate is a small tree reaching 12′ t to 8′ wide-ish. Full sun, little water and maintenance and provides oranges flowers in the spring and delicious fruit in late fall. Deciduous perennial.
Pride of Barbados-super drought tolerant xeriscape plant. Full sun, profuse bloomer in the hot summer months. 8′ x 8′. Deciduous, cut back early spring. (Perennial)
Mexican Honey Suckle, evergreen, low water low, maintenance xeriscape plant. Full to part sun, great butterfly attraction. (Perennial)
Aloe Vera, medicinal evergreen with beautiful salmon colored blooms in the summer months. super low water, low maintenance. Remove spent blooms and divide pups every few years if desired. (Perennial) Part sun. 2′ x 2′
Globe Mallow is a beautiful silvery, pubescent plant that is evergreen and low water. 3′ x 3′, native in zones 6-8. (perennial)
Cape Honeysuckle Vine is but one of a few vines such as “Crossvine” and “Mexican Flame”, but one thing remains the same, the color is striking! Full to part sun, deciduous (crossvine is evergreen), low water, low maintenance, up to 20′.
Peach Drift Rose. Not really “orange” per say, but very much in the orange family and loaded with color all summer long. Low water, low maintenance and evergreen. 3’w x 2.5′ tall. Full sun
Texas Lantana, deciduous, super low water, low maintenance. Deer resistant, full sun. 4x4ish
Firebush, 3′ w x 4′ t, low water, low maintenance. Part sun, deciduous.
A few other plants in my favorite list are the Living Easy Rose, Flame Acantha, the Lions Tail and of course the Dallas Lantana that includes a lot of red as well, but the fun part is the hunt, so head out to your plant nursery and see what beautiful new specimens you can add to your landscape this fall.
Now go get your garden on!
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape & Design (“like me on Facebook“)
” Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
Designs by LaPaso
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