| Summer 2006 - 3212
Bryker Drive, Austin
Four years ago Elif Selvili enlisted
the help of backyard habitat designer, Marya Fowler, to redesign
her Brykerwoods landscape that was primarily St. Augustine turfgrass
and a few nandinas.
Now the home is surrounded by a pleasing combination
of pink, purple and red flowers. Elif uses only plants from the
Grow Green Native and Adapted Plant Guide (www.growgreen.org)
because they have thrived in our environment.
Some roses, yuccas and ornamental
grasses provide structure and evergreen color to the yard and
the birdbath attracts a variety of birds to the yard.
The mulch driveway provides
100% pervious cover and allows water to penetrate into the land.
There are three generations
of compost piles, some growing melons from kitchen scraps.
 
| The backyard is filled with
a natural fence of evergreen trees. . . |
|
and the butterfly bush is planted outside
the back windows for a bright splash of color. |
One of three rainbarrels is
hooked up to a soaker hose and provides half the water needed
by the plentiful tomato
and herb garden hidden behind the garage. Elif offered a parting
bouquet of lavender to freshen the car at the end of the visit.
Nestled, and nearly hidden,
in the midst of the purple coneflowers was a beautiful Monarch
Butterfly.
|
