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Jim and Lynne Weber, both Master Naturalists, wanted a home
that reflected their love of nature and protected the environment.
They carefully planned a a new home in Jester Estates that
received a 4-star rating from the City
of Austin’s Green Building Program. |
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While
most of their neighbors have grass lawns, they chose to
use the steep landscape in front to incorporate many different
native plants. They have about 113 species just on the lot
the house sits on, not counting the 8 acres out back. |
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By
creating a wildlife habitat, Jim and Lynne have succeeded
in attracting nearly 70 species of birds, including the
endangered golden-cheeked warbler. They have tracked 55
species of butterflies, 15 reptiles and amphibians, and
10 species of mammals since they started building the house.
Working with Dale Bulla, another
Green Garden Award Winner, they have set a goal of encouraging
40 wildlife habitats in Jester -- so far they are half way
toward their goal! |
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| Both Jim and Lynne
are amateur photographers and they have caught some of the
more unique species on camera. |
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| Golden-cheeked Warbler |
Passion Vine |
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| Snowberry Clearwing Larva |
Texas Alligator Lizard |
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Even
the drystack wall was designed to make a great hiding place
for geckos. |
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The sound of trickling
water on the rocks welcomes front yard visitors, and a Buddha
meditating nearby completes the zen-like feel that Jim and
Lynne were trying to create. |
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The garden
with this rustic Celtic sculpture surrounded by
mistflowers beckons over 55 species of butterflies. |
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When
closing on their home, they discovered that the property
behind them was not part of a preserve as they believed,
but instead was still owned by the developer. Tracking the
developer down out-of-state, he offered them the 8-acre
land along the creek for an amazing price of $3500! Finding
the offer too good to pass up, Jim and Lynne have recently
added nearly a mile of trails behind their home. |
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Jim
and Lynne enjoy the view off their backyard balcony. They
nicknamed their piece of this tributary running through
the back of the property to Bull Creek, Zoe, which means
"life" and the wooded area "Woody Hollow",
both named after their cats, Zoe and Woody. Part of this
project includes the restoration of "Milo Meadow",
named after their one-eyed cat, Milo. |
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The
Weber's have created a welcoming, homey, but nature-friendly
house and yard proving you don't need a lot of space to
create a natural paradise. |
