Summer 2005 - 4000
Moon Shadow Cove
 Unlike
most homeowners, Mary Bakatsa and Clark Wilkinson created their
backyard before the front. In the spring of 2004, they built a
gorgeous pool surrounded with multi-ton limestone boulders and
in one short year had a beautiful yard that looks like it has
been there a decade. Mary and her daughter took primary responsibility
for the plantings while Clark was in charge of the hardscape.
 
 Choosing
not to add sprinklers in the backyard, they planted native and
adapted plants to reduce their watering needs. A wonderful Santa
Rita cactus with its pink to red tones, several sun-loving Agave
and various sedums create an evergreen structure to compliment
and soften the look of the native limestone rocks.
Mary sits on the back edge of
the pool where they've planted perennials and a large mutabulis
rose
to provide several seasons of color. They've grown well here
in little more than 2" of native soil. She also calls this
her "experimental patch" where she'll throw out seeds to find
out which
plants do best in her yard.
Loving to cook, Mary and Clark
created a raised bed with drip irrigation to house an amazing
variety of vegetables and fruit -- asparagus, artichokes, corn,
and tomatoes as well as apple, olive and peach trees. A chemical
engineer, Mary uses only organic solutions for her vegetable garden.
 
| Although they
are about to install four rainbarrels they've purchased through
the City, they currently use this large, recycled olive/pepper
storage imported from Greece -- a link to Mary's heritage. |
|
The side of the yard is their
"bog" area. Fed by a neighbor's sprinkler system,
they've planted water-loving plants such as Bog Sage, Texas
Star Hibiscus and Umbrella Sedge to solve what would otherwise
be a drainage problem. |
 
| The front yard
consists primarily of herbs with some grasses and natives
added to provide additional heigth and color. The herbs provide
these cooks a wonderful compliment to the backyard vegetable
garden. |
|
Wanting to eliminate their
grass, Clark borrowed the pool builder's bobcat to create
a pathway to the front door and backyard with large, flat
limestone rocks. The crevices are filled with thyme, sedum
and lavender which were planted in decomposed granite. |
 The
welcoming angel is shaded by a grapefruit tree that they started
in a small pot during their college days and has grown into a
fruit-bearing tree.
Mary and Clark's yard is an ever-changing
adventure obviously nurtured by a love of the earth and the shared
interests of their family.
2 years later -- still growing strong!
|
