Her goal was to create a backyard that attracted more “life” to it and she has since been awarded a Backyard Habitat designation.

To add more height and texture, she created a berm made from road base and topped with limestone rocks that is planted with native grasses.

The permeable pathways and dry creekbed connect the front and back yards while allowing water to soak in and stay on the property.

The front yard was next on the to do list. Though the former St. Augustine turf was healthy and sustainable with all the shade in the yard, Anne thought the look was boring and static so she extended the theme of native plants to the front. Wth the help of Cathy Nordstrom of Sans Souci Gardens, they converted the front to a perennial garden.

The dry creekbed not only provide a pathway, but is also a nice contrast to the Texas betony and cedar sage, near the front porch.

Relatively new and innovative in the Austin area, is the addition of a rain garden also designed by Cathy Nordstrom. The function of a rain garden is to capture the abundant runoff during heavy rain so Anne dug two adjoining pools at the side of the house. The clay soil can hold the excess water up to two days and solves the drainage problem while allowing the water to permeate to our groundwater and enhance nearby Shoal Creek. Though a new feature in the yard, the Inland Sea Oats, Obedient Plants, Buttonbush and Switchgrass seem well suited for the transition from flooding to dry conditions.

Remembering Anne’s goal of creating a yard with life and variety, we wanted to share some of her successes.