Spring 2006 - 4500 View West

David and Rita Matthews believe in practicing what he teaches. Always a lover of nature, David is a middle school teacher whose classes include one on Native Plants and Animals of Texas.

Over the years, they have added plant beds like this one that
gracefully wraps around the corner of the property.

Plants include Spanish Daggers, Strawberry Cactus as well as Abelia, Agarita, Silk Tassle and Verbena. The gardens attract Swallowtails, Hummingbirds and Monarch Butterflies to the yard.

A close look shows you little surprises like the small cactus
nestled among the larger plants.

This low growing bed with its limestone accents is a
sampler of cactus and succulents.

The blooming Mountain Laurel provides beautiful color and fragrance to the yard while the stacked limestone raised bed is filled with herbs for the kitchen.

To enjoy more of David’s gardens, see additional photos
www.austinschools.org/campus/small/faculty/Matthews/ of his middle school backyard habitat that is created and maintained by him and his students.

Middle School Backyard Habitat