Spring 2003 - 8925
Whiteworth Loop, Southwest Austin
After moving to this Southwest Austin neighborhood,
Lori Erickson replaced the builder's standard landscape package
with colorful, drought tolerant shrubs and perennials.
Unhappy with the 2000 square foot, high-maintenance
St. Augustine front yard, Ms. Erickson replaced it with 400 square
feet of Tif Sport Bermuda and extensive plant beds.
Perennial beds soften the concrete
sidewalk and eliminate the need for edging, mowing and fertilizing
the strip between the sidewalk and curb.
 
| Limestone raised
beds flanked by rounded lavarock pathways create a pleasing
combination of shapes, colors and textures. |
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Really in to saving water?
These painted rocks simulate the cooling effect of water without
adding to the utility bill. The compost bin produces nutrient-rich
compost for plants and saves fruit and vegetable scraps from
the landfill.
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Ms. Erickson has
taken advantage of a sunny spot on the side of the house to
put in a row of raised beds for vegetables and herbs, surrounded
by low maintenance pea gravel.
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For sunny locations, lantana
is an easy care plant that provides long-lasting summer color.
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