Working with the owner/developers and a team of artists, architects and native plants experts, the rugged natural character of farm and floodplain was preserved even as residential and commercial environments were built. The innate qualities of the site are reflected in the new developments.
This simple garden has the added luxury of a shallow sunning pool tucked in the corner of the yard, built out of the ground and within eye level. The lawn is also framed elegantly by a tall planter with breezy grasses and shrubs. To tie it all together, gravel paths create a softer avenue for foot travel.
The beauty of this location is the ‘borrowed view’ of parkland, which extends the vista to infinity. It was a barren lot with two-foot wide beds around the edge and one tree in the middle when Dave and his wife bought it –but after sixteen years of experimenting, this property is a lush oasis. Wide sweeps of lawn lead you down to hidden pools and fountains, bordered by a profusion of plants for texture and flowers. A recently added green roof cools both the porch below and the bedroom next to it–while creating an aerial lawn for camping and stargazing.
Large slabs of Native Texas stone are softened with un-mown zoysia grass as they create an informal entry area that connects the driveway to the main entrance to the house. Also at the front entrance is the presence of a fountain and fish pond, with an ipe wood deck. Native and adaptive plants create a wildlife sanctuary in the city and frames the view to the entrance. In the southwest corner of the home, a rain catchment system comes off of the garage to irrigate the owners vegetable garden.
In addition to oaks, bald cypress and other large trees for shade, a mix of smaller ornamental trees and shrubs add color through the seasons. Possumhaws provide color and berries for the birds in winter, followed by the fragrant blooms of Mexican plum in the spring and bright yellow golden raintree blossoms in summer. Tall wax myrtle hedges love the old railroad drainage ditch, and Eastern red cedars and Arizona cypresses create screening on the high-and-dry west side.
Squint your eyes and you could be on a bike trail in Holland or Germany–the Katy Trail is one of Dallas’ most popular parks, even though it’s only about 30 feet wide!
