Your parent’s lush green lawn of St. Augustine grass is no longer possible. Instead, changing times are forcing us to re-think what we CAN do in our semi-arid climate in Austin. We know we have options. Just walk into the Green Belt and you’ll find dozens of types of trees and bushes growing wildly, and doing very well, in the middle of summer. So, pick and choose what will survive in the local climate (xeriscape) and you can still have a beautifully landscaped yard that you can enjoy year round.
This is what Stephen Orr, editorial director of gardens for Martha Stewart Omnimedia, does in his fantastic new book on sustainable home landscaping. He encourages us to think about what can grow and survive in your region’s climate.
Need examples? Here are 14 gardens from around the country, including several from Austin. All of them are breathtaking, beautiful, and so lovely that I found myself thinking about what I could do in my back yard with all the great ideas Mr. Orr was able to offer. I was truly amazed by this wonderful book. I hope you’ll enjoy it also.
~Salvador, BookPeople bookseller
Stephen Orr will be here at BookPeople speaking about and signing copies of Tomorrow’s Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening on Saturday, June 11th, 3pm.
BookPeople 