I live on a 4.5 lot north of Austin Texas.  When I first moved here in November, 2010  it was just mowed field with several large mature Live Oaks.. Every Ashe Juniper (Mountain Cedar)  and other native shrub and tree had been removed from the lot. Consequently there is evidence of significant erosion on the front side of this lot since no tree or shrub roots are left to hold the soil from washing away in strong downpours. Luckily the lot still had 4 Redbud trees which were evident here in early spring as they started to bud out and were very much welcomed by the bees. I noticed that the bees would come out of their homes during warm days in winter to visit my blooming lemon tree, that I had set out during warmer sunny days in winter. I am glad they pollinated the tree and spared me the task.

After spending December and January researching native and adapted plants and also trying to focus on water wise plants for the area, we started building a 50 foot by 10 foot south facing front garden at the end of February.  It is a raised garden as the soil here is mostly shallow clay and limestone rock.

Future place for the first front garden

This is about the time I  also put up two Eastern Bluebird nest boxes about 100 feet apart on opposite sides of my land, facing east after seeing 4 of them visiting my birdbath every afternoon.

I purchased over 40 shrubs and perennials including: Salvia Greggi, Wooly Butterly Bush, Dalea frutiescens, Flame Acanthus, Rosemary, Texas Sage, Turks Cap, Thryallis, Black Eyed Susan, Calylophus, Coreopsis, Blackfoot Daisy, Copper Canyon Daisy, Gaura, Firebush, Esperanza, Bicolor Iris, Texas Lantana, Lamb’s ear, Echinacea, Jerusalem Sage, Henry Duelberg Sage, Cherry Sage, Mexican Bush Sage, Rock Rose, Russian Sage, Pink Skullcap, Society Garlic, Texas Betony, Prickly Pear Cactus, Red Yucca, Softleaf Yucca, Inland sea oats, Coral honeysuckle, Plumbago.

I also planted 20 trees all around the yard including: Dessert Willow, Mexican Buckeye, Texas Laurel, Honey Mesquite, and Eve’s Necklace.

Garden in progress