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A Six Pack of Vegetation Inspiration

Need a little landscape design direction? Visit six San Antonio-area gardens that were chosen for their artistic, water-saving ways and be inspired.

When it comes to designing and planning your landscape, many of us draw inspiration from observation. Studying how other gardens are assembled and manage to thrive, even during the toughest drought conditions, can be helpful when putting together our own landscapes.

Well, grab your sketch books and planners. The Garden Conservancy and Gardening Volunteers of Texas have joined together to bring you an Open Day Tour, featuring six private gardens with plants and styles that work well in South Texas and look great throughout the year.

SaturdayOct. 14
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Various locations

The San Antonio-area gardens were selected for their overall design and features, as well as for their focus on native and adapted non-native plants.

The six gardens include:

  • A contemporary xeriscape in northwest San Antonio that has been designated a WaterSaver Landscape by SAWS and manages to be lush and verdant year-round.
  • A suburban landscape with an abundance of live oaks off Blanco Road that still manages to be a WaterSaver Landscape with its minimal lawn, extensive stone paths and groundcovers.
  • A historic Monte Vista landscape with an artistic flair and water saving features.
  • A Hill Country Village estate that features a wildflower meadow, gravel terraces and olive grove instead of widespread lawns.
  • A Terrell Hills cottage garden with large native plant beds and beautiful ong jars for water catchment.
  • Another Terrell Hills garden that combines Old World and modern aesthetics in harmonious xeric fashion.

Admission to each garden is $7, cash or check. Tickets will be available for purchase at each garden on tour day. The Garden Conservancy Open Days program raises funds to support and preserve important private and public gardens.

To map out your tour in advance, the list of garden addresses can be found here.

Picture of Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson
Mark A. Peterson was a conservation project coordinator for San Antonio Water System before retiring. With over 30 years of experience as an urban forester and arborist, Mark is probably the only person you know who actually prunes trees for fun. When not expounding on the benefits of trees and limited lawns, you're likely to find him hiking San Antonio's wilderness parks or expounding on the virtues of geography and history to his friends.
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