A Desert Oasis
where neither heat, nor drought, nor deer diminish the mirage
Design credits:
home of David and Pam Penick
designed by Pam Penick
Appearing like a mirage in the suburban Texas landscaping desert, the Penick garden stands out for its very existence. Many of the neighborhood lots have been reduced to a token evergreen accenting a drought-stressed lawn, defeated by the harsh climate. Pam and David’s northwest Austin garden, however, is a showcase of bold, architectural succulents and palms in shimmering shades of silvery blue, mingling with diaphanous grasses and choice native shrubs, all enhanced by an array of intriguing artistic details. Clearly, this is not your typical garden—but then Pam is not your typical designer.
Originally from South Carolina, Pam met her future husband David while at school in Houston, where she was studying English. David’s career in software later took them to Austin, where Pam worked as an editor before becoming a full-time mom. It was during those years that she discovered a passion for gardening and began her blog, Digging. That award-winning gardening blog was the gateway to many wonderful friendships as well as professional writing opportunities, but in those early days it helped to launch her career as a landscape designer, since friends and neighbors asked Pam to help them replace their thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant native plants.
Several years and two houses later, Pam and David began to look for a larger family home with good schools nearby for their growing children. Pam’s initial impression of this 1970s ranch? “It was all roof!” While pleasant, the garden was equally uninspiring. Narrow planting beds bordered a series of small lawns, and the sloping ground appeared to swallow the house. Once inside, however, the Penicks found the home’s layout eminently livable, and they loved the rear outdoor living spaces with a deck, patios, and pool—a necessity in the brutal Texas summers. Over time, and as budget allowed, Pam and David knew they could update the home and redesign the landscaping to better reflect their personalities, and so in 2008, this slice of central Texas became theirs.
It didn’t take long for Pam to realize that the soil in this garden was very different from the deep black gumbo clay she was used to, instead consisting of clay, limestone, and caliche, a rock-like substance created when calcium carbonate cements soil particles together. While not a total surprise to Pam, having been warned by the previous homeowner that digging holes would be a major undertaking, it was nevertheless part of her gardening learning curve.
Contorted live oaks (Quercus virginiana) preside over a medley of drought-tolerant plants that thrive in the dappled shade.
A young fawn resting in the shade of a tree appears to be totally unafraid of human visitors.
Pam has a designer’s eye for combining drought-tolerant natives. Here the spiky succulent foliage of pale-leaf yucca (Yucca pallida) mingles with fuzzy gray-woolly twintip (Stemodia lanata)—a study in contrasting textures.
A more obvious challenge was the five or six deer that visited daily, seeking a shaded spot for a quiet nap, apparently unperturbed by humans. Although Pam had never shared her previous gardens with deer, her experience as a designer had provided insights into the types of plants that were deer-resistant in Texas. Armadillos were also regular visitors, their terrible eyesight causing them to bump into things, much to the family’s amusement. While not causing direct damage to the plants, they love freshly turned soil and will uproot newly planted bushes in search of earthworms and grubs.
Perhaps the most significant and unwelcome surprise occurred during a torrential rainstorm not long after they moved in. Since the front garden and driveway slope toward the house, water poured like an unchecked river toward it, destroying landscaping, washing away mulch, and flooding the pathway, making access to the front door impossible without rain boots. Clearly, that problem needed to be addressed promptly.
Designing a Mirage
Pam envisioned a strolling garden with several paths leading off the semicircular driveway, inviting exploration and offering a variety of garden experiences. Before level paths could be created, however, the slope needed to be addressed, so Pam designed a low limestone wall to terrace the front garden, creating a new path between the landscape and the house. Now the garden appears to frame the home rather than engulf it. To address the tough caliche soil, Pam brought in additional topsoil to create berms for increased planting depth. She also top-dressed new beds with a mixture of compost and decomposed granite, aiming to improve the depleted soil while facilitating drainage.
Several measures were employed to slow water down during a heavy storm, allowing time for it to percolate into the soil. A dry streambed was installed across the front of the house to divert water during flash floods, while stone baffles set in the mulch and wooden baffles in the gravel paths slow the water down.
Equally high on the priority list was removing a patch of lawn by the front door which proved difficult to mow, together with a narrow strip of shrubs that had been planted too close to the home’s foundation. In its place, Pam pictured a gravel courtyard accented with a collection of sculptural planters. Unfortunately, the crew hired to remove the turf also regraded this confined space, exacerbating the existing drainage problem. With the next rainstorm, the Penicks realized that water was once again trying to enter their home rather than being diverted into the new dry streambed. A sump pump installed in the far corner of the gravel courtyard now siphons water away from the foundation, directing it into the dry streambed. Pam and David also installed gutters at the front of the home, with the downspouts moving rainwater out to the driveway and into the streambed. Finally, the drainage problem was solved.
A dry streambed of large rounded pebbles framed with limestone boulders diverts water away from the home during heavy rainstorms. This gently winding watercourse doubles as an informal path during the dry season.
Pam replaced the shaded lawn in this newly terraced area with easy-care Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa), transitioning in sunnier areas to gray-woolly twintip, which drapes over and softens the edges of the rock wall.
The original front garden included several other areas of lawn that Pam felt were neither realistic nor sustainable in the long, dry Texas summers. Initially she kept one small patch of grass where the kids could throw a ball, before conceding that it was easier to take them to a park. One section at a time, Pam began to remove the lawn and reimagine each space. In some instances, she replaced the thirsty St. Augustine grass with shade-tolerant Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa), preferring its slightly longer, shaggy look to the regular habit of native Texas sedge (C. retroflexa var. texensis), not to mention its no-mow, low-water, easy-going attitude. Other areas of lawn were replaced with sun-loving groundcovers, and all the planting beds were enlarged to accommodate an array of native and adapted plants selected for their architectural interest and ability to frame pleasing views. The last lawn holdout was a semicircular patch under a mature live oak. When the tree succumbed to canker recently, Pam knew the exposed lawn would burn in direct sun and so decided to replace it with evergreen Scott’s Turf sedge (C. retroflexa ‘Scott’s Turf’), which both hides the oak’s tenacious suckers and offers a softer look than the original turf. This no-mow meadow is being monitored closely for signs of heat stress.
Ongoing maintenance is mostly a matter of keeping plants within bounds, especially during the prolific growth periods of spring and early fall, but Pam loves to prune, trim, and shape her plants so she doesn’t see this as a hardship. The only other significant gardening task is hand watering new plants through the summer, since city-imposed watering restrictions limit the use of a sprinkler system to once a week. One day, Pam hopes to install a rainwater catchment system to mitigate this challenge.
Generous limestone stepping stones carve a path through a swath of deer-resistant variegated flax lily (Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’). The lattice-topped gate and fence prevent deer from entering the back garden.
Yet both David and Pam acknowledge this is not going to be their forever home. Once the kids are grown, David envisions living in a condo downtown, and Pam would be happier with a much smaller garden. “I’m glad we’ve had this experience, though, and I’m not ready to leave quite yet. I’m just enjoying every season, knowing that we won’t always be here.”
Front Garden
While the interior of the home features rich jewel tones, Pam tried to restrain her penchant for bold colors in the front garden, selecting neutral gray or black pots and a more soothing, monochromatic color scheme, in keeping with the home’s exterior. In a hot, dry climate, silver and gray foliage tend to dominate, so Pam chose many native and adapted plants for her front garden in this color family. Variety was added with golden variegated yuccas, deep burgundy grasses, and brightly colored flowers from shrubs and perennials, including golden thryallis (Galphimia gracilis) and Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha).
Using a creative blend of native and adapted plants together with a few choice annuals, Pam has developed a contemporary-traditional style that couldn’t possibly be described as naturalistic: “I’m very much about not letting the plants do their own thing!” With a distinct focus on foliage textures, this garden is a departure from her previous flower-filled designs. Although this is due in part to the shadier conditions, Pam was also excited to try something different and incorporated many of her favorite architectural plants, including agaves and yuccas. Foliage also enables her to ensure the garden is rich with interest throughout the year, since floral displays are relatively fleeting. It goes without saying that all selected plants must withstand searing high temperatures, flash floods, extreme drought, caliche soil, and hungry deer.
A planter featuring bromeliads (Dyckia ‘Burgundy Ice’) receives luminescent backup from the feathery foliage of bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), and in the late light, the die-cut detail of the red metal heart, a favorite accent piece, is revealed.
Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) and pale pavonia (Pavonia hastata) create an informal tumble of blooms among the dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor), foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’), and Sparkler sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’).
Various ornamental grasses are incorporated throughout the front garden, from finely textured muhly grasses to the bold, broad blades of fountain grass (Pennisetum purpureum ‘Vertigo’), as these have all proven to be reliably deer-resistant. Pam sites taller varieties where height is needed, and those with airy seed heads where they glow in the late evening sun.
One of Pam’s favorite evergreen grasses for the shade is Sparkler sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’), whose crisply variegated green and white foliage ensures it is visible even in limited sunlight. Where many designers might contrast this with bolder leaf shapes, Pam has successfully mixed it with plants that share a similar texture yet offer a distinct color.
The bold paddles of a spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ellisiana) echo the color of gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) in the foreground, while yuccas and Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) weave between the two. An upright rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and silver Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis var. argentea) create a monochromatic yet texturally rich backdrop.
Unfortunately, deer don’t limit themselves to merely eating plants, and Pam was not prepared for the “antlering” damage, as it is known locally. “It was so frustrating,” she admits. “Plants would just get to a good size and be reliably drought tolerant, only to be damaged by bucks rubbing their antlers on them.” She now uses discreet cages fashioned from metal fencing panels during the fall and winter rutting season to protect vulnerable agaves, hesperaloes, yuccas, and small trees.
Artistic Expression
Throughout the property, Pam has used art to add color, establish a focal point, or introduce unexpected detail. Two distinct themes within her art collection are also evident: hearts and spheres. Pam admits these themes evolved over time. There was no master plan; she simply purchased pieces that appealed to her. On the eastern side of the house a path of decomposed granite leads past a secluded side garden to the heart gate. In the side garden’s sitting area, a rustic bench decorated with metal bird silhouettes provides the perfect place to watch butterflies as they visit the sprawling mounds of Gregg’s blue mistflower (Conoclinium greggii). Behind this, the brick garage wall has been updated with dark-stained trellises installed over mirrors, ingeniously suggesting windows. This side garden also features a number of spheres, their perfect form signifying completeness, a popular symbol in landscape design.
Sections of bent wire fencing are used to protect a giant hesperaloe (Hesperaloe funifera) from antler damage.
Gregg’s blue mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) attracts many butterfly species, including the Monarch.
Dwarf palmettos flank a tall container featuring a thriller (×Mangave ‘Pineapple Express’) and a spiller (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’). A Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’) and golden sedge add evergreen foliage at the base.
Inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) and bamboo muhly, incandescent in the sunlight, frame a deer-resistant gate adorned with three hanging hearts that twirl in the breeze.
The most conspicuous spheres, due to their elevated position in the front garden, are the three blue ceramic balls nestled into the carpet of gray-woolly twintip, their color echoing that of a nearby tuteur. Containers too are used as an art form throughout the front garden. Where some homeowners might be satisfied with a token pot or two by the front door, Pam has incorporated them both to beautify and to problem-solve. For example, to break up the home’s brick façade, Pam introduced a sleek gray pot. Realizing that it would take time for its occupant, a young mangave (×Mangave ‘Pineapple Express’), to establish, she added a fun metal sculpture to create an immediate sense of stature. In another shaded pathway adjacent to the garage, where no in-ground planting was possible, stone pillars were used to elevate short containers, adding interest, texture, and color.
In a challenging region, where so many watch helplessly as their traditional lawns and foundation plantings shrivel under the relentless sun, Pam’s garden is an achievement—and she is justifiably proud of it. Interestingly, a few neighbors seem to be taking a fresh look at their own gardens, and new families are moving in and reviving the neighborhood. Pam’s influence and inspiration must surely be an encouragement to any homeowner aspiring to create their own beautiful oasis.
Top 10 Plants
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa). With stems that are reminiscent of bamboo and finely textured, feathery foliage that sways gently in the slightest breeze, this ornamental grass is deservedly popular. Drought tolerant once established and usually evergreen, bamboo muhly makes an attractive living screen or container specimen, 3–5 feet tall, 3–4 feet wide. Full sun–partial shade, zones 7–10. Deer resistance: A.
Vertigo fountain grass (Pennisetum purpureum ‘Vertigo’). A bold, architectural grass, 4–6 feet tall and half as wide, whose broad green blades turn deep purple as the summer progresses. An annual in most areas, this ornamental grass can be used in the landscape or containers. Full sun, zones 8–11. Deer resistance: A.
Texas sotol (Dasylirion texanum). An exceptional evergreen succulent for hot climates and full sun; an architectural sculpture in the landscape or containers. The narrow green leaves have spiny margins, a good deterrent against all manner of critters. Plants are 5 feet tall and wide; a 9- to 15-foot-tall spike bearing cream flowers may appear in summer. Drought tolerant. Zones 7–10. Deer resistance: A.
Prostrate Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’). Tolerant of shade, heat, drought, and deer, this evergreen conifer is both useful and versatile. The attractive, dark green needled foliage can be used as a low hedge or a groundcover, 2–3 feet tall, 3–4 feet wide. Partial shade–full sun, zones 6–9. Deer resistance: A.
Silver Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis var. argentea). With icy blue, fan-shaped foliage with silver undersides, this multi-trunked palm makes a truly eye-catching specimen in the landscape. The overall form is round as it matures, to 8–12 feet tall and wide. Full sun, zones 8–10. Deer resistance: A.
Golden thryallis (Galphimia gracilis). A fast-growing shrub, 4–6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and evergreen in milder climates. Bold yellow flowers adorn the plant from spring until frost. Drought tolerant once established. Full sun–partial shade, zones 9–11. Deer resistance: A.
Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii). This deciduous native shrub has an informal habit and a profusion of bright red, turban-like flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Grows 3–9 feet tall, 3–5 feet wide. Thrives in full shade but adaptable to full sun. Zones 7–11. Deer resistance: A.
Pale pavonia (Pavonia hastata). A Texas native, 5 feet tall, 7 feet wide. Light pink, hibiscus-like blooms, each with a deep burgundy eye, adorn this woody perennial from spring until fall. Evergreen in warmer climates, hardy but deciduous in cooler areas. Full sun–partial shade, zones 8–11. Deer resistance: A.
Pale-leaf yucca (Yucca pallida). Like all yuccas, this Texas native requires good drainage. The broad blue-green succulent leaves have a pale yellow margin, and if grown in full sun, a tall flower spike of white bell-shaped blooms may be produced in late spring. Deer may be tempted to eat the blooms occasionally but do not eat the foliage. Grows 1–2 feet tall and wide. Full sun–partial shade, zones 8–10. Deer resistance: A.
Gregg’s blue mistflower (Conoclinium greggii). A native, herbaceous perennial, 1.5 feet tall, 2 feet wide, this spreading groundcover is a good filler in the garden. Butterflies love the fluffy lavender flowers that cover the plant in summer and fall. Full sun–partial shade, zones 7–10. Deer resistance: B.