November 04, 2025
Continuing with my sneak peek of the November 8th Garden Conservancy tour in Travis County — today I’ll show you the Belmont Parkway garden.
Quick side notes: I’ll be manning a book-signing table at Belmont Parkway from 10 am to 1 pm. Stop by to say hi and see my brand-new book, Gardens of Texas — and maybe check a few people off your Christmas list! For tour information and tickets — each garden is sold individually — click here. Two of the gardens have timed entry due to limited parking, so get your tickets ASAP if you want to see those.
Belmont Parkway garden
The Belmont Parkway garden was designed by Studio Balcones, headed by landscape architect Jennifer Orr (whose work is featured in Gardens of Texas!). In front, a path-like driveway leads through screening clumps of silver saw palmetto underplanted with lamb’s ears — a cool, silvery green combo.
Silver saw palmetto
The contemporary home is understated, with a glass bridge connecting two upper halves. No doubt there’s a spectacular tree-canopy view from inside.
But let’s look back at the richly textured driveway garden before going any further. Low gabion walls — sturdy wire frames filled with rock — cut through it, slowing runoff, perhaps, and creating separation between the public streetside garden and private inner garden.
On the other side of the driveway, the gabion wall continues, with a break to accommodate a tree. Silver-blue whale’s tongue agaves cluster in front like chunky starfish.
Dappled sunlight on a whale’s tongue agave
Silver saw palmetto and side view of the gabion wall. Look how carefully fitted together the rocks are.
Again, with the whale’s tongue agaves and fall aster in bloom
Whale’s tongue agaves with a tall, flowering grass — Lindheimer muhly, I think
Whale’s tongue agave, fall aster, and gabion wall detail
White mistflower was in bud when I visited two weeks ago. It’s probably in full fragrant bloom now.
Along a shady side of the garden, dwarf palmetto and foxtail fern fill the understory. The orange tree in the background may have been in fall color or may have been a victim of summer drought. We’ll call it fall — it was pretty!
Lindheimer muhly catching the light with its long plumes
More glowing Lindheimer muhly
Screening a neighboring driveway, a stone bench and wall offer a spot to sit and enjoy the garden.
An iron figure — a frontiersman, maybe? — sits in an alcove.
The back garden is shadier and slopes down to Shoal Creek, which runs right behind the fence. Grassy swaths of inland sea oats and sedge cover the ground.
Sedge lawn and a redbud tree
Just beyond a wire fence lies the stony bed of Shoal Creek. It was nearly dry when I visited, but perhaps it’s running now that we’ve had rain.
Low stone walls help direct runoff to the creek. A cairn marks a set of stairs.
Turk’s cap helps fill the understory.
Bethany is part of the Twistleaf team that accompanied me on the preview tour. I caught her framed by redbud and palmetto — a very Austin portrait, it seemed to me.
Twistleaf Land Design is the local host of the Conservancy tour, instrumental in making this tour happen. They’ve done a ton of work to select gardens, work with the owners, line up volunteers, and promote the tour. Kudos to them for doing all this so we can enjoy touring gardens and to help the Conservancy in its mission to preserve important American gardens.
Sedge lawn behind the house. I didn’t learn which sedge this is — maybe Berkeley or Leavenworth’s?
Palmetto, redbud, and sedge
Loquat
‘Pam’s Pink’ Turk’s cap adds flower color in the shade.
Climbing up to the house level, you reach a fire pit patio…
…and circular plunge pool.
The view from the pool deck is striking in its geometry, with a glowing green backdrop of trees to admire while soaking.
What a view.
One more angle, with a grand old live oak framing the dark house
A small lawn appears up here…
…along with old-fashioned favorites like crinum and loquat.
Crinum flowers
A bee was spelunking in one.
An outdoor shower framed by potted plants offers a spot to clean off before jumping in the pool.
A pretty vignette of potted succulents and hot-pink bougainvillea
To get tickets for this garden, click here. And remember, I’ll be here with Gardens of Texas books (available for $50 plus tax) from 10 am to 1 pm — they’ll make great holiday gifts! Look for me under the carport in the front garden, and come say hi!
Up next: The Artist’s Eclectic Garden on the Open Day Tour. For a look back at Este Garden, click here.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’ll make a great holiday gift for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
Come see me on tour! I’m speaking in cities across Texas to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Appearances in November include: Garden Spark in Austin on 11/6; Travis County Open Day Tour at Belmont Pkwy Garden in Austin on 11/8; Community Gardens in Bastrop on 11/9; Redenta’s Garden Shop in Dallas on 11/15; North Haven Gardens in Dallas on 11/16; Wichita River Native Plant Society of Texas in Wichita Falls on 11/17; Grapevine Garden Club in Grapevine on 11/18, and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin on 11/22. Join me to learn, be inspired, and get a signed copy of the book!
Nov. 6: Learn about garden design and ecology at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.
Nov. 8: Tour 5 Austin gardens on the Open Day Tour for Travis County, sponsored by the Garden Conservancy. I’ll be at the Belmont Parkway Garden with a book-signing table for Gardens of Texas, so come say hi! Tickets for each garden must be purchased online in advance, and some gardens limit attendance, so reserve your spot early. Find full details and ticket links here.
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
