A sheep pen turned country garden in Blanco

The stone walls of a century-old sheep pen in Blanco, Texas, give structure and history to the country garden of James and Nancy Robinson.… Read More

The post A sheep pen turned country garden in Blanco appeared first on Digging.

A year ago I received an invitation to visit a unique garden in Blanco, a small town an hour west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. Because I was working nonstop on my book, I took a rain check until this spring. Recently I drove out with a friend to meet the owner, James Robinson, and see what he and his wife, Nancy, have created on their rural property.

James met us outside his walled-and-deer-fenced garden, which is located near the road — a surprising distance from their house. To reach their house, you continue along their winding driveway perhaps a quarter-mile, past a picturesque old barn and groves of live oaks.

It’s not exactly the backyard.

But I can see why James and Nancy made their garden in this spot. Limestone walls — the roofless structure of a sturdy sheep pen built 100 years ago — enclose the garden on three sides, providing protection from winter winds, a picturesque backdrop, and a connection to the property’s ranching history.

The walls give a feeling of age to the 12-year-old garden. They also create a house-like corner where an actual bed is made up with coverlet and pillows. I asked James if he ever sleeps out here. “We don’t nap on it,” he said, “but we do use it when it’s cold and the fire pit is going.” He told me it’s usually covered with a drop cloth, but they make it up for visitors. An old screen door leaning against the wall keeps the bed company, adding a dash of red echoed by Adirondack chairs and a flowering crossvine.

Flanking the gate into the garden stand two spent agaves. One still holds its towering bloom stalk aloft — a final burst of growth for a mature agave, which dies after flowering.

The gate opens onto a patio surrounded by agaves, roses, and Jerusalem sage. Vintage metal chairs and a glider, patinaed with green paint, encircle a steel fire pit.

Glittering crushed glass subs for gravel paving here. It reminds me of gardens in Austin (like this one and this one) that incorporated recycled glass back when Austin offered crushed glass for free. (It no longer does.)

The old motel-style chairs exude country charm.

As does a drink table made from a rusty camshaft.

A stone rabbit peeks out from a patch of Jerusalem sage.

A big old agave that somehow survived Snowpocalypse holds court by the fire pit with leaves like green flames.

On a picnic table near the fire pit, a yellow-green table runner…

…turned out to be a built-in planter of succulents and cacti!

A wider view

In the heart of the garden stands a faded red shed with corrugated barn doors on each side.

Paths meet up with it from all sides.

Its doorways frame an axis view to another gabled structure, a rusty arbor in the distance.

Passing through the shed, I stopped to admire a whimsical blue chandelier hanging inside.

Hardy bird-of-paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) frames the doorway on the other side.

When I posted a photo of this plant to my Facebook page last week, it blew up with comments. Everyone wanted to know more about it. The botanical name is Caesalpinia gilliesii, and its common name is hardy or desert bird-of-paradise. Yes, it’s rela