Texas gardener sells beloved circle garden, eyes colorado adventure
After 17 years, Joseph Anderson is relinquishing the keys to his iconic Texas home and, more significantly, its meticulously cultivated Circle Garden.
A nostalgic farewell to a texas oasis
The sale finalized today, handing over the property to a new family, but not before Anderson took one last, poignant stroll through the garden’s heart – the venerable Circle Garden, a testament to decades of patient cultivation. It's a bittersweet moment, marked by a quiet appreciation for the legacy he’s leaving behind.
The lily pond’s transformation
What began as a simple lily pond has evolved into a stunning raised planter, a vibrant showcase of Texas native flora. The focal point? An 8-foot stock tank, now teeming with bottle trees (or bottle ocotillos), wildflowers, seasonal bulbs, and the striking variegated foliage of a whale’s tongue agave – affectionately nicknamed ‘Ursula’. Everything within this space stays with the house, a deliberate choice reflecting Anderson’s deep connection to the land.
Texas blooms: a celebration of native species
Currently, the garden is ablaze with the fiery hues of Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), complemented by the delicate ‘four-nerve daisy’ (Tetraneuris scaposa) and the robust purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – all thriving in their native Texan soil. Anderson’s particular fondness for the Mexican hat, with its ballerina-like petals and playful cone heads, is evident. Even the yellow variant, adorned with blood-red splotches, holds a special charm. Ursula, the agave, continues to thrive in her spacious tank planter.
A pragmatic note on boxwoods
Framing the Circle Garden are pairs of ‘Winter Gem’ boxwood, their clipped spheres providing a striking contrast to the wilder, more organic planting. However, Anderson offers a cautionary note: “For the record, I don’t recommend planting boxwood in central Texas currently. While these old Winter Gems have performed admirably, many of my newer specimens have succumbed to disease shortly after planting.”
Outer ring radiance
The outer ring of the garden features purple skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii) juxtaposed against ‘Color Guard’ yucca in galvanized pots, while the back boasts ‘Mystic Spires’ salvia (Salvia longispicata x farinacea) providing year-round color and height. Scattered throughout are wisps of native heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata), adding delicate splashes of blue-purple. The towering squid agave (Agave bracteosa) remains, a welcoming presence for the new owners.
A lasting impression
Behind the swimming pool, hardy yellow hesperaloe (Hesperaloe parviflora) and beaked yucca (Yucca rostrata) add dramatic vertical accents, their yellow blooms popping against the dark cedar coyote fence. A Tucson-inspired blue stucco wall serves as a beautiful backdrop to the blond-flowering Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima). All plants are either native Texas species or carefully selected cultivars.
A legacy of green
As Anderson prepares to embark on a new chapter in colorado, he hopes the Circle Garden will continue to bring joy to its next custodians. It’s been a profoundly rewarding experience, and he extends his thanks to all who have followed his Texas gardening journey. He’s already eyeing a Denver house – a new challenge awaits.