New Orleans-inspired garden courtyard

New Orleans style with Texas-friendly plants defines this courtyard garden designed by Curt Arnette of Sitio Design.… Read More

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Last November, I photographed several Austin gardens designed by landscape architect Curt Arnette of Sitio Design, who’s also an old friend and former neighbor. Between my book tour schedule and the holidays, I didn’t find time to edit those photos until January — an excellent winter project. With Curt’s and the owners’ permission, I’ll give you a peek into several beautifully designed private gardens by one of the most talented garden makers in Austin.

Let’s start with this New Orleans-inspired walled garden in central Austin. Recycled brick — faded red with a little gray and traces of old paint in robin’s egg blue — encloses a paved courtyard with a tiered fountain.

The splashing fountain muffles the noise of highway traffic a couple blocks away.

Green foliage — Texas dwarf palmetto needle palm, ‘Feather Falls’ sedge, foxtail fern — provides serene lushness. Nothing fussy here, just what works in a good deal of shade.

Creeping tendrils of fig ivy green up the walls.

An arched doorway with a lacy iron gate echoes three inset arches on the fountain wall.

A tall screen of green-black shutters hides something — maybe a utility box? — and adds more NOLA style.

Side view of the fountain

Graceful fountain detail

Elegant, white-cushioned seating on one side of the courtyard is shaded by yellow-trimmed green parasols. Curt added dark-green planter boxes atop the back wall for more height and privacy.

Under those lily pad-green parasols

Paving detail with greened-up silver ponyfoot

Needle palm, sedge, fig ivy, and the timeworn elegance of old New Orleans — what a magic trick for an Austin backyard.

Up next: Another of Curt’s garden designs: Hitting all the notes at Piano Rock garden.

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Digging Deeper

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