Monday, June 6, 2011

Rancho Landscape Design II

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Last October, I labeled my yard design as

Rancho Landscape Design.


You can read about it here.

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In fact yesterday,

as I watered, I scanned my backyard with my eyes and thought,

‘muy rancho’.

My definition, as it still applies to my yard 9 months after I wrote that post is…

rancho…

literal Spanish translation: ranch

my loose symbolic translation: South Texas , imperfect, simple, humble, humbling,

occasionally‘dolled up’ for special occasions ,

hot (temperature), temperamental, forgiving,

native

and

periodically looks ‘ridden hard and put up wet’.

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And so as I embrace this ,

and I quit fighting battles I can’t win,

(and I am not supposed to win)

I now truly understand my yard.

And as in dressing room battles

I have faced while clothes shopping,

some things just aren’t going to look right or work.

*It is not going to magically grow cabbage roses that trail along my cedar fence.

*No one is ever going to confuse rancho landscape design with cottage.


*It is always thirsty.

*Most of the plants it enjoys growing have thorns… hormonally, I can relate.

 

And ,although it never looks the same on any given day,

I

love

it

deeply.

 

11 comments:

trash talk said...

L.B.,
I think I should tell you...Debra and I discussed you and it is our consensus a Rancho book...complete with recipes...is way over due!
Anthony
P.S. I have a set of thorns too! I like to think of them of menopause accessories!

Olive said...

Although I am miles away in Georgia we have much in common. My garden of flowers are always hot and thirsty. I cannot grow roses other than a handful of knockouts and the deer munch on them! I think of my little garden space all the time and what peace it brings me.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

I was just sitting here looking at my plants that are begging me to give them a drink of water - should have do it early this morning. Yes - few thorns here also. :-D

Erin Wolfley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erin Wolfley said...

I've never seen a talavera bird bath before! Very pretty! It looks just like my kitchen canisters, only much bigger! :)

NanaDiana said...

Lordy-You just described my life at work...no matter how hard I try to make a square peg fit into whatever hole I have designed for it..it is
NEVAH gonna fit..because all the spots I have designed for it are NOT a good fit.

Loved this post-it is really like life, isn't it? We want what we want but get what we get- xoDiana

Brenda Pruitt said...

I do adore that bird bath! So colorful.
Brenda

Deb said...

I'm learning to go along with this Texas weather and stop fighting it...trying to plant native things that can handle the climate..

Pondside said...

Just so long as you love it - then it's perfect!
I am refining the 'natural' look of a Pacific Northwest Garden. What this actually means is moss in the lawn and salal everywhere - it works because it's green!

Gail Dixon said...

Having lived in Texas for over 25 years I've learned it is not the ideal place for most plants to go crazy and thrive. It does take some effort. In Louisiana (where I'm originally from) you put the plant in the ground and nature takes care of the rest. I think you have created a beautiful area in your yard. I love that painted bird bath. So colorful and adds such interest!

Anonymous said...

Landscape design is the one that makes your home better to look to look at. With that t may not only beautify it but also it may give you the satisfaction of living in. they say that there’s no place like home especially when it’s as beautiful as the environment.
Solkor

 

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