National Wildflower Week: Using Native Wildflowers in Landscaping

by Heather Day / May 1, 2023

Native Edge Landscape is committed to being a sustainable and environmentally conscious landscape design company that focuses on creating responsible outdoor living for a sustainable future. With National Wildflower Week taking place from May 1-7, we wanted to feature one of our projects that uses native wildflowers instead of grass, and discuss the benefits of doing so.

The property we're highlighting is also in an HG Magazine feature and showcases a beautiful and functional landscape that incorporates a variety of native wildflowers. By using native wildflowers, we were able to create a landscape that is not only visually stunning, but also supports local ecosystems and reduces the need for maintenance and watering.

One of the biggest benefits of using native wildflowers in landscaping is their ability to attract and support local wildlife. Many native wildflowers are specifically adapted to support local pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems. By incorporating these plants into our landscapes, we can help support the local ecosystem and ensure that these essential pollinators have the resources they need to thrive.

Another benefit of using native wildflowers is that they require less maintenance and watering than traditional grass lawns. This is because native wildflowers are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, so they are better able to withstand drought and other environmental stressors. By reducing the amount of water and maintenance required, we can create landscapes that are more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

In addition to their environmental benefits, native wildflowers also add a unique and beautiful aesthetic to landscapes. By using a variety of colors and textures, we can create a landscape that is visually stunning and helps to create a sense of place that is unique to the local environment.

At Native Edge Landscape, we are passionate about creating responsible landscapes that support local ecosystems and reduce our impact on the environment. By using native wildflowers in our designs, we can help create landscapes that are not only beautiful but also sustainable and environmentally responsible.

As National Wildflower Week approaches, we encourage you to consider incorporating native wildflowers into your own landscaping designs. Not only will you be supporting local ecosystems and reducing your impact on the environment, but you'll also be creating a beautiful and unique landscape that is sure to impress. Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable and environmentally responsible landscape designs.

[click to view the Houzz Portfolio for this project]

[click to view the Native Edge Portfolio]

Helping Monarch Butterflies

by Rowan Marney / August 6, 2022

The Monarch Butterfly was recently added to the endangered species list which means helping them out is more important than ever! In this blog we will discuss plants and other items you can easily add into your landscaping to provide food, water, and shelter for these important little butterflies!Read More »

South Austin Suburban Sanctuary

by Erin Spencer / January 6, 2022

These homeowners came to us with the desire to turn their basic grass lawn into a fun hangout space. In the new design, they wanted a large patio, a gathering place for a fire pit, native plantings, outdoor lighting, and a grassy area to accommodate yard games and the family dog all while addressing some drainage concerns! A designated space was left to accommodate the future hot tub; Designer Erin included pre-built steps in her plans when designing the layout of the patio so that they would have easy access in the future.

A cut out was added to the deck to leave an area for a water feature to be installed, and to give the deck additional interest and sharp angles to mirror zig-zag bridges found in traditional Asian style landscapes. The Gabian wall was added to help define the space while also giving a variation of texture from patio to lawn. The water feature itself was inspired by the Japanese bamboo “deer-scarer”; Erin’s interpretation uses the corten metal instead of the traditional bamboo. The issues and concerns with drainage were addressed with a French Drain and dry creek bed with also gave interest and a sense of movement to the landscape. Our final task was to add a small planting area to the front of the home to dress up the entry and bring a cohesive feel to the entire home.

[blog_metadata]

Hilltop Haven

by Dillon Tuttle / December 11, 2021

These homeowners have a beautiful hill country property and were looking to match the aesthetic of the home with an updated landscape design. The primary goals for this project included completing the landscape left unfinished around the existing pool, replacing as much lawn as possible with native plants to attract pollinators and birds, and reimagining the front yard hillside. Custom entry stairs and a bridge were added with steel raised planters to give dimension to the sloping walkway to include a formal path to the front door for guest parking at the street. The bridge gives a clear path over a dry creek drainage system made with river rocks, giving excess water a clear path to follow that avoids important areas of the home and landscaping. We added a custom address marker as well as a few bubbling boulder water features in the front and back yard to provide interest and water source for wildlife.

[blog_metadata]

Mount Bonnell Native Oasis

by Dillon Tuttle / June 24, 2021

We have had the pleasure of working on multiple projects for this property over the past few years! It has been great to watch the property change and turn into the native oasis it is today! The most important aspect of this property that the owner wanted to maintain was that all the plantings were native to Central Texas. The back of the property was filled with native plantings around the pool, and the property owner wanted a cohesive look with her beds in the front yard that had become overgrown. We removed the old plants and added in some of the same native plantings that were found in her back yard. Yaupon Holly was added along the property line to provide extra privacy from the neighbors and flowering natives were clustered to make the property more pollinator friendly!

Another request from the owner was that we make the property more inviting during the evenings. We added in some outdoor lighting to highlight the trees, as well as lighting that illuminated the pathway up to the house and around the back of the property. This added a dreamy element to the space, making the property more inviting to guests.

[blog_metadata]

[before_photos_toggle]

Georgetown Wildflower Wonderland

by Erin Spencer / June 1, 2021

Located in downtown Georgetown, this family transformed their front yard into a wildflower wonderland! They envisioned a welcoming entrance with seating and native landscaping to host both guests and pollinators on their property. They wanted to ditch their grass yard in favor of colorful native plants that would create a charming scene for friends and neighbors alike. They dreamed of a gathering space in their front yard that looked out over their native plantings, so we added a seating area with cafe lights and raised steel planters so that the plantings could be enjoyed while seated. Black star gravel was added for furniture and plant contrast, making them pop against the home and landscaping. This family now has a relaxing area to gather, host friends, and watch the pollinators visit their beautiful wildflowers!=

[blog_metadata]

[before_photos_toggle]

Tarrytown Wraparound

by Rodney Stoutenger / January 30, 2021

This young family came to us looking to transform their yard into an area where they could easily entertain their guests. They were looking to add a seamless wraparound patio that meshed with the look of their existing home and garage. Concrete was chosen as the base of the patio, and was then topped with limestone slabs. A short retaining wall was added along the edge of the patio in the back to give the space more definition. Raised planters along the garage and a custom outdoor kitchen extend their living space to the outdoors. The designer chose to add lighting along the edge of the retaining wall giving the space a low, warm blanket of light. Bougainvillea was planted along the garage climbing upwards, providing a pop of color against the light coloring of the home. Holly trees were chosen to line the backyard fence, as well as the side yard along the street. This helped to provide a green wall of privacy and soften the stone facade.

[blog_metadata]

[before_photos_toggle]Read More »

Xeriscape: Design Around The Climate

by Rowan Marney / December 1, 2020

Opting for an Xeriscape allows you to be less dependent on irrigation without sacrificing aesthetic-appeal.

Xeriscape is defined as a style of landscape design requiring little or no irrigation or maintenance. This doesn't mean you have to skip out on a lawn! With careful planning and design, incorporating xeriscape with a lawn area can provide you with the best of both worlds. Living in Texas, xeriscaped designs thrive under the climate. Not only does it save water, but it allows your space to look great year round no matter if there's 100 degree sunshine or 32 degree overcast.

Native plants aren't always used for xeriscaping, but because Texas is such a warm environment, they are the go-to for this type of work. Native plants are already adapted to our environment, making them the optimal choice for survival. Many native Texas plants are drought tolerant, making them perfect for this type of landscaping. Agave, Cacti, Yucca, & Hesperaloe are just some of the examples that we love to work with! These plants are green year round and make great focal points. Evergreen perennials are another option if native plants aren't your style. Hymenoxys, Damianita, and Salvia Greggii are a few examples of perennials that keep their green foliage throughout the year while also providing colorful, seasonal blooms!

Xeriscape can look both rugged and neat depending on design. Incorporating asymmetrical shapes and edges can help tidy up a xeriscaped lawn. Here at Native Edge, we space plants out, to give them room to grow. Sporadic planting allows for the incorporation of odd-shaped edges and tall planters to add dimension to the landscaping.

The use of a top coat is necessary to keep the landscaping looking sharp. Gravels provide excellent drainage which xeriscape plants typically need. It can also be used to blend planted areas with paths and seating or gathering areas, giving a complete and cohesive look to the space. If you're tired of spending time and money on watering and upkeep of your current landscaping, xeriscape may just be right for you!

Georgetown Native Nook

by Dillon Tuttle / November 21, 2020

After these homeowners moved from a modern house in east Austin out to the hill country of Georgetown, they wanted to modernize their landscaping without clashing with their new home. The pre-existing, overgrown beds provided a great shape, so the designer decided to reenforce them with metal edging, and fill them with drought tolerant perennials and structural plants that look great year round. The old plantings had become untamed, shrouding the home and leaving little room to breathe. The new xeriscape was designed to be minimal and sporadic, leaving plenty of room for the new plants to grow into the space. Pea gravel and river rock where the chosen top dressings instead of traditional mulch to keep with the modern theme of the landscaping. Outdoor lighting was added to create depth throughout the property. Not only were they added against the home, they were added to every tree in the front yard, lighting the entire area with a warm, welcoming glow.

[blog_metadata]

Warmest Welcome: Gathering Around A Fire

by Rowan Marney / October 15, 2020

Adding a fire pit to your space provides an eye-catching focal point while increasing the value of your home.

Nothing says "welcome" like a fire pit. They provide both an optimal location for hosting guests, and a relaxing sanctuary for a romantic night in or a quiet evening with the family. The beautiful dancing flames draw you in, making the rest of the world disappear, even for just a moment or two. Fire is also a wonderful way to add a glow to your space without having to install harsh lighting. It adds a certain elegance while also proving a warm atmosphere to unwind in.

Highly customizable from their size, to type, to function, there are endless possibilities when choosing the right fire pit to fit your lifestyle. There are portable pits for those who want to have the option of moving their gathering space around. Customizable built-in pits leave room to create a cohesive look and flow within the space. Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes that allow you to choose exactly what size will work for your needs and space. Wood-burning and natural gas fire pits both have their added benefits and harbor different uses, so thinking about the type of experience you want is important.

Wood burning fire pits provide guests with a nostalgic and traditional experience. Humans have been making fires this way since the beginning of time so why shouldn't you? There's something about the smell and warmth of a wood burning fire that allows us to relax and reminisce. This type of fire pit needs to be built and placed safely to ensure the flames and sparks won't travel outside the pit. Raised pits and the use of gravel or rock around the area can provide a safer environment to light fires.

Natural gas fire pits provide all the benefits of having a fire, without the smell or mess. There is no soot or ash to clean up, no smell left on your clothes, and they cast less emissions when burning. Natural gas pits work by running a gas line to a metal fire pit ring. This ring is placed on top of river rock to provide drainage, then topped with lava rock which absorbs some of the heat. Glass rock can then be added on top to finish the look and give your space that "wow" factor. Natural gas fires do not have sparks that fly out from the flames, making this option the safer of the two.

Now that the bulk of the summer heat is over, the best place to enjoy the expansive, Texas starry-night sky is next to a fire. Give yourself, and guests, the ultimate space to enjoy a drink or toast marshmallows as we head into our cooler season!

Plants