June 02, 2024
I road-tripped up to Dallas in mid-May because…more garden tours! Dallas master gardener Suzy Renz had alerted me to the Dallas County Master Gardener Association Tour on May 18th, on which her garden was featured, and Michael McDowell had clued me into the White Rock East Garden Tour the next day. An overnight trip was in order! I enlisted a friend to join me, and off we went.
It turns out Dallas loves a garden tour! On Saturday, visitors of all ages were eagerly exploring each garden, which was heartening to see. The crowds (and bright sun) meant I wasn’t able to take many photos except at Suzy’s garden, our first stop as the tour opened. Her stone ranch with colorful porch trim offers happy curb appeal. Potted plants and a whimsical found-art sculpture waving hello draw you toward the front door.
Side view of the shady porch garden
Suzy has collected a number of Janice Somerville‘s found-art figures. They appear throughout the garden like quirky robots made of rakes, trowels, and other cast-off tools.
A garden sign beckoned us into a narrow side garden overlooking a ravine and creek.
Another funny face greeted us here.
Suzy loves going to Round Top Antiques Fair to hunt for interesting objects with past lives. This one she turned into a one-of-a-kind planter.
She and her husband also like antique cars, judging by The Judge, a shiny red 1969 GTO parked in the driveway. Its stable, a pristine garage adorned with antique signs, served as a pass-through to the back garden.
Entering the backyard, the first thing you see is a colorfully painted shed with a tongue-in-cheek sign. Danger: Men Gardening, it warns.
A farmhouse sink-turned-planter stands alongside another Janice Somerville face.
Another Somerville creation
A screened porch was set up with refreshments, which was welcome on this hot day. Inside, Renz is spelled out with old sign letters.
A swimming pool with covered outdoor kitchen and counter seating looks like a great place to entertain.
The pool patio overlooks the rest of the garden below, down a surprisingly steep slope. A path leads down to a large fire pit patio. Easy-care shrubs — juniper and spirea — cloak the slope, and flowering perennials add color in flatter areas that are easier to tend.
Hello, you
A rainbow of Adirondacks encircles the fire pit. I imagine this is a cozy spot on a chilly fall day.
Back through the pool patio
Heading out, I stopped to admire a gorgeous swath of purple skullcap. It’s planted in a semicircle around a flagstone patio with a yellow bench and umbrella. What a cheery front-yard patio.
Red yucca was in full bloom along the street — a gorgeous display that must drive hummingbirds crazy with excitement.
Their unmolested flower spikes tell me that Suzy does not have to contend with deer, which makes me envious.
Thank you, Suzy, for inviting me up to your beautiful garden and the warm welcome to the tour!
Up next from my Dallas trip: A visit to Michael McDowell’s Plano prairie garden. For a look back at the prairie wildflowers at Native Texas Park, click here.
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Digging Deeper
June 1-2: Take a self-guided, 2-day tour of ponds and gardens in and around Austin on the annual Austin Pond and Garden Tour, held 6/1 and 6/2, 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets are $20 to $25.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!
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