Before I'd ever been to Texas, I used to picture the Lone Star State as a dusty desert, filled with dude ranches, cowboys and cattle. Perhaps watching too many TV westerns gave me an incorrect perception of the totality of Texas landscapes.
During our stay, I was blown away by some of the beautiful outdoor spaces, lush gardens and natural landscapes we encountered there. The above shot was taken at Bayou Bend in Houston. The former home of Texas oil baroness Ima Hogg, Bayou Bend is now open to the public (with a small entry fee). A lovely way to beat the heat, these gardens are beautifully manicured and maintained.
Another great green space in Houston is just outside of the Renzo Piano-designed Menil Collection museum. These gardens are free and open to the public (as is the museum), and are well used by locals and tourists alike. The shade trees and outdoor sculptures make for a great afternoon picnic or study session.
Head a few hours west to Austin, and you'll find the Texas State Cemetery. As I travel around, I often find myself in a cemetery, as it's a great place to discover local history and remove myself from the touristy din. The peaceful gardens and ponds make it a great place for reflection and solitude. Lots of local heroes have been laid to rest here, including everyone from Stephen F. Austin to Tom Landry.
While manicured gardens are a sight to behold, sometimes there's nothing like the real thing. At the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, there's all kinds of natural beauty for a more outdoorsy experience. I was barely out on the trail before I saw rock climbers, sunbathers, swimmers and hikers. This lush landscape is well-used, and packed full of lots of outdoor Texas-sized fun.
(Images: Smith Schwartz)
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When I visited Dallas, I had the same experience. I was so surprised at how lush everyone's gardens were. Houston gets so much humidity that I don't imagine succulents would be very happy living there.
@LaMargarita, I live in a suburb right outside of Houston and my mom has had succulents thriving in her garden forever. I do wish we could get rid of the humidity though! It's so funny to me that people think of Texas as a desert, but I guess I do the same to New Mexico, even knowing there are lush areas.
I live "inside the loop" in Houston (as we say) very close to both places mentioned - they are beautiful. The entire green belt area that Bayou Bend (I think the naming above is incorrect) is part of is lovely.
Thanks, @Joydreamz, it's been corrected!
I was in Austin last weekend and had a great time visiting the botanical gardens then canoeing basically through the city. So cool to have such outdoorsy opportunities in our capital.
Don't forget San Antonio--Alamo Heights/Brackenridge Park/the museum reach of the Riverwalk--so green and lush! If only we could do something about the weather June-October it would be perfect!!
Thank you for this post! I live just outside downtown Houston and I love how the landscape changes as you travel west across the state. Graceful old oak trees turn to rivers and rolling hills, and then you reach the wide open desert dotted with mini-mountains bearing names like "Lost Mine Peak" and "Sawtooth Mountain," and it's so quiet out there you think you might be the last soul on earth. It's a long drive, but well worth it.
Very proud of my home state and our incredibly diverse landscapes, from moss-drippy oaks over ferns to mesquite-peppered rock-scapes. Please do come visit, but stop moving here. Really.
Yay! I'm in Austin, and after a really fierce summer and drought last year, we are having a soaking wet spring. Everything is in bloom and it is so lovely. :)
@metheuse, so sorry, but we are actually packed and heading out of Indiana at 6am tomorrow to make Austin our new home!!! :D LOVE THIS POST! So appropriate and encouraging as I close and lock the door to my first home for the last time... :(
If you water your gardens/lawns enough, then sure - everything is nice and green. I'm in north Dallas and the grass is already dying. I think I may be the only one on here that thinks Texas is not that pretty though. Nothing is in bloom in Dallas since everything will die in about a month, so it always seems like no one cares about the landscape here.
@sarahbru - I'm in east Dallas...and yeah, if you have traditional, non-appropriate plantings, as most do in Dallas, especially north Dallas, they will not do well in this heat and drought. Native and adapted plants are the way to go. My yard is in full bloom! Yarrow, Autumn Sage (red, white, and pink), Mexican Milkweed, Bee Balm, Cat Mint, Basil, Red and Yellow Yucca, Four Nerve Daisy, and some others that I can't remember now.
Before moving to Houston I also pictured Texas as cactus filled and mostly desert, but Houston's climate is closer to New Orleans'- muggy and tropical, with gorgeous post oaks. Did you see the Rice University campus area while visiting Houston? Now those are some lovely trees. That campus is a beautiful place to spend time.
We have adorable little lizards that run around the city. The palm trees here are transplants, of course.
Also... Ima Hogg, snort. Makes me giggle every time.
@quietlikesnow Yes! We did get to tour Rice- such a beautiful campus and a great coffee shop.