Might 16, 2023
Create Yard Journey with Vignettes: Jo Ann Glanz
Surprises and experiences: That’s what Jo Ann Glanz wished in her backyard when she and husband Jeff purchased their home 38 years in the past. “I taught English for 42 years at highschool and center faculty, and I like tales. There’s numerous tales within the backyard,” she stated.
Beginning with a imaginative and prescient, they spent nights after work and weekends measuring, hauling, digging, and constructing.
Each pathway beckons exploration: from atop a treehouse and thru rose, herb, and butterfly gardens. Then she added a pond, a mosaic she-shed studio, a teahouse playhouse, and a greenhouse. On our go to in early November, the gardens have been nonetheless aglow, merely bruised by a dip into the 30s.
“I actually just like the idea of wandering,” she advised us.
“I feel a backyard must be an journey and I actually like staging vignettes. And so each part has a distinct really feel.”
Footsteps all the time result in a small pond’s alluring waterfall the place dragonflies dance.
See it in individual and meet Jo Ann on June 4, a part of this yr’s Austin Pond Society tour. Get full particulars for the two-day tour, June 3 & 4.
Their first venture was to construct a deck for out of doors eating, enjoyable, and Jo Ann’s assortment of container ornamentals and small citrus timber. A salvaged mailbox holds hand instruments, seed packets, mosquito spray—no matter she wants that day.
They added a pergola topped with shade fabric for out of doors consolation and to melt the sunshine in Jo Ann’s protect charming backyard room.
Then they constructed a staircase to a star-gazing treehouse above the deck. To make the most of the house beneath, they enclosed it: initially for his or her daughters’ bunnies and later, chickens. Lastly, Jo Ann obtained to fill it with one thing much less demanding: ferns!
I think that it’s all the time been a favourite serene grownup retreat to remain up to the mark. For Jo Ann, in fact, it’s a chook’s eye view for planning her subsequent backyard conquest.
A Texas persimmon graciously overlooks a flagstone lobby between decomposed granite paths.
Jo Ann and Jeff spent many back-breaking hours creating paths to outline areas.
Finally, they hauled 10 tons of decomposed granite. At first, they labored round a large stay oak tree, however once they misplaced it to oak wilt, they planted this pecan. On this shady island mattress, Jo Ann planted amaryllis and wedelia.
They dubbed it Tweeterville for the lovable and colourful birdhouses her brother constructed.
One other path leads although an arbor wreathed in coral vine to sunny gardens for roses, herbs, and pollinators.
Within the butterfly backyard (additionally for bees), Jo Ann orchestrates blooming most months of the yr. In November, ‘Mystic Spires’ salvia was one among many perennials nonetheless in flower. Over the winter, annuals popped as much as preserve the pollinator buffet going. Seasonal greens develop in raised beds alongside one path.
When their daughters grew up, she turned their playhouse right into a magical teahouse the place she hosts tea events for all ages.
Then, they constructed one other she-shed as a mosaic studio, ornamented with a few of her farmer grandmother’s instruments.
That every one began when she created a mosaic sink for her mother, created from a number of the china.
Jo Ann delighted on this new inventive venture the place she smashes up previous dishes and turns them into one thing new.
I’m in awe of this unusual bench she styled up with a mosaic sample!
Then she obtained a greenhouse for the tropicals and citrus timber in winter (she began shifting them the minute we left!). A glass-topped eating desk hosts frequent gatherings, overseen by a bunny sculpture. A neighbor’s youngster likes to hunt for all of the bunny backyard artwork. In the future he discovered 30 after which advised Jo Ann, “I can’t depend any greater!”
And I wager you understand a gardener (I positive do) that buys one thing only for the bottle!
Jo Ann put a rosy spin on it when she discovered a French rosé wine with a rose-embossed base (and even a glass cork!). After amassing for 4 years, together with from pals, she painted them with acrylics blended with a bit of ModPodge and sprayed with a transparent varnish. Inexperienced water bottles kind the “leaves” in a spot too shady for actual roses.
One of many many, many issues that endeared me to Jo Ann is her tackle wildlife. She understands that we will’t host a wildlife social gathering and solely invite a popular few. As a substitute, she cleverly circumvents raccoon pond frolics and with wry wit (and probably a sigh), indicators on with fun.
Inventive, joyful, and energetic, she revels in new tasks: “I used to be born and raised on a farm. I assume it exhibits filth underneath the fingernails that by no means actually goes away.”
Watch her inspiring story!
And thanks for stopping by! Linda