Thyme to garden

5 private gardens in Austin bloom for Garden Conservancy's fall tour

The Garden Conservancy is showing off its best gardens around the country, like this one by Steve Twigger in Austin.

Photo by Buff Strickland

A nationwide nonprofit is showing off the country's most stunning private gardens, including five in Austin, on Saturday, November 8. The Travis County edition of the Garden Conservancy's Open Day tour offers exclusive access to gardens by local artists, ambitious neighbors, and a favorite restaurant for $10 per visit.

The Garden Conservancy has local hosting help from Austin’s Twistleaf Land Design, a landscape architecture studio that specializes in restorative landscapes. The Open Day tour is self-guided and runs from 10 am to 4 pm for one day only. Garden Conservancy members can purchase tickets for only $5 per garden.

"Seeing how others design their outdoor spaces opens up so much possibility. It’s one thing to scroll for inspiration — but walking through a lived-in garden lets you feel how it flows, how it makes you pause and take a deep breath," says Twistleaf founder and Open Day regional ambassador Sarah Yant in an email. "You notice the plants that thrive, the creative ways people work with shade or slope. An Open Day is about discovering what resonates and finding the confidence to shape your own garden, even if it’s just a tiny corner."

Here's a sneak peek at the exclusive gardens that typically keep their doors shut to the public eye.

Steve Twigger’s Personal Paradise
Turns out Gaelic Storm's former lead guitarist has a thing for gardens. Built by Twigger himself over the span of two decades, this sumptuous garden successfully blends English cottage-style charm with a Texas twist.

Steve Twigger's private garden in Central Austin Photo by Buff Strickland

Belmont Parkway: Studio Balcones’ Shoal Creek Sanctuary
Guarded by a sloping forest and live oak, cedar oak, and red elm trees, the award-winning Belmont Parkway garden is a hidden green gem in West Austin. With a courtyard rife with freshly grown perennials, an enigmatic dipping pool, and limestone pathways, the Belmont Parkway garden feels like a little slice of heaven hidden away from Austin's urban landscape.

The Belmont Parkway Garden Photo by Buff Strickland

Canyon Vista
Five acres of abundant greenery are a beautiful irony in a former barren caliche site — a calcium carbonate deposit. Now a deer-resistant, woodland garden, Canyon Vista features native grasses, a canyon-facing pool, and fresh blooms. Canyon Vista was man-made, but now serves as a cradle for wildlife and pollinators.

The Canyon Vista gardens Photo by Buff Strickland

Este Gardens
Located behind sister restaurants Este and Bar Toti, Este Gardens supplies these kitchens — as well as Suerte's — with organic herbs, vegetables, and other produce, helping them stay true to their farm-to-table mission for guests. Este utilizes low-till, chemical free gardening practices to keep things fresh, both for the gardens and restaurant guests.

Este Gardens behind Este and Bar TotiPhoto by Buff Strickland

Delta Dawn's Pollinator Paradise
Once a 1960s ranch home, this Barton Hills garden has evolved into what is now known as Pollinator Paradise. The property's neighbors purchased the house and tore it down to make room for this garden. Featuring 1,800 square feet of fresh flowers, 15+ native tree species, conservation beds and more, the Barton Hills oasis is a love letter to nature in full bloom.

Delta Dawn's Pollinator ParadisePhoto by Buff Strickland

Tickets for Travis County Open Day Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 2, at gardenconservancy.org.

gardening tours home design architecture nature

WINTER WONDERS

Weekend holiday market elevates Austin's Asian artists

Photo by Joi Conti Photography

Illustrator Lisa Crawford of LisaLisa, who brings a touch of Filipino-American culture to her art, at a recent vendor fair.

Expect Asian flair from a variety of local artists at Asian Season ATX’s first Holiday Market on the grounds of Beerburg Brewery this Sunday, December 14. The market will feature more than 20 creators of ceramics, prints, and photography with a dash of Asian or Pacific heritage.

The holiday market, launched by Asian Season ATX, will showcase both art and food through an Asian lens. Hours are noon to 5 pm. The vendor lineup includes:

The Filipino food truck KinAugi, known for its lumpia, pancit, and meatsicles, also will be on site. A pop-up art gallery will feature the works of various artists with Asian American and Pacific Islander background: Erina Rizal, Ngan Hoang, Bart Sasam, Lauren Hua, Andy Dunlavey, Gigi White, and RJ Gaulberto.

Tayo Na Vol 2 launch party Asian vendors gathered for Tayo Na launch part, which celebrated the area's second Filipino directory.Photo by Joi Conti Photography

Painter Ngan Hoang, for instance, was born in Saigon. She uses paint and found materials to explore themes of healing, identity, and belonging. Bart Sasam uses his photography skills to create digital dioramas of Austin. And RJ Gualberto, born in the Philippines, moved to Austin in 2018 and uses both drafting and rendering skills in his art.

Artist Andy Dunlavey and baker Cedric Silan created Asian Season ATX in early 2024. Silan, who serves as executive director, says the group came together because showcasing Asian artists together drew bigger crowds.The organization is committed to being a welcoming space to artists, artisans, creators and makers.

Asian Season ATX founders Asian Season ATX celebrates Asian Heritage Month at Austin Beerworks.Photo by Joi Conti Photography

The group began with its annual AAPI Month Kickoff at Austin Beerworks, which quickly grew from a small gathering into one of the city’s larger celebrations of Asian and Pacific Islander creatives.

From there, Asian Season ATX expanded into curating art spaces for Party at the People’s House, partnering with Bolm Arts Studios for the Look Mama, We Made It gallery, contributing to the Austin Studio Tour, and supporting community projects like the Walks of Life exhibition and the Tayo Na launch, the city's Filipino directory.

Now, the organization continues hosting events year-round and highlighting participating artists on social media. Austinites who miss this event — or attend and want more — won't have to wait long for the next event. Plus, many of the vendors have connections with other markets and sell their goods online.

asian culture markets holidays shopping