Our 42 acre rural property in Gause, TX (NW of College Station) we have owned for 2 years now. I don't have "gardens" per se there, but basically am just going with what the former owners planted there. They lived in the little cabin for some 30 years and when they hit their 80's, moved down the road to an adjacent property owned by their daughter.

Mostly I have wildflowers down there, but former owner did plant a couple beautiful Encore Autumn Debutante azaleas at the back porch, some dwarf liriope scattered around the place, much 'Heavenly Bamboo' Nandina and some gold lantana in two places. There is one pink crepe myrtle buried by a mature oak tree. It blooms, but is crowded by the wild yaupon holly at the base of the tree. I'm trying to find time to get in there and cut back that yaupon so I can see the crepe a bit better. There are 3 Shagbark Hickory trees around the cabin producing nuts and 1 pecan tree she started on the fence line, but the 6' young tree is struggling in our summer heat and may not make it.

So pretty much I have a blank slate and all the room in the world to plant whatever I want. So far I've planted a Desert Willow Tree on the fence line, a Vitex (Chaste) tree in a sunny corner of the fence, Wormwood Artemesia 'Powis Castle' at the 4 corners of the cabin to repel the wasps building on the porches, 2 KnockOut rose bushes that are also struggling in our heat this summer, and a Duranta erecta 'Sweet Memories' for a splash of purple in the front yard. I have a bird bath (converted an ugly internet connection pole) smack dab in the middle of the front yard I plan to train a bougainvillea on this Spring. Plan to sow some blue Borage seed this fall in large groupings around the yard and pasture. I also have some purple Spiderworts waiting to be planted in the ground soon. The pasture would lend itself to a mass planting of bluebonnets, but they are very difficult to germinate and get established. So I'll stick to the Borage for my blue viewing pleasure. :)

Here are a few photos of the 800 sq ft rustic cabin and things the former owner planted or that are wildflowers.


Pink Wood Sorrel in Spring

The Autumn Debutante Azaleas at the back porch

The Golden lantana at the fence corner with the bastard cabbage all over the pasture behind it. The tiny yellow flowers visible up close are also bastard cabbage. Doesn't seem to bother the dozen cows we lease the pasture to and I think it's kind of pretty. It's just now starting to bloom (mid Sept). Fall 2019 it didn't return, so perhaps we mowed it down before it set its blossoms and seeds last year. I saw a little of it yesterday and was pleased ithad greatly diminished since last year.


There are pink and yellow Four O'clocks at the base of several trees (not sure if wild or planted)


We have a lot of scattered Texas Groundsel there, too.


Oh, and I shouldn't forget there are wild Passion Flowers 'Incarnata' alll over one side of the yard. In mostly shade, so they are not producing fruit:


There is lots of Edward Plateau (granite) Spiderwort there


Don't have a picture of them but blue Dayflowers abound on the sunny side of the yard; wild violets under the hickory tree shade in the back yard. I don't have a picture of those but will get pics next Spring to complete my photo collection.

Here are photos of things I've added since we bought the place, mostly potted plantings, so I can winter over things inside the cabin if needed, since Central TX does get freezes every year.

Recently learned Artemesia 'Powis Castle' repels wasps, and since we have them bad, building nests all under our front porch roof eave, I've planted this lovely plant at the four corners of the cabin.

Have a pot of Columbines in front of the front porch:

Wax Leaf Begonias just thrive down there in the sun and our scorching heat:


My Duranta erecta 'Sweet Memories' has only been in the ground 2 months and has really struggled with our summer heat. But once I started putting a soaker hose dripping on it, the leaves no longer wilt and it has grown 2 feet.

Planted these two deep pots of variegated liriope 'Aztec' with some asparagus fern and coral begonia. Just love these 3 plants grouped together:

Ya can't own a Central TX getaway cabin without at least ONE succulent. I have a couple others but no pics of them to share yet. This Golum Ears was on a clearance rack at Lowes and nearly dying when I bought it, but it has perked up in the last year:


Goes with the territory in Central Texas, we also have/had one of these living under our laundry/workshop building behind the cabin (we think that's where he hangs out). I've seen him one time, slither under the back porch steps. My husband and the electrician have seen him, too.

We think our cute resident red fox living in a huge hole underneath the cabin steps (we've only seen him one time) may have polished him off (or chased him away). Every time we drive down, I see something new around the hole opening, so he's still around there somewhere. Not seeing Mr. Copperhead this month. Also not seeing Mr. Gopher or Mr. Mole (or their mounds). Maybe they have gone the way of the cayotes and daily hawks or occasional owl have gotten them and not Mr. Fox.

I have some trees that are arriving in a month or so to add: Eastern Redbud, red maple, 3 pink crepe myrtles, a Catawba purple crepe myrtle and will be planting two red Turk's Cap have by the front porch, as it really draws hummingbirds. I love the look of the pink Turk's Cap, but it just doesn't draw the hummers and butterflies like the red does.

My Duranta erecta 'Sweet Memories' is blooming again:


Since it almost died before I thought to put a soaker hose on it when we are absent, I think it has really turned around from its near-death state in 1 month.

Peggy,

I live pretty close to Gause, and I love plants, but I'm not as well informed about them as you are. I have been trying to get blue bonnets started on my place for about five years and have not succeeded yet. Last year one came up and made seed. This year about thirty came up, then in February they started turning purple and dying. After inquiring, I decided they needed phosphate, so I put10-20-10 fertilizer on them. Some regained a green color, but only one made seed (four pods). I have a friend living about a mile and a half away who has them thick in her yard every year. Do you know any bluebonnet magic?

No, I don't even try them anymore. My dad, the green thumb in the family (not me) said soaking the seeds in water, after poking them with a strong needle helped to get them to germinate. Had a few at my last house, but don't plan to try on our Gause property, especially since I have so many wildflowers down there already. The thistles, Tx grounsel and oxalisx were spectacular in March. The brown-eyed susans, solid red blanket flowers, and coral dock was all over the place in April.

How wonderful to have spent the month out there during the prime wildflower blooming time of year.

Went down to the cabin today to mow lawn and the wildflowers seemed to have tripled in number. The red blanket flowers, Black-eyed Susans, Edwards Plateau Spiderworts, dayflowers were just incredible today. Spotted Monarda (Beebalm) was everywhere and my two patches of golden lantana were really serving up lunch for the bees today.