05 January 2024
The Pond Garden at Chanticleer attracts visitors like a magnet. Water features always work. Five ponds surrounded by lush gardens are located at the bottom of a long slope that begins at the entrance to the garden. This is part 6 of my visit to Chanticleer during the Philadelphia Area Fling last September.
I explored Chanticleer twice during the Fling – well, once before the Fling started and again during the dinner that Chanticleer treated us to. The lotuses looked otherworldly with their antenna-like seeds and satellite dish leaves.
The golden flowers stood tall…
…and stretched radiating petals like little suns.
Cleome offers whiskery pink flowers
During the late afternoon of my second visit, I spotted a great blue heron stalking koi. Those koi are huge, but maybe there are smaller ones inside?
Still like a statue, he was waiting at the edge of the lake. I waited and watched too.
The koi didn’t seem to pay attention. Can I see it?
He slowly leaned in…
…ready to attack…
…but after a few minutes he straightened up again. I watched for a while and then moved on. I’m afraid I’m not much of a hunter either.
Those koi are as friendly as dogs when they think dinner is coming.
A wisteria arbor overlooks the pond, offering a shady retreat with throne-like chairs at the foot of the hill.
Contemporary planters in a complex composition are covered with a waterfall of sedges.
The Pond Garden Path leads through an arched tunnel of trees…
…and down to the spring house, where I spotted another bowl of water, containing a yellow waterlily and a lentil.
Near the Asian forests, a grassy path winds between a pond and a screen of tall trees.
A wall of trees opens up to reveal a circular clearing, where four chairs are set to overlook the Pond Garden.
A perfect place to rest
Turning around, you have a view all the way to the big house.
Heading towards the Gravel Garden, I spotted a broken grave marker set on the gravel path. “Faithful and true,” it says, 1934 to 1938, and a few letters of the name, perhaps Dixie. Perhaps a beloved pet of the Rosengartens, the original owners of Chanticleer?
Next up: The beautiful gravel garden at Chanticleer. For a review of the shady Asian forest at Chanticleer, click here:
To read about my past visits to Chanticleer’s Pond Garden, follow these links:
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Hey Austin area gardeners, come learn how to make a water resistant and Texas crack garden! Register for my next Garden Spark conversation with Coleson Bruce on January 18th. He created one of the most interesting and beautiful xeriscape gardens I have seen in Austin. Learn all about it and mingle with fellow gardeners who are interested in good design. Hope to see you there!
Come learn about garden design from the experts at Garden Spark! I host in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, and authors several 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 request to be added. You can find the Season 7 lineup here.
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