After moving to Austin did anything surprise you?

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by sasha77

Waaaaaaait-a-minute.... what do you mean "trying to figure out what grows"... what doesn't grow ? I am looking forward to growing stuff... in nice abundant sunshine

What doesn't grow? Just about anything that needs water. We have an irrigation system, and stuff still dies all the time. Our water here is really hard, so plants don't like it as much as rain water. Too much of the chlorine, fluoride, etc. can make plants sick too. I finally just gave up on a garden.

I'd also love some azaleas, but they are damn near impossible here, unless you do them in pots.

[Melissa78703]

Originally Posted by Paddy the Plasterer

What really sucks is that when it finally does cool off to where it's pleasant outside, the days are shorter and your evenings are gone.

No kidding! We need to reverse daylight savings time so that the evenings are shorter in summer and longer in the cooler months, right?!

[TerryDactyls]

Originally Posted by Melissa78703

No kidding! We need to reverse daylight savings time so that the evenings are shorter in summer and longer in the cooler months, right?!

That would work for Texas, but not for any northern states. The best weather of the year is during the summer and with daylight savings, you are able to enjoy it until after 10:00PM. When it's cold and miserable, it might as well be dark as well.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by sloppymeg

It's less about "what grows" and more about "what grows and stays alive" in the dry, dry heat and hot sun.

Flowers in pots? Not going to do well unless you find a good, drought tolerant plant for the right spot. Container gardening? Difficult to keep the soil cool and well-watered, especially in full sun.

I went through several trials last spring/summer. I am hoping this year is better as I have a better idea of what "drought tolerant" plants will work for me.

1) you can irrigate every day if you use a drip or bubbler system (no restrictions)
2) plants that the labels say need full sun really mean partial shade. Plants grow really well on the west side of my house. The north side of the house right against the house also does really well.
3) Use a raised bed so you can control the soil content.

[dbsteel]

Originally Posted by tildahat

No kidding. I mean, I like Austin a lot, but sometimes people talk as if they think people in Paris, Prague, Vancouver, etc. sit around thinking, "yeah, this is a cool city, but man, we pale in comparison to Austin. That is the best city that ever existed!"

I remember being told if they run light rail down South Congress, it would "ruin one of the world's greatest treasures". Yep, Machu Picchu, The Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, and the late 90's version of the Soco. That's how I learned them in elementary school.

(And of course South Congress is very different now anyway, even without light rail, but that's a different story...)

Now that's funny..... and true

[Melissa78703]

Originally Posted by tildahat

I remember being told if they run light rail down South Congress, it would "ruin one of the world's greatest treasures". Yep, Machu Picchu, The Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, and the late 90's version of the Soco. That's how I learned them in elementary school.

OMG, I nearly peed myself laughing. Wish I'd read your post earlier.



I might have agreed with Ye Olde Timers ten years ago, but really, there's not too much to ruin anymore. The cool food truck park? Going. The crusty old shopping center where Alamo Drafthouse an a plethora of Austin-ish mom n' pop shops (new age books, vintage clothing, music stores, etc.) used to be? Gone.

We may as well suck it up and admit that SoCo is going to turn into one long string of mixed-use buildings, overpriced condos stuck on top of rows of ginchy local businesses. These businesses might survive a few years before they too get priced out; then we'll start seeing mall stores like Urban Outfitters and California Pizza Kitchen move into these spaces.

Just build it already.