November 5 , 2020
The Natural Gardeners: Jane and John Dromgoole
As a Modern gardener , recollective beforeCentral Texas Gardenergerminated , I always tuned in to John Dromgoole’sGardening Naturallyradio computer program on NewsRadio KLBJ . I never imagined that one 24-hour interval I ’d be in John and married woman Jane ’s garden with theCTGteam on a December morning , watch over John pitch bollock to their rescued hot dog , Lobo . John ’s an organic gardening trailblazer with deep base in Austin ’s nursery concern , openingThe Natural Gardenerin 1993 . AsCTGgrew , he joined us forBackyard Basics , captivating generations of gardener with his sound advice and memorable wit . The Dromgooles brought their work home with them as they built their theater , garden , and outdoor living retreats , top along knowledge from every hands - on project with passionateness and practicality . Animal rescue pleader always , playful dog Lobo supervises current home mathematical process . David Stalker , garden advisor and handyman , brings his expertise to every project . This shoulder , stress with John ’s scavenge rock ‘n’ roll sculpture , hosts plants that need estimable drainage . Like many of us , John ’s early cacoethes started with houseplant and tropicals . Now , in his greenhouse , he protect cold sensitive plants . It ’s also where he disperse them and builds finish noesis to teach new flora parents . The wide plant spectrum beguile his interminable peculiarity , including genus Tillandsia , nickname “ breeze plants . ”Jane and John designed the greenhouse to resemble a comfortable cottage . A country home - style porch dual - duties as study bench space and a suspicious spot to sit back and set for a while . Jane and John carry their outdoor living to a flagstone terrace where invite article of furniture beckons downtime . An eye always to recycle / reuse , clever countrified panels separate the patio from a studio , while a logic gate allows another incoming route . The path to the family curves along bottom documented with plant , container , and strategically coloured accents . Jane and John organized big space with distinct area that seamlessly hang together . A cedar arbor lead to a grassy , summertime shady nook , bright in early December after leafage descent . They tucked in a informal cabana overhung with David ’s inventive bamboo pergola paint in festive crayon colors . David used body of water - based acrylic brushed on by bridge player . When he built a couple of birdhouses , within a week , they had renters . They contrast wide views with informal skirmish . Hose guide of rebar and PVC frame the itinerary to a tiny Zen garden against the studio apartment ’s paries and its water feature , a gleam rainwater harvest home cistern . They pattern the rocky “ stream ” with goodly mondo grass ( scalawag grass).Containers give another proportion . Plus , they ’re a good option for seasonal changeouts or plant that want winter nursery aegis . They determine the vegetable garden with a fence that supports blackberries and upcoming grapes on kine panel trellis . “And it was perfect to keep the detent out because he was going into the garden . He sleep with to dig . So he watches through the fence now and we babble out to him , but he ’s not comprehend in there now , ” John say .
David anchored an aesthetic erstwhile logic gate that John had find and latched it with a toss pull . They raise vegetables , herb , and flowers in raised bed where beneficial dirt ball take care of any pest . Espaliered ‘ Warren ’ pears on the fencing produce more fruit in a special space . Although built with different materials , include 20 - year - old wood buffalo chip and Portland cement composite beds , good soil and compost is what makes them productive . “Plants grow more smartly , they become more drouth tolerant , especially with that compost , it ’s like a sponge . If we ’re trying to save water , that ’s one of the way you ’re doing it besides mulching , ” John say . David note , “ And with the raised bed , we ’re not walking on the space , we ’re not trample the land . ”“And the plant life growing together are a exist mulch . So we kind of group them together , ” John aver . John ’s rootage are also grounded in music and prowess . In the Dromgoole ’s colorfully pay for studio apartment , he features creative person ’ posters and his own portraiture of musicians he ’s known and that influenced his sprightliness . Since he ’s been spinning tune and tales on the radio since high schooltime , his passion led himback to the radio microphone with“Dance Halls and Last Calls ” on SUN radio set . At household , he auditions natural selection for forthcoming programs when he and Jane are n’t just heed for the saturated fun of it . Embracing many outlets for expression is John ’s secret for a balanced , paying attention life , one that he ’s consecrated to a sustainable future that starts right in our own railway yard . John ’s taught me many things over the year . His witty tales and punning always have us rollicking with laughter ( or moan ) atCTG . Most of all , he gives us wisdom .
When we taped this on December 5 , 2019 , I never carry to be editing at home alternatively of atAustin PBSin March . Final tech editor and player Paul Sweeney really played at the Dromgooles marriage ceremony ! David Stalker documented that great day with director Ed Fuentes and assistant Steve Maedl . Until we ’re back on location , I hold John ’s life philosophy that day especially close : “ You sleep with , one of the things that I learn is the Zen of lachrymation . That darn hose always twists up . I do n’t care if they say , ‘ Guaranteed not to twist . ’ I bring it home the first day , and it ’s get a greyback in it . And you ’re frustrated and you ’re jerking on it . And the Zen of gardening is to say , ‘ Oh . ’ And you go over there and you untwist it and you go back to lachrymation . ”Watch now and get his tips for mounting tillandsias , too !
Thanks for hold on by ! See you next fourth dimension , Linda
tag :
