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Lake Austin Spa & Resort garden gets noticed
Posted: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:20 AM - 8,990 Readers
By: Becca Hensley
![http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/00519/Lake-Austin-Spa-gar_519976c.jpg](http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/00519/Lake-Austin-Spa-gar_519976c.jpg) Trisha Shirey is Lake Austin Spa Resort's constant gardener. After all, she's cultivated the lakeside property's 19 acres for more than 26 years — since long before the popular destination spa earned its current accolades. "When I began, the landscape was a blank slate. I called it 'Zero-scape,'" she jokes. She began with an organic vegetable garden—then let the grounds evolve. Her efforts have yielded organic herb and vegetable gardens, an organic orchard, copious flowers, numerous pockets of evocative plantings, water features and serpentine pathways alight with color. For her labors, Garden Design Magazine recognized the grounds this year as one of the "Top 10 Spa Gardens in The World." But Shirey, whose favorite book growing up was "Secret Garden," doesn't rest on her laurels. She insists that any garden is in a regular state of flux. "Gardens grow and change," she says. And, as a plant collector Shirey loves to experiment, trying out different couplings and always surveying each view and angle, intent to improve the vista. While Shirey tweaks the process, she also creates masterpiece settings, little bits of aromatic heaven, resplendent with texture and color. Still, this director of flora and fauna doesn't subscribe to the overly vigilant manicure philosophy. "That sounds overly meticulous to me. If a plant can't grow and thrive without a lot of care and pruning once established, it doesn't stay here long." Instead, her approach is to enhance the resort's restorative ambiance by thinking of the beds and planted expanses as outdoor rooms. Since Lake Austin Spa Resort is a certified wildlife habitat (by the state and the National Wildlife Federation), a third of the acreage is left undeveloped to provide space for wildlife. This also allows for a buffer from the growing Steiner Ranch neighborhood that has crept closer to the once isolated resort over the years. Aesthetically, this natural zone is the rough-hewn backdrop that sets the stage for Shirey's deliberate, poetic plantings. Shirey starts with the natural tranquility born from the outdoors—and bumps it up a notch.
Take the formal garden. This well-tended plot oozes with utilitarian yet sightly plants. In summer, find sunflowers, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. In winter, gorgeous bursts of color come from Swiss chard, kale, gourds, lettuces and more. Herbs and produce grown here are used as ingredients for spa treatments as well as for the nutritious spa meals prepared by noted chef, Terry Colan. And Shirey loves to experiment. "This year," she says, "I've been nuts about basil." She notes she has planted more than 35 varieties and is still seeking more. (Shirey can wax lyrical about all those basils, but that's a whole other garden story.) Throughout the property, Shirey pursues an English garden motif, which means informal plantings crop up in various formal settings. Pathways throughout are means of transportation rather than contemplative spots. So Shirey turns them into green corridors, awash with scents and blooms, angles and texture. Insect and disease problems are managed organically. The spa composts plant wastes on-site. It also purchases locally made compost, mulch, potting soil and fertilizer. Set into the garden, Shirey has some rows she calls "butterfly alley," portions of the ground so lined with butterfly-friendly plants that clusters of butterflies linger. Shirey uses flowers and foliage colors to encourage relaxation, peace of mind, and visual satisfaction. Along the luxurious arbor that surrounds the outdoor pool, trumpet creeper climbs, providing shade and inciting energetic hummingbirds to cluster. Turk's cap in the spa's enclosed garden also attracts hummingbirds that can be seen through the panoramic windows — truly a source of entertainment for those receiving pedicures. Against the navy blue pool barn, Shirey places blooming, salmon-colored ginger, both a feast for the eyes and a perfumed treat for lap swimmers who draw energy from the scent. If enthusiasm were fertilizer, that alone would explain Shirey's success with the property. But it's more than that: With a subtle diligence and an intuitive hand, she's let the land speak — and people like what they hear.
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Lake Travis News
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Nov 6, 2018
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LCRA: Lakes could open by Nov. 2 depending on conditions
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Memorial Day Weekend watercraft ban on Lake Austin
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Travis County officials prep for Memorial Day weekend on Lake Travis
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West Austin 4-H Offers Opportunities Beyond Just Raising Animals
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Large Crowds Expected at Lake Travis For Holiday Weekend
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Lake levels falling fast as Texas drought continues
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Repairing Lake Travis homes damaged by flooding
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Lake Travis now more than 120 percent full
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Graveyard Point residents brace for flooding
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Floodgate Operations Underway at Local Lakes During Flooding
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As Flood Risk Increases, Austin Will Revisit Its Floodplain Building Rules
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Up to 35 days of 100-degree heat this summer in Austin area, LCRA says
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Lake Buchanan rises nearly 8 inches due to rain
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One floodgate open at Starcke Dam
Aug 7, 2017
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Driving on RM 620, I see islands sticking out of the lake. Is the drought returning?
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Spectacular catch highlights our High School Plays of the week
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Classic Berth, Big Payday On The Line At Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest
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Several newcomers already set to play for Texas in 2017
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PGA to Austin: We had lots of fun, so let’s do it again in 2017
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Jordan Spieth Off To Good Start In Austin Return
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Katy vs Lake Travis game makes the list!
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Game of the week: Lake Travis (7-0) at Westlake (7-0)
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Lake Travis repeats as regional golf champions
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Lake Travis’ Bacon ties national HR record
Mar 14, 2015
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Westlake, Lake Travis sweep District 14-6A awards
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Shack 512 Relaxed, lakeside dining accessible by car or by boat
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Residents addressing wildfire risks in Lake Travis, Westlake
May 16, 2018
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Ex-Point Venture water employee accused of misappropriating $65K
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West Lake Hills’ new drainage manual created in an effort to reduce flooding
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Round Rock City Council approves cost share for zebra mussel control in Lake Travis
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Nautical Boat Clubs Launches Lake Austin Location in Westlake
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City looking for help to curb storm drain pollution
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Apache Shores features waterfront views, trails, park
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10-year Mansfield Dam rehabilitation project will keep Austin safe
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Overflowing Lake Travis isn't all bad news for businesses
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Appraisal protest trend continues as assessments rise
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Go Inside This Lake Austin Remodel
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A Striking Sanctuary in Texas Inspired by a Sand Dollar
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