Rock - oak - deer! Sounds like my neighborhood :-) Welcome to San Antonio.

In my experience Russian sage is more tolerant of dry conditions than Salvia indigo spires, but you can give them both a try and see what happens. Black foot daisies do very well and bloom all summer in my *ell strip location and the deer don't bother them. Shrubby skullcap is nice there too.

I can't think of an easier or prettier option than liriope around the oak trees. I have a gravel front yard too and got used to a few leaves on it. Think of it as more natural looking.

If you haven't discovered one of the two locations of Rainbow Gardens yet go there to get some good ideas. They have a knowledgeable sales staff and carry a good selection of great native plants

Happy San Antonio Gardening!

I have had wonderful results with indigo spires. As we have had such a mild winter they have been blooming since last May.
When I lived in Timberwood park, they were one of the few things the deer did not eat. I seldom watered them. They will get droopy when they need water, otherwise don't water.

Mexican bush sage is another that the deer did not eat.

Please come join us at the San Antonio Spring Swap on March 21. Let me know if you would like for me to bring you several pots of indigo spires.

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This pic. of indigo spires was taken about a month ago.
Be aware that the bees love them. Yesterday I was sitting in the middle of three very large plants and prunning off the dead blooms. Bees were all around and never bothered me. I have learned that if you don't swat at them, they will leave you "be".

Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: SA spring swap

If you have room around the oak trees you can plant caladiums among the liriope in the spring (they take a little water) and for color shrimp plants, chocolate plants, and turks cap -- all do well in shade and require little water, but they do freeze back some winters and have to be cleaned up, but they return the next spring.

Here are some pictures of what Los Patios does around their oak trees. Los Patios has some great places to eat and shop and it's worth a visit just to see the landscaping.

www.lospatios.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Los Patios ...

Thanks for the welcome. I picked a username that pretty much says it all. The pictures of Los Patios are inspiring. Liriope doesn't need to be boring.

Thanks for inviting me to the swap. Plantmaven: I would love some Indigo Spires. I read the posts about the swap a couple weeks ago and so far have not had any success with putting together anything to bring. The first batch got too hot. I have started again and will see. I have some beautiful Angel Wing begonias I moved with me that never fail to root. I have tons of metal mini blinds we replaced, I can offer those for plant tags.

Thanks.

You don't need to bring plants if you do not yet have plants to trade.

I was wishing yesterday that I had some mini blinds.
Bring me one of those and a start of the angel wing begonia.

If you have any of those honeycomb rocks bring some. They are popular.

Kathy

Rocks? Never would have thought of that. Went for a walk today and collected a few. I'm assuming manageable size, (as in no power equipment) for this event.

The Begonia cuttings are started and should be ready.

Question about the blinds. Do you usually cut them in advance? What is a typical length? I'm thinking they need to be long enough to put in a 4-6" pot and still have room to write.

Liriope never seemed to like hot weather in full sun. I would suggest ornamental grasses. They seem much tougher. You may want to check out Madrone Nursery website (located in San Marcos) and they have good info since they also grow plants that is deer resistant. Clover ferns may work (looks like clover but is really fern. Weird..)

Here is a link that might be useful: Madrone Nursery

Re: mini blinds ~ I cut them about 4" They need to be long enough to write the plant's name.

Look for rocks that have unusual shapes. I once found one that was almost the shape of TX and another that looked like a bird.
I really like the honey comb ones to put under a gutter down spout.

Thanks Lou,

Madrone Nursery is going on the list.

The Liriope will be in dense shade under the Oaks. There are a few scattered in there now and they have survived neglect. My yard has lots of variety from arid hot out by the street to dense live oaks near the house.