It appears that I will be moving to Austin w/in the next 6 or so months- I have lived here forever and am so used to growing here, other than that I am excited about the move. Just wondering what zone Austin is- I have seen it as 8a & 8b.
Thx
Austin Question
Hi April - Austin is a great city. I moved here in '98 from Lubbock and have really enjoyed it here. We have great weather....except for late July and August...everytime this time of year, I wonder why in the world I love this place so much. Just kidding. I would take the heat over cold anyday. When you come into town or get moved and settled, we will have to get together and meet. As far as zone goes, I am pretty sure we are 8b -- not too different from what you are used to. Where is Missouri City? Is it a suburb of houston?
Hi Aprilwillis, I think you will find a big difference in overall climate in Austin, although it is only a half zone or so move from Missouri City. I lived in a suburb north of Houston (Tomball) and then moved to Austin (but now I am in DFW). The humidity and rain of Houston made for some very lush tropical growth. For Austin, think of a much more drier air, and very little rainfall in the summer. It was a big change in gardening style for me. But, the breezes and lack of mosquitos (the bats take care of that) were a welcome change. Just see what others do for plantings, and visit the local nurseries. Luckily there is DavesGarden as an additional resource. . Good luck on your move! tosaho AKA TexasGardenGal
A, you're moving to Austin? Geez just when I was getting ready to visit you in Missouri! You'll still be on DG right? I'll miss ya!
Thanks all for the info and suggestions.
Yeah Fly it looks like we will be moving shortly after the 1st of the year- that leaves plenty of time for you to visit Missouri! Of course I will still be on DG- well unless I get invited to leave.
It could be either depending on if you are in the city or up in the country. Because I live outside the city of San Antonio and up a bit in the hill country, we get a bit colder in the winter usually than the city.
But, April, we haven't had a party at your house yet!
We're going to miss you!
Kristi it's not for several months yet, there is still plenty of time to party!
Welcome to the neighborhood! I live in west Austin and it's 8b. Start to dig up all the plants you don't want to leave for the new owners. There are quite a few DGers in the Austin area...and we'll share plants. We'll plan an area nursery tour when you get settled in too.
Oh, and we have a ghost tour here.....if you're interested in that sort of thing...hmmmm????????
April...Bubbles is really wonderful! I'm jelaous that you get to live close to her!
That's BIG Bubbles to you!
knolan... What a nice thing to say! You'll have to come over too! I'm just starting Amy Tan's book...had it nearly 2 wks. I thought it was going to be scary, so waited till DH got home from trip.
And April.....I'm thinking of changing my name to "getiing bigger and bigger bubbles".................
Isn't that just a wonderful book? I should have also said, "Bubbles, I'm jealous....April is moving close to you!"
I'll come visit ay time! Love the hill country. Hope to move there one day myself when my daughter decides to go to UT and we move with her! Think I'm being to pushy???? LOL!
knolan......Aren't you the person that went to Lake Buchanan this summer for vacation? We have a place at LBJ. We were up yesterday, took our neighbors. It was so hot, but the kids wanted to stay in the water....so mom and I had to stay out with them. I had a mister system going on the dock and I moved my chair so that it dripped on me. I love the spring..and the fall...up there but not the summer heat. All we do is water and mow and leave during August! Our neighbors up there haven't been up in a while and two of their pecan trees have dropped big limbs.....and yesterday we noticed a huge limb on their roof. Must have just fallen 'cause the leaves were still green and shiny. Things are stressed and dying even tho they're close to the lake.
But it's not always hot and dry.....April......you'll love Austin and the surrounding hill country, honestly! (just not in August) I'll take you to the Garden Club of Austin mtgs. It's a great group, every month an interesting speaker, a few flower shows each year.....plant exchanges....like DG, only we use our real names!!! Are you interested in Master Gardeners?
Ahhh! Now I'm really jealous! Yes, it's me that vacations there! No skeeters, relatively low humidity (considering), and hills!!!! Every time I go up I try to talk my DH into letting me go off on nursery trips but there's always the whole family! Bah! Humbug!
We are going to San Antonio the weekend of Sept. 9th and my DH will be in a class that whole Saturday so I'm looking for something to do with my 11 year old. We've already done the Alamo and most of the historic sights. I'm wondering though, is there a ghost tour there? She would love it! And anyone else interested! I have no desire to visit SeaWorld again. It would be great to go out with a group from DG on Saturday evening for dinner and a tour!
BB yes very interested in Master Gardening- just haven't gotten to it here so there will be wonderful!
I can appreciate that August is not Austin @ it's best, but really it's not Houston @ it's best either! Sooo hot and sooo humid! Yikes!
Is it SA or Austin that has the bat dinner cruise?
Yep, Capital Cruises has a bat dinner cruise on the weekends. We've not been on it, tho. We've taken out of town friends down to the Four Seasons, had a drink or dessert, and watched them from the hotel grounds. They tend to, um, "spray" a bit as they pass overhead....... I stand up close to bldg.
knolan...how 'bout the water park for an 11 yr old during the day, then the ghost tour? About 1/2 hour from SA
www.schlitterbahn.com/
Or the outlet mall at San Marcos....about 45 min. That could be an educational experience. Mapping the malls for efficient exploring, etc..... the new area is amazing...
Oh, that sounds fun......but bat for dinner....I'll pass, does it taste like chicken?
So you can see the bats from the Four Seasons, Bubbles? I will be staying at the Four Seasons in Austin at the end of October, while in town for a conference. Very Cool! I was thinking I would have to take a walk westward to see them.
April, Austin huh? Very cool! I really would love to live in Austin. I love the hill country too. I am determined to retire to somewhere in the Hill Country one day. The way values are going, it may be pretty far off, but hopefully we can invest in a place in about 5 or so years.
Did you say "mall"?....uh oh.....there goes that itch again.
knolan.....
http://www.primeoutlets.com/
sweezel.....there's good news and bad news. The good news is you can see the bats emerge from the grounds of the Four Seasons. The bridge is right there. Also from TGIFridays. The bad news is they leave in October, and don't get back till around March.
Gee, I feel like a tour guide!
:( I was worried about them migrating, but hoping it would not be until later. I will just have to find something else to do that Wednesday evening.
Yep Austin. Had always heard that Austin was a wonderful place, but my DH has been so deeply rooted in Houston that I never thought I'd be able to get him out of here. In January he took a job w/ Oracle in Austin and the thought was that he'd work from home 2 days a week and be in Austin only 3 days/per week. It hasn't really worked out that way; too much work to do and not enough time. Also my youngest will be ready for college in a year or so and wants to go to UT- cheaper to move there than pay room and board.
And then once I heard that Austin has a campaign to "Keep Austin Weird" I knew it had to be my home! LOL. We are leasing a home here and the lease is up in March so we will be looking between now and then and if all goes well will have a nice smooth transition! Yeah like that will happen for me, LOL.
I would absolutely love to live in Austin or Marble Falls or Wimberly. Until my daughter turns 18, I'm stuck in Fort Bend County. Hopefully she will also want to go to UT and we can move with her! Poor thing.
So long as you don't move into the dorm w/ her I think she will be ok w/ it!
LOL April! I love Austin's "weirdness" or rather individuality, so I just loved the idea when hearing about it. Real soon after they started that campaign, I was in Austin for a different conference and made a detour to a tourist shop on 6th for stuff with the slogan. Originally I was going to get a bumper sticker, but instead I bought a 3 caps and 2 shirts with the "Keep Austin Wierd" slogan. I wear the black cap on the weekends. :) 2 of the hats went to friends and the shirts were for my hubby and daughter.
Good luck finding a house! Hopefully you can find a nice place with a view of the hills. My daughter is only 12, but wants to go to UT too. She wants to be an architect and their architecture school is now ranked the 2nd best in the nation. Cornell would be great (they are consistinetly rated first), but scholarships would have to pour in.
Well I 'think' I'm in conroe (outside of houston) on the 9th or I would take you around San Antonio. If the trip dies I would be happy to do something ya.
Wonderful! And if your trip does die, I'll bring you a tricycle!
April, what do you mean I can't move into the dorm?
I was going to relive my youth and play quarters every Friday night! And go streakin'! No fair!
Ok...I see your point.
Well I think it would be fun but I was just thinking that your DH might get a little tired of you hogging the limelight!