April 2010 has been the perfect month for gardeners in San Saba County-lots of rain, not too hot – the kind of month that we’ve dreamed of during the long cold winter. We have chosen to feature the yard at 303 West Dry Street-the home of Clione Rochat.

Clione loves roses and her yard attests to that fact. The front yard is filled with giant mutabilis rose bushes that have many different hues of flowers at the same time. These are antique roses as are all the many roses throughout the gardens. Although roses predominate, the poppies are in full bloom now and the spiderwort (a terrible name for a beautiful flower) makes a nice contrast. The Chinese Fringe tree is in full fluff across the yard from the roses.

Everywhere you look is another beautiful plant-lorapetalum, iris of many different colors, skullcap, grasses, and herbs of every kind – which Clione uses daily in her cooking.

The backyard is filled with 5 Lady Banksia climbing roses which are in the final stages of a glorious season. The kitchen garden in the center of the backyard has sage blooming at the moment and is running over with blooming rosemary. There is even a garden with blueberry bushes and lettuce growing there. It’s really just a yard that needs to be seen to be believed! Clione’s secret for such a successful garden? She will freely tell you that it is Joe Saucillo who spends many long hours keeping it just perfect! Come by and enjoy Clione’s yard with her – she will be happy to give you a tour and share her expertise – but not Joe!