Cherie Flores -Private Garden Houston

This neo-classical English Regency home was designed by John F. Staub for Texas oilman Hugh Roy Cullen and finished in 1933. The Flores, the new owners bought the place in 1999, and spent four years renovating and laying out the gardens. Cherie Flores, an experienced passionate gardener in her own right had some assistance from the landscape architect, Johnny Steele. What emerged from their collaboration was the tapestry rose garden, camellia alleé and the sunken pool loggia surrounded by tall cypress trees. Most of the garden is on one level, and the sunken pool is a nice dramatic shift in scale. The new gardens are laid out in a scale that fits the house. Boxwoods, holly, camellias, azaleas, magnolias, Japanese yews, and Italian cypress form the bones of the garden and there is a strong use of colorful plantings using bougainvillea, azaleas, camellias, annuals and shrubs which works well under the strong Texas light. I loved a border near the house that was comprised mostly of blue flowers. Mrs. Flores had mentioned to me before she laid out the garden she was already tagging plants for her garden from several of her favorite nurseries in several southern states. Based on the plants I saw I would love to visit some of those nurseries. The garden is on the Azalea garden tour and should not be missed.