Do not miss a rare opportunity to hear from renowned landscape architect, Steve Martino, FASLA, as he delivers his thought-provoking lecture, A Tree, a Wall, and a Chair + a Little Water, at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Part of the prestigious Ellie Selig Distinguished Garden Design Lecture Series, this event is free to the public, though a reservation is requested. It promises to challenge conventional thinking about landscape design, especially in arid and resource-conscious environments, by pioneering a bold aesthetic that celebrates native plants and sustainable design.
Martino’s 40-year career followed an unconventional path: he studied architecture and art but never had a formal landscape class. His work began after a desert walk left him puzzled by uninspiring manmade landscapes. This inspired him to successfully incorporate native desert plants, despite widespread resistance, forging a desert-derived aesthetic now internationally recognized. His sustained level of design excellence was recognized in 2006 when he received the Design Medal from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
In his presentation, Martino will discuss the core tenet of his philosophy: that a garden should be fundamentally structured by architectural elements—a tree, a wall, and a chair—to structure outdoor space and control views. He believes a garden should stand alone without plants, arguing that plants are incidental to the garden. Martino will share his basic rules and design tools for crafting responsible modern gardens, stressing that his approach runs counter to traditional landscaping that often wastes resources and displaces useful habitats.
The Ellie Selig Distinguished Garden Design Lecture Series aims to provide inspirational and informative ideas for garden-making from renowned garden designers, landscape architects, or garden makers. Now in its fifth year, previous speakers have included Chris LaGuardia and Wambui Ippolito.
Event Details:
What: Steve Martino Lecture, A Tree, a Wall, and a Chair + a Little Water
When: Thursday, November 13, 2025; Wine reception at 6:00 p.m., lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Betty Kelso Center, San Antonio Botanical Garden
555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX
Fee: Free (Reservation Requested)
Register here
In Austin, Visit Five Distinct Gardens Through Open Days, November 8
In advance of Steve Martino's inspiring lecture, take a special opportunity to see how Austin gardeners are putting a diversity of ideas into practice at five distinct private gardens. On Sunday, November 8, the Garden Conservancy Open Days program, with partner Twistleaf Design, is offering access to five gardens in Travis County for self-guided tours. The gardens range from large-scale, award-winning designs that expertly manage challenging topography and runoff, to intensely personal and specialized spaces. Visit a celebrated edible garden focused on community and sustainable practices, a pollinator haven created from a residential lot, and an owner-designed sanctuary that merges classic European style with Texas-friendly plants. Whether seeking inspiration for sustainable hillside management, high-yield urban farming, wildlife habitat creation, or maximizing curb appeal in a smaller space, you’ll gain practical ideas and aspirational visions. See how gardeners create and maintain thriving outdoor spaces shaped by Texas's unique environmental challenges, and experience the region's diverse design tenacity firsthand.
Tickets for each garden visit are $10 per person, or $5 for members of the Garden Conservancy. Children 12 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registrations are processed through the Garden Conservancy website. Visit gardenconservancy.org/opendays to register and for garden hours.
