Download to file.

The Shape of Things
Urban Xeriscape Garden
Site physical Address: 200 N 6th St, Kingsville, TX, 78363
Site GPS Coordinates: 27.5178; -97.86791
The Urban Xeriscape Garden is an oasis of different plants near downtown Kingsville, Texas. The garden utilizes low water
usage and native plants and has incorporated recycled materials from the old Kingsville Police Department and the Detective Building
that were previously on the garden site. Some of the plants include esperanza, soft yuccas, coral honeysuckle, bulbine, society garlic,
various ornamental grasses, red yuccas, cenizo, mountain laurel, rosemary, Barbados cherry, pink gaura, hibiscus and duranta. Several
live oak trees have also been planted and will provide some shady areas in just a few years. The garden is an excellent place to get
good ideas for plants that will survive well in the sometimes harsh environment of South Texas.
All of these plants have adapted different types of leaves. The goal of this challenge is to learn about leaf shapes by finding
them in the garden. You must find as many different leaf shapes as possible and mark them off of the attached sheet. Not all leaf
shapes will be found but see how many you can find. Remember to look up at the trees, too.
Step 1
Park in the parking lot between the garden and the railroad tracks. Enter the garden through the trellis entrance on E Yoakum.
Notice the purple sage to the right as you enter the garden. Now notice the “hairy” vine growing above it with some esperanza
growing beside the sage. (Note the sage has purple flowers while the esperanza has yellow flowers.). Does it remind you of a beard?
It is actually called Old Man’s Beard. Notice the difference between these 2 plants.
Step 2
From the entrance stroll through the different areas and notice the different plants. Look at all the different plant leaf shapes. Take
notice of plants growing in the shade versus those growing in the open or above the other plants. How are their leaves different? Are
any similar in shape?
Step 3
If time allows sit on a bench and be quiet. Maybe you will see some birds or other animals such as lizards.