San Antonio architect Craig McMahon has captured the essence of Eden—and Frost’s poem—in a home nestled among 300-year-old trees on the banks of the Guadalupe in Hill Country River Ranch. Designed originally for a couple as a retirement venue, as is often the case, their family liked it so much they opted to make it their primary residence.

Blazing heat, rocky soil and freezing cold make the Central Texas region a challenging place in which to raise plants. Add to the mix the record-breaking drought we just survived, and many homeowners are rethinking what is best for their landscaping over the long haul.