The Old Blanco County Courthouse has a new look.

A group completed landscaping projects at the site on May 23, as approved by the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society. Those who completed the work were Jeff Harkinson, Sarah Harkinson, Hugo MonDragon, Linda MonDragon and Shirley Winslow. They were selected to be in charge of the landscaping.

“We have been wanting to do this for a long time, but we have never really had the funding available to do it. There has always been a higher priority,” said Jeff Harkinson, a member of the board of directors of the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society.

The landscaping kept getting pushed to the side for the projects that involved repair and preservation. Fortunately, an anonymous donor came through with the money for the landscaping.

About 10 years ago, John Dromgoole at the Natural Gardener in Austin recommended a landscape designer who came up with an original plan to landscape the courthouse, which included screening around the air conditioning units. Air conditioners are not known for their great beauty, and they certainly do not look historic.

The group on Saturday retooled the plans. The new plan included some of the elements from 10 years ago, and new ideas were added.

The landscaping plans had to go through the Blanco Historic Committee, and a few members disagreed with the screening of the air conditioner. Upon further reflection, it was decided that seeing a nicely-kept fence was preferable to seeing an AC unit, and they unanimously voted in favor of the project.

Leaf Landscape, a plant wholesaler in Austin, also gave the preservation society a generous discount on the various vines, flowers, shrubs and trees.

The restoration of the courthouse, itself, was long and arduous. The roof was revived to its former glory. Repointing of the stone was performed. The window project has been accomplished. The grand old dame of a building was looking like she did in her youth.

Now, the grounds of the Old Courthouse are getting their turn. The gravel walkways have been redone with stone borders to retain the gravel. The almost non-existent walls, which double as seating around the oak trees, have been rebuilt. All of this was done with stone from Sisterdale, which is where the stone for the courthouse was sourced from originally.

Small decorative fences disguised the air conditioner. The style and color of the fences compliments the original architecture of the building. So much so, that they look as if they were always there.

Jeff and Sarah Harkinson, who are the leaders on this project, met with Hugo and Linda MonDragon, early on Saturday, to place the plant specimens for planting. Dennis Moore commandeered a small group of workers to do the actual digging and planting.

The weather was hot and humid, and there was even a brief sprinkling of rain, but none of that deterred any member of the group involved. They all set themselves to diligently unloading, moving, placing, and planting.

Between the volunteer help and the discounts, the cost came in at half of the budgeted allowance. One of the last elements remaining is to plant four trees on the south side of the grounds, but that will not be done until winter.

The lawn, itself, will also be refurbished with zoysia grass, which is tolerant to drought and high foot traffic, which is what is needed when looking to a future time when Market Days will reopen after a safe and suitable date is decided upon. They will first aerate the ground, and then plant zoysia grass seed. They plan to aerate the lawn once a year to keep it in top shape.