Scott Girling did not expect his garden to attract so many admirers. When a passion project in the backyard of his casual Italian restaurant in Denton saw its first spring bloom in 2024, passersby began to stop for a closer look at the climbing melon vines and long, curved trombetta squashes dangling from leafy arches. Whenever Girling was out picking weeds or checking for pest damage, the usually reserved chef found himself fielding inquiries on his pots of Italian herbs and engaging in lengthy discussions about growing tomatoes. Now, when he arrives to begin rolling pasta and preparing ragus each day at Osteria il Muro, named for his maternal grandparents from Sicily, it’s common to witness groups pausing to appreciate what his staff now affectionately calls the “Denton Botanical Garden.”
Osteria il muro
311 W. Congress St., Denton…