Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: ruweiss on May 09, 2009, 09:15:36 PM
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I was always impressed by alpine plants grown in troughs and sinks, so it was only logical
to create my own ones. There was a lot to learn, because many plants are simply not
suitable for this kind of gardening. In my experience small Sempervivum species, especially
S. arachnoideum are very usefull for filling the narrow gaps. Only very slow growing shrubs
will do it for a longer time without overgrowing smaller neighbours, good are smaller Daphnes
and dwarf willows. The smaller witches brooms of Tsuga canadensis are also very good
for this purpose.
The most decorative containers are of course real old troughs and sinks, next are replicas
from real stone or hypertufa,but every other container is suitable;even an old grinding stone
can be used.
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Wonderful troughs, Rudi! 8)
What a fine example to anyone who thinks they have no room for a garden ; get a trough and grow a perfect miniature landscape :D
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Thank you for showing, Rudi. I see some very nice planting combinations, which survived many years.
Gives me some more inspiration, to start planting my (many) empty troughs at last.
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They have troughs planted wonderfully beautifully Rudi. congratulations
Karl
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These are some of the most artistic garden troughs I have ever seen - congratulations and admiration Rudi :o
Your diversity of plants in troughs growing so harmoniously together, intertwining and clinging to the rocks, looks like a living canvas. As Maggi says anyone with a small space or awkward space could benefit from your inspiration. I have for one ;D
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Beautiful trough planting, especially the waterfall of Sempervivum, but you need to watch out for the snails!
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I don't know what to admire most - the troughs (especially the first one) or the
plants chosen for growing inside them! Really a source of inspiration.
Gerd
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Gorgeous troughs!! :D
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These troughs are truly inspiring. It takes a lot of artistry to create something special. Wish I had that amount of talent. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
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A superb selection of troughs Rudi. Everyone a masterpiece both in design and planting. A real inspiration.
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Dear friends, many thanks for the kind comments. If you plan to plant
your own troughs so keep in mind that it takes sometimes a long time
until the planting gives the display you desire. Usually snails and slugs
are no bigger problem than in the open garden if you control them with slug
pellets or by the biological way. Those in my garden seem to be real
gourmets, their favourite menue are all Campanulaceae, especially
Physoplexis comosa and mostly refuse Sempervivums and Saxifragas.
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A series of truly wonderful troughs you have Rudi !
Wunderschön gemacht !!
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Here are some shots from today - the Dianthus growing in a trough - the Campanula not - but in a similar condition
1. and 2. Dianthus subacaulis (?)- originally from Mt. Ventoux
3. Dianthus microlepis ssp. musalae
4. Campanula aucheri
Gerd
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Here are some shots from today - the Dianthus growing in a trough - the Campanula not - but in a similar condition
1. and 2. Dianthus subacaulis (?)- originally from Mt. Ventoux
3. Dianthus microlepis ssp. musalae
4. Campanula aucheri
Gerd
A really pretty Dianthus subacaulis, Gerd, was it grown from seed collected from Mt Ventoux?
I love the deep blue bells of the Campanula aucheri - where does it come from?
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A really pretty Dianthus subacaulis, Gerd, was it grown from seed collected from Mt Ventoux?
I love the deep blue bells of the Campanula aucheri - where does it come from?
Thank you! Yes, the Dianthus was raised from seeds from the site mentioned.
The Campanula species is from the Caucasus mountains - the plant itself from a
German nursery.
Gerd
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Just catching up on this section..... great pics Gerd. Some of the troughs you showed are absolute crackers. Thank. 8)
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Here are some plants growing in troughs in front of the house -
until now the slugs hadn't detected the Phyteumas!
Phyteuma comosum - Calceolaria tenella from Chile, Erigeron nanus
Gerd
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Here are some plants growing in troughs in front of the house -
until now the slugs hadn't detected the Phyteumas!
Phyteuma comosum - Calceolaria tenella from Chile, Erigeron nanus
Gerd
I love your Phyteuma comosum its got such character ;) ....and your cute Calceolaria tenella - the slugs mustn't find them Gerd it would be sacrilege :o I think the Erigeron nanus will be safe
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Wow, Gerd. The Phyteuma is so striking, and your second pic shows such wonderful detail. The Calceolarias look like little smiling faces. Got to get some of this genus... so very cool.
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Robin + Paul,
Thank you for your kind remarks!
Gerd
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And thank YOU for your lovely pics. :)
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Gerd, your super close up photo of the Phyteuma shows exactly what I was trying to describe to a friend the other day.... I was attempting to explain the difference between the flowers in bud and "open".... you show this perfectly by the shot of the pistil poking out of the tip of the flower!
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Also in troughs.... though darned homely ones compared to those shown here. :P Oh well, these plants have to call them "home", nonetheless, poor things!
Phlox hendersonii
Ranunculus eschscholtzii - beautiful glistening petals and shiny leaves; I'm looking forward to seeing them in their splendour in the mountains in another month or so (or later, given how late spring has been).
Potentilla rupestris pygmaea
Aquilegia laramiensis
Haplopappus lyallii
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Now in bloom, the same little Haplopappus lyallii...
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Very attractive, Lori.
Paddy
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More trough-dwellers...
1) This is supposedly Androsace septentrionalis, though the form varies greatly from that of plants I see in the mountains. It does form a lovely, airy panicle of blooms, though, and they've been in bloom since some time in April, so it does have that on its side.
2) Rhodiola rosea (or Sedum roseum, or whatever its current name is) - an immensely large form compared to those in the mountains here, which get to about 10 cm, generously.
3) Aquilegia laramiensis (again - a better representation).
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Some great stuff again Lori !
Thanks for sharing !
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Thank you Luc and Paddy! :)
Diminutive first flowers on Prunus aff. prostrata, planted last year:
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Lovely photo Lori and Gerd.
Eric
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Alyssum spinosum, Penstemon rupicola 'Pink Holly' and dianthus:
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rudi--beautiful design in those troughs..
lori--i think i've asked about this before, elsewhere, but i'm still struggling with the ins and outs of this in climates like ours---the troughs you are showing here look pretty thick walled--do you find this important?
when i was asking about troughs before, i got rather vague information on the relevance of size/wall thickness, but now after 1 winter and 2 out of 3 sempervivum dead(typically hardy here, but new plants for me), i'm extra cautious/hesitant..
they were not in a real trough, but a large pot, about 14inches square, partly filled with styrofoam to make it lighter (i didnt succeed) but still a lot of soil, as i wanted to give a reasonable volume for slower freeze/thaw; it was covered with fairly deep snow for most of the winter, and still those poor results!
so now, i hesitate to put anything in troughs/pots apart from smaller pots that will be buried for winter...
other possible issues: --an unusually wet summer may have left the plants 'softer'?
--the planting was done late by local standards, in early august, with only a few good weeks for growing before chilly nights started, and the plants started to close up...
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Cohan, all of our troughs have the same wall thickness, so I can't really comment on that. However, I do think there is a minimum trough/soil volume or mass that is probably important to minimize temperature fluctuations and the effect it has on the plants' root systems. (Of course, there will still be those temperature fluctuations, but somehow plants can take it.) I suspect a smallish pot, thin-walled (I presume, and so not adding much mass), especially if partially filled with something other than soil (styrofoam) might be crossing the limit. (Very tough plants sometimes survive here in smallish pots, unprotected, over the winter... not a sure bet, though.)
My husband made all of our troughs, starting from an example/pattern that he knew worked (from another local trough-grower). The last trough-building spree was in 2006 (resulting in 16 troughs total), and he used the same rough pattern again.
The dimensions are:
Square troughs: 22 cm high, 45 cm square (outside dimension), 5 cm thick walls
Rectangular troughs: 22 cm high, 38 cm x 76 cm (outside dimension), 5 cm thick walls
So, they do work. I admit I do fail to overwinter some plants in them but other plants have been very long-lived (e.g. 12 years now)... some of the fatalities may be due to plants that are simply not hardy here (I experiment a lot), or bad choices of plants for the conditions leading to inability to winter over, somehow (???). They get no protection over the winter; some of the snow from the driveway (which is usually not much, and melts quickly) gets chucked on top of them (since most of the troughs line the driveway), and that's it.
Something I am sort of experimenting with is whether setting the troughs up on blocks (also made of hypertufa) affects hardiness of the plants within... I'm wondering if that is pushing the limits, or not.
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Cohan, all of our troughs have the same wall thickness, so I can't really comment on that. However, I do think there is a minimum trough/soil volume or mass that is probably important to minimize temperature fluctuations and the effect it has on the plants' root systems. (Of course, there will still be those temperature fluctuations, but somehow plants can take it.) I suspect a smallish pot, thin-walled (I presume, and so not adding much mass), especially if partially filled with something other than soil (styrofoam) might be crossing the limit. (Very tough plants sometimes survive here in smallish pots, unprotected, over the winter... not a sure bet, though.)
My husband made all of our troughs, starting from an example/pattern that he knew worked (from another local trough-grower). The last trough-building spree was in 2006 (resulting in 16 troughs total), and he used the same rough pattern again.
The dimensions are:
Square troughs: 22 cm high, 45 cm square (outside dimension), 5 cm thick walls
Rectangular troughs: 22 cm high, 38 cm x 76 cm (outside dimension), 5 cm thick walls
So, they do work. I admit I do fail to overwinter some plants in them but other plants have been very long-lived (e.g. 12 years now)... some of the fatalities may be due to plants that are simply not hardy here (I experiment a lot), or bad choices of plants for the conditions leading to inability to winter over, somehow (???). They get no protection over the winter; some of the snow from the driveway (which is usually not much, and melts quickly) gets chucked on top of them (since most of the troughs line the driveway), and that's it.
Something I am sort of experimenting with is whether setting the troughs up on blocks (also made of hypertufa) affects hardiness of the plants within... I'm wondering if that is pushing the limits, or not.
thanks for the input, lori...
interesting, i would have thought the styrofoam would have ADDED insulation value, but you see it is as just reducing mass?..any more soil, and this pot would definitely be a permanent installation, moving it now would be a major effort; i guess the question is: when does a trough become a raised bed? obviously, its a continuum, i guess yours are permanent installations, never to be moved?
i know these pots are not gigantic, and definitely thin walled, but at 14inches /35cm in all directions, they seem larger than many/most of the troughs i see pictures of..again, any larger, and really it would be almost raised beds....but maybe thats what i need in this climate..
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Our troughs are moveable... though made of hypertufa (less heavy than other cement mixes or stone), they are still very heavy, however.
Perhaps your problem was, at least in part, drainage? The troughs have drainage holes in the bottom (covered with screen), and are filled with a very fast-draining grit mix.
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Our troughs are moveable... though made of hypertufa (less heavy than other cement mixes or stone), they are still very heavy, however.
Perhaps your problem was, at least in part, drainage? The troughs have drainage holes in the bottom (covered with screen), and are filled with a very fast-draining grit mix.
yeah, my pot would be movable, wouldnt need a construction crane, but not something you'd undertake lightly...lol
by movable, i guess i mean something you could move aside to mow, for example, without wanting to put a support belt on ;)
this is a commercial pot, so had drainage in the bottom, and i made some extra holes in bottom and lower sides...
the soil is a mix of local clayey loam with some coir, road gravel, chicken grit and zeolite around the plants...not the lightest soil by any stretch, but water does not sit at all, and certainly lighter than what i have grown semps in in the ground--pure clayey loam....
i'll probably just have to experiment with the same plants in various configurations before i can really draw any conclusions... meanwhile nothing valuable will be left exposed..
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This is my first trough finished today following Ian's instructions in Bulblog 1, 2008. What is advisable: to plant it now or to wait until next year?
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Wow, it looks good! I like the roughness and irregularity of it... very full of character.
(We've planted ours up right after a long period of curing... during which the troughs were filled with water, which probably also removes/washes off some of the more reactive alkalinity. But all I know is what we've done... not what one should do :))
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Very well done Oleg. After all that hard work it would be a pity to leave it empty!
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This is my first trough finished today following Ian's instructions in Bulblog 1, 2008. What is advisable: to plant it now or to wait until next year?
If there's a pond near you, put the trough in it and leave it for at least six weeks. The chemistry of concrete is very complex, but you can think of it as extremely slow reactions that require moisture to proceed to completion. If fresh concrete is kept damp once it has set, in the long run it will be much stronger.
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Looks like a very attractive trough Oleg. I'll hope to see it planted later. :)
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Good job Oleg, I under stand you want to plant it soon but I would wait about a month or six weeks.
By that time it should be fine to plant it up and also the plants will do better if they are not planted out in full summer.
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Wow, Oleg it looks great. I love the hefty chiseled look, especially the big flattish chunk removed at the front.
Once it ages it will look like a £1,000 authentic one.
johnw
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Great work Oleg !!
It looks like it's a hundred years old !! ;)
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Cohan,
I think Lori made two most important points re troughs - the compost must be really free draining, such that water poured from a watering can would run through it. I add loads of grit, to such an extent that the compost visually seems to have more grit than anything else. Secondly, the drainage holes must be good and large - no point in having good draining compost only for the water to lodge at the bottom of the trough.
Also, Lori mentioned putting the troughs up on some sort of support. I think this is essential. Not much point in having the good compost, good drainage holes but leaving the trough on the ground where the drainage holes could be blocked up. I place my troughs on small building bricks. For some purchased troughs I used small pottery feet to raise them.
I'm not an enthusiast of using styrofoam in the mixture. This will have no value whatsoever for the plants. Granted the troughs are very heavy - it is important to place them where you want them before filling them even, perhaps, to construct them where or very near where you are going to place them. You can add to the drainage by building up stone, crevice style for instance, on top of the trough and then the plants will have a deeper root run and more compost under them.
Have fun.
Paddy
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Oleg, that is a great looking trough, superb job you have done there! 8)
Rodger, if the plants might suffer from the effects of fresh cement, would not the inhabitants of a pond suffer too if you dunked a trough in it?? :o
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Paddy - I sometimes put an old well-rotted piece of sod (and devoid of worms) on the bottom of the troughs for plants that like a little rich living deep down. The Diapensia likes to get its feet down into it, doesn't inhibit the drainage so much.
johnw
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...putting the troughs up on some sort of support. I think this is essential. Not much point in having the good compost, good drainage holes but leaving the trough on the ground where the drainage holes could be blocked up. I place my troughs on small building bricks. For some purchased troughs I used small pottery feet to raise them.
The necessity of this point is a function of the how much rainfall one is having to offset by providing drainage... not essential in this dry climate (and as I mentioned, I'm not sure if it might even be detrimental not to have the troughs in contact with the mass of the ground in our extreme winters).*
(*NB And I only mention this since the comment was aimed directly at Cohan, who shares this wretched climate, LOL!)
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Lori,
You describe two conditions which never occur here - extreme dryness and freezing winters. You have to work the troughs your own way.
Paddy
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it might even be detrimental not to have the troughs in contact with the mass of the ground in our extreme winters).*
(*NB And I only mention this since the comment was aimed directly at Cohan, who shares this wretched climate, LOL!)
Lori - Even here in Zone 6 we move the troughs off their supports in December and set them on the ground to avoid freeze drying in particularly cold stretches. We also put a clear plastic shield about 2 feet above them to avoid excess rain but the snow can still blow in and over the plants. I don't know if this business is necessary here but until it becomes to much of an effort we won't take any chances.
Paddy - I have seen too many exploded styro troughs in this climate and don't like the look of styro in the trough mix or hypertufa mix. Troughs weigh a tonne as our mix seem toi be like yours, mainly sharp granite grit.
When Malcolm MacGregor was here we had a discussion about sharp versus rounded stone to improve drainage. He was in the round camp and I am definitely in the other. Knowing Malcolm he may only be challenging long held ideas or was it the ale?
johnw
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Thank you for the comments, John... that's very interesting and helpful to hear, as it is something I've wondered about. I have noticed less wintering-over success in the raised troughs I have, which are situated out in open areas, but have never been able to separate out the variables (less hardy plants?, too dry?, random chance?, unwitting offense to the gardening gods?)
The highest possible permeability and porosity (i.e. the most perfect drainage) is achieved by having well sorted (i.e. all the same size) and the most rounded particles (with the ideal for rounding being perfect spheres). (The foregoing is basic reservoir geology/geotechnical fact.) Theoretically, and where it can actually be achieved (say, in sand beds or in real rock), rounded particles provide better perm/porosity, i.e. drainage.
However, and this is a big however, in any mix that consists of a range of particle size, the smaller particles will fill the pore spaces between the larger ones... potentially (I'm strongly inclined say probably) rendering the argument largely moot!
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Interesting and helpful note John, about the Diapensia. Mine is growing nicely in a small plastic pot but I've been wondering what to do with it as it's past time it was moved out. I have some troughs ready to plant and a few rotted turfs too. (Any excuse to get rid of more grass :D) Would the same regime be suitable for shortias do you think? (Incidentally, your little package arrived yesterday. So much seed in it. Will be sown today, a million thanks.)
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Interesting and helpful note John, about the Diapensia. Mine is growing nicely in a small plastic pot but I've been wondering what to do with it as it's past time it was moved out. I have some troughs ready to plant and a few rotted turfs too. (Any excuse to get rid of more grass :D) Would the same regime be suitable for shortias do you think? (Incidentally, your little package arrived yesterday. So much seed in it. Will be sown today, a million thanks.)
Lesley - The Diapensias in Newfoundland grow on hummocks of grit over very wet heavy soil. If you dig one up you find a long "root" and would think they require pure scree. However upon deeper probing and closer examination the "root" is almost like a trunk that goes down a foot or so to heavy wet soil - a constant supply of moisture - and that's where the roots are, in the mud. They are diifficult to dig as you get a plant with a ball of root mass in mud dangling a foot below. Think carrying an old extra long dachsund. The difficulty I presume with seedling is to make sure they don't dry out in the scree above until they get their roots down to the soil in the trough deep down. Under the scree I do a mix with coarse grit, gradually mixing with more & more soil until the sod. Have some now close to 18 years old and a sporadic flower every few months. Plenty of wind for them.
Steve Doonan was the master of Shortias in North America and he recommended soil the seed on 50/50 fine granite grit/sand and coarse peat. It has worked for me when sown immediately and the pot placed in a plastic bag under lights at 20c. They come up in 3 weeks and can sometimes be desperately slow and finicky to harden off when they leave the bag when the size of the tip of your finger. Steve's method is close to one a Danish shortia guru uses. I would like to hear of others methods.
johnw
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Thank you for the comments, John... that's very interesting and helpful to hear, as it is something I've wondered about. I have noticed less wintering-over success in the raised troughs I have, which are situated out in open areas, but have never been able to separate out the variables (less hardy plants?, too dry?, random chance?, unwitting offense to the gardening gods?)
The highest possible permeability and porosity (i.e. the most perfect drainage) is achieved by having well sorted (i.e. all the same size) and the most rounded particles (with the ideal for rounding being perfect spheres). (The foregoing is basic reservoir geology/geotechnical fact.) Theoretically, and where it can actually be achieved (say, in sand beds or in real rock), rounded particles provide better perm/porosity, i.e. drainage.
However, and this is a big however, in any mix that consists of a range of particle size, the smaller particles will fill the pore spaces between the larger ones... potentially (I'm strongly inclined say probably) rendering the argument largely moot!
Lori - This is opposite to what Steve Doonan had to say in his lecture about measuring and increasing drainage in potting mixes. His lessons - the deeper the pot the faster the flow; always sharp grit as water tends to slick around rounded stones, sort of like surface tension. Thoughts anyone?
I tried rounded roofing gravel once with disastrous results.
johnw
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His lessons - the deeper the pot the faster the flow; always sharp grit as water tends to slick around rounded stones, sort of like surface tension.
"The deeper the pot, the faster the flow." Yes, no problem with that one (and nothing I said previously commented on this principle). This is simply using the force of gravity to cause drainage (the higher you raise the level of the water in a sealed container, the more "head" or energy to flow there is when you pull the bung out of the bottom of the barrel)... exactly the same principle as setting a trough up on blocks, or, a more exaggerated example, on setting the town water tower up on high stilts.
"...always sharp grit as water tends to slick around rounded stones, sort of like surface tension..." Sorry, I don't know of any physical principle that supports this notion (assuming I understand what it is trying to say). Surface tension exists wherever a fluid such as water contacts a solid, and applies to both rounded particles and to angular particles; because porosity (space between particles = pore space) and permeability are maximized with rounded particles of the same size, the effect of surface tension (I think it's being used here in the sense of holding water in place?) is minimized, and the amount of water that can drain through is maximized. Spheres fit together with what is called "perfect packing"; each sphere contacts each other sphere at only a few discrete points (6?), meaning they create the maximum porosity and permeability, and the minimum ability to hold water by surface tension (due to those very few and tiny points of contact). ("Sharp" means angular, as opposed to rounded.) By contrast, the angles on sharp particles project into the spaces between the adjacent similar particles (which would be void space if the particles were round) and thus they reduce the size of the pore spaces, and so reduce the porosity and hence the permeability. Also, with sharp particles, those projecting bits cause a larger surface area of the grain to be in contact with other grains, so its ability to hold water by surface tension is increased, hence the ability of water to flow through it is decreased.
The other part of this to keep in mind is that the coarser the well-sorted (rounded) particles are, the higher the permeability (the ability to flow water through it). Conversely, even if well-sorted, the finer the particles, the lower the permeability.
Here are some examples* of hydraulic conductivity/"permeability" measurement (using a particular standard formula) through sands with different grain sizes and sorting:
Very fine sand, poorly sorted 40-80 cm/s
Fine sand with appreciable fines 40-80
Medium sand, well sorted 80-120
Coarse sand, poorly sorted 80-120
Coarse sand, well sorted, clean 120-150
*http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/classes/geol552/grainsize/Kest.htm (http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/classes/geol552/grainsize/Kest.htm)
So, the above example shows that the ability of a sand to flow water through it (i.e. to drain) improves with coarseness of the particles and with improved sorting (moving toward all particles being the same size). (I don't have an example relating to rounding vs. angularity at hand, but can look for one if necessary.)
Anyway, this is a basic notion that gardeners have always had cocked up, so I hope this helps a bit to explain it. If not, don't worry about it, because as I said, in any mix that consists of a range of particle size, the smaller particles will fill the pore spaces between the larger ones, decreasing the permeability, increasing the water held by surface tension, and "probably" IMO rendering the argument largely moot as to whether the particles should be sharp or round. Theoretically, to preserve as much permeability as possible, given the poor sorting that we create in a mix, all particles should be as rounded as possible.
Note that all of the above talks about the flow of water through porous media, not about growing plants... I'm sure it's safe to conclude that the two are not precisely the same thing, LOL!
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Lori - Thanks for that. I recall Steve mentioned the granite grit he used for mixes was averaging 2-4 mm with some smaller and larger pieces but always well washed. back then granite grit was very difficult to find here despite this coast being granite. A few years ago we found a source but their material needs sifting and washing.
It would be interesting to hear the preferences of forum members re: coarse vs round stone.
johnw
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Suddenly the discussion has gotten *really* interesting.
Drainage of water from a saturated soil depends on two forces: gravity, which drives the water downwards; and capillarity, which pulls it upwards. Capillarity in turn is controlled by the average spacing of the particles in the soil, that is, the void size. I will assert that in a first approximation the critical factor is the size of the finest component of the soil, as that controls the size of the voids between soil particles. A mix of 1" spheres and .001" spheres will have voids much the same size as purely .001" spheres and they will be much smaller than if you had nothing but 1" spheres.
At the bottom of a container full of soil, the water table is perched: it has nowhere to go to, and capillarity will keep it from dripping out. You can overcome this limitation in several ways, the choice depending on the circumstances. - Provide a connection to the soil so it can wick away the excess moisture (capillarity again). IOW, put your pot or trough on the ground.
- A variant of the first method, wringing a pot into a bed of sand
- Inserting a length of twine or coarse string into the drain hole so as to lower the position of the perched water table. I have used this method in hanging baskets to ensure that they drain freely even if the soil mix in them is less than ideal. It looks a little odd, but it works.
- Using a deeper container (Steve Doonan's recommendation).
Another point is that spent potting soil has had much of the silt and other fines washed out of it, hence will drain better than freshly mixed stuff. My coldframes, which rest on a concrete slab, invariably develop a layer of fine silty mud in the bottom washed out of the pots as I water them. This year, I have recycled all my spent potting soil (it's full of expensive grit, perlite, and pumice!), and after screening and mixing, it impresses me as being grittier and less clumpy than when first mixed.
Finally, angular vs rounded aggregate. Assuming that we are comparing two samples of aggregate of the same average size, both quite uniform in size composition, I can well believe that irregular, angular particles will pack more tightly than rounded (i.e. near spherical) ones. Hence the angular aggregate would drain less freely than rounded aggregate that's otherwise comparable.
As it happens, I can conduct an experiment along these lines as I have a large supply of very evenly sized, fine, rounded gravel and can buy granite grit that is the same size and equally evenly sized, but which is angular. I will try to conduct the experiment within the next week and report back.
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Dear friends,
Thank you so much for nice words about the trough and good advice
Oleg
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Without going into any of the scientific aspects, in general I prefer "gritty," or sharp edged grit and gravel, in both pots and troughs, not so much as an aid or otherwise to drainage, but because the roots of alpine plants seem to prefer it, the roots clustering around, apparently attracted to, the sharp edges. Cuttings too, root very strongly in sharp grit as opposed to rounded or worn grit.
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Cohan,
I think Lori made two most important points re troughs - the compost must be really free draining, such that water poured from a watering can would run through it. I add loads of grit, to such an extent that the compost visually seems to have more grit than anything else. Secondly, the drainage holes must be good and large - no point in having good draining compost only for the water to lodge at the bottom of the trough.
Also, Lori mentioned putting the troughs up on some sort of support. I think this is essential. Not much point in having the good compost, good drainage holes but leaving the trough on the ground where the drainage holes could be blocked up. I place my troughs on small building bricks. For some purchased troughs I used small pottery feet to raise them.
I'm not an enthusiast of using styrofoam in the mixture. This will have no value whatsoever for the plants. Granted the troughs are very heavy - it is important to place them where you want them before filling them even, perhaps, to construct them where or very near where you are going to place them. You can add to the drainage by building up stone, crevice style for instance, on top of the trough and then the plants will have a deeper root run and more compost under them.
Have fun.
Paddy
thanks for the input, paddy, i have experimenting ahead...
the styrofoam is not in the mix--just some large pieces in the bottom and along the sides (not right to the top)..i thought, if anything, i was using too much soil, especially after listening to friends with some very successful bowl type plantings of hardy and seasonal succulents--they fill much of the pot with onion bags of styrofoam peanuts, and 'soil' only for a couple of inches on top...however, they are in milder climates, which is why i did put much more soil than they do....
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interesting discussion of permeability and particle shape..
in cactus and succulent circles, the conventional wisdom is that irregular particles are better, but it is actually quite logical that rounder particles will fit together less tightly...
i wonder if there is some reason, as lesley suggests, that plants like irregularly shaped particles, confusing growers into thinking that it was a drainage issue...
lori's point is also notable that particle sizes are unlikely to be uniform--i think bonsai growers very carefully screen for particle size... indoors, while cacti and succulents dont want to stay soggy, i have never had any problem with drainage, since water only comes when i apply it, which is never often enough..
outdoors the issues are very different, we arent 'normally' wet, but the last few years have certainly shown you cant expect weather/climate here to be remotely consistent! i hesitate to go super draining, as i am not fond of watering plants outdoors...lol
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Just a thought - surely the irregularity of sharp grit is the key to roots being able to grip in Alpine plants, at least, as rounded surfaces are more slippery and difficult to move over as per walking on a pebble beach 8)
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i was also wondering: since we ARENT usually planting in pure aggregate, and we know that smaller particles will fill in between larger ones, could that be where irregular pieces end up having an advantage? --that is, in not filling in so evenly, the rough surfaces hiding some air pockets, where small particles might more easily find the evenly spaced spaces between smoother particles?
just speculating, havent tried any experiments...
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An excellent, well-informed and, certainly, very interesting discussion on troughs and composts.
Let me add a further thought/question: Has anyone given any consideration to layers in the compost. By this I mean I have in mind that the bottom part of the trough, or planting area, should have a mixed compost - a mixture of whatever you consider suitiable for your plants, grit, humus, leafmould or whatever, and that this is the compost into which your plants will send their roots. Above this I suggest a layer of pure grit/small stone and that the plants are planted into this layer with their roots just in contact with lower layer which contains the humus. This top layer of grit might be 6inches/15cm deep - I give this as a suggestion, not as a certain measurement.
My thoughts are that the main cause of death of many of the alpine plants is water around the crown of the plant and, surprisingly and seemingly in contradiction, many of these plants actually enjoy or demand a good water supply below the root.
In summary, plants are put into pure grit with their roots having access to a lower layer which contains the nutrients they require for growth thus their crowns are given the extreme free drainage they require while their roots can still access water and nutrients for growth. This, I believe, mirrors the growing conditions of plants naturally found in scree conditions particularly.
I recall reading a description by E. A. Bowles in one of his "My Garden in Spring/Summer etc" series where he described his construction of a raised bed where he actually had piped water actually running continuously deep under the planting.
Paddy
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I think Robin is right because I've seen many times, roots clutching the sharp stones and clustering around them while with rounded ones, the roots seem to go straight down or to the sides (if in a pot.)
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The roots may be clutching the irregular stones more because they have a greater water holding capacity as well.... i.e they're drawn to the water in the nooks and crannies on the irregular stones. Rounded stones are smooth, so they don't hold water (if you know what I mean), whereas the irregular stones have holes/angles/ etc that hold water within them, which is then available to roots at a later point. The irregular stones give good drainage capabilities, but also do hold water in a way that is available to plant roots. It gives best of both worlds in that regard. I think my memory from my old classes is correct.... it sounds logical anyway. ;D I think. ;)
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I am just back from the Alps (the beautiful Ortler Group again), and catching this very interesting thread.
Anyway, prowling in the mountains, I've never seen rounded grit around the plants (except of in the streams)...
Paul, I think you have absolutely right, the plants do find moisture on the irregular stones. And they find also air pockets on it! I think, also Ian Young told this in some later log...
And Paddy has also right, they do root in 15-20(25) cm sharp, rather big (sometimes 1 cm or more) grit. I have sometimes dig holes in the scree, to see, what is deeper. The grit is more and more little, and more and more moist, sometimes even wet.
Ranunculus glacialis, for example, seems to live in pure sand, below the grit, but this sand is WET, especially now, in "spring". But that water is flowing, not staying in place.
I saw this year also Saxifraga oppositifolia and Androsace alpina, constantly flooded by RUNNING water from snow melting. And they flowered like mad. ;D
And there are the crevices. They are extremely narrow. I see, that my two little crevice gardens made in window boxes (!) last year, worked very well in our hot summers, the alpines seem to enjoy life here much more, than in other "rock gardens" of mine with scree or whatever. They must not be watered so often, and also the drainage is good, at least the plants look more healthy like in other places.
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The benifits of not working ....
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Too much time on your hands, Mark!
Still, a nice selection of trough to keep you busy planting. Enjoy!
Paddy
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They are now filled with a woodsy mix for my miniature Hosta collection and other bits and pieces. I will also plant bulbs mainly Crocus no more than two species per trough.
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Mark,
Mary got a particularly nice miniature hosta this year - Blue Mouse Ears, I think it was called. It's nice.
She has a number in another trough and I can see her gathering more.
Paddy
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I have over 30 miniatures including Mouse Ears.
Ian Scroggy here in N Ireland has an unbelievable selection of Hostas for sale from the biggest to the smallest. http://www.mailorderplants4me.com/catalog/33 (http://www.mailorderplants4me.com/catalog/33)
I'll create a new thread to show the Hostas
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Being a retired 'gentleman' in theory I should have all the time in the world, but I never get round to making the troughs I have been promising myself to make for years now. Do you export Mark? ;D
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It's so easy David. I made another 3 on Wednesday and 3 today. Sorry I dont export but you will be able to get fish boxes from your local fish/reptile shop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miGjiO-BYis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miGjiO-BYis)
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Mark, why have you made one higher at one end than the other? If you don't place it so that the top is level (which would negate the slope), won't the water and compost work down to the lower end?
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That is a very scrumptios hosta website. I wish....
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Lesley,
I wondered the same thing at first, then just thought he'd make a crevice type garden, with the crevices running horizontally like retaining walls etc. I think the variability in shape will look quite good. 8)
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Well maybe if the crevices run vertically up the hill, like a mini mountain, Mark can people the slope with little plastic people on an expedition, perhaps to collect or photograph plants. ;D ;D ;D ;D :o
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A very nice collection of troughs Mark ! Well done !
Bring some to the AGS bulb sale in August - I will definitely buy some !! ;D ;D
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Just received two pics of Viola spathulata made by Dieter Zschummel in Iran (digitalised) -
I take the opportunity to add an image of this extraordinary violet growing happily in a trough in front of the house + Campanula cashmeriana and Cymbalaria muralis growing nearby
Gerd
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Gerd your trough is SO natural and pretty, a lovely example of your plantsmanship (if there is such a word) :D
Campanula cashmeriana and Cymbalaria muralis are also gorgeous I think I have the last growing here seeded from the wild and it is a miniature beauty :)
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I havent been getting updates to this thread ::)
Lesley the sloping trough was a normal fish box cut to that angle. It was done to add something different. All the troughs will eventualy get some drift wood placed in them so hopefully it will hold back the planting mix. So far even with all the rain we have had recently nothing has moved.
Now for some of the Hostas.
hosta alan p mcconnell.jpg
hosta cats eye2.jpg
hosta country mouse.jpg
hosta cracker crumbs.jpg
hosta green with envy.jpg
hosta hope.jpg
hosta lakeside ninita.jpg
hosta lemon and lime.jpg
hosta lemon frost.jpg
hosta little caesar.jpg
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A wonderful collection of little hostas in your troughs, Mark, the cats eye with the coin is perfect for sizing and I love the lemon and lime colour leaf - little Caesar has a most unusual leaf shape and wave to the edge - gorgeous, thanks for sharing them (but not literally with slugs and snails!)
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Gerd your trough is SO natural and pretty, a lovely example of your plantsmanship (if there is such a word) :D
Campanula cashmeriana and Cymbalaria muralis are also gorgeous I think I have the last growing here seeded from the wild and it is a miniature beauty :)
RR, Thank you for your kind remarks !
- and please let me tell at this place that I also enjoy ALL your moody impressions with your particular view!
Gerd
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Gerd,
Loverly troughs, well planted, very nice indeed.
Mark,
The hostas are looking brilliant. Mary is the one who grows the small hostas here and she has several of those you grow. I showed her 'Cat's Eyes' and she tells me she tried to get it previously but that it had sold out at the time. I think you have reminded her to try again.
I like the bigger ones in the garden, good ground cover and plants which are very suited to splitting and multiplying. Photograph of one hosta planting attached.
Paddy
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I'm always after the little hostas. Had a nice collection at one time--including Uzu No Mai, which doesn't appear to be around anymore...
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Just received two pics of Viola spathulata made by Dieter Zschummel in Iran (digitalised) -
I take the opportunity to add an image of this extraordinary violet growing happily in a trough in front of the house + Campanula cashmeriana and Cymbalaria muralis growing nearby
Gerd
wonderful violet! and i guess on the rock like that it needs a steady drip of water?
your trough is very delicate and beautiful, as are all the plants in it..
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Paddy,Cohan,
Thank you both!
Cohan, the photographer of this violet told me that it grows on vertical limestone cliffs in the Elburs mountains north of Tehran in shade. He did not mention a permanent water supply there. Under my conditions there is no want for additional watering.
Gerd
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Cohan, your comments in the other thread reminded me of something else...
I was very kindly given some rooted echeveria cuttings last spring, which I reluctantly accepted (given that I have next-to-no interest in house plants, and yet feel a little guilty about growing them as mere annuals!) I planted them up in a 17" W (43cm) x 7.5" H (19cm) unglazed terra cotta pot filled with half grit/half compost, along with some sempervivums and sedums from the yard, to fill it out. The pot sat on a wooden deck that is raised a few inches off the ground through the winter. All that survived, come this spring, are a couple of little sprigs of Sedum reflexum. Meanwhile, the same small unknown sempervivum that died completely in the pot has survived in one of our rectangular troughs for 12 years, and also in our square troughs and in the ground for a few years. (I started moving some divisions to the square troughs and to various other areas in the yard a few years ago).
While this is hardly conclusive, I can only imagine it comes down to the volume/mass again... and a delicate balance... ?? The pot, though terra cotta (which helps, I imagine), has less volume due to the curved sides, than do our square troughs. Plus, the pot was raised off the ground, which is very likely detrimental.
Beyond that, I dunno...
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Cohan, your comments in the other thread reminded me of something else...
I was very kindly given some rooted echeveria cuttings last spring, which I reluctantly accepted (given that I have next-to-no interest in house plants, and yet feel a little guilty about growing them as mere annuals!) I planted them up in a 17" W (43cm) x 7.5" H (19cm) unglazed terra cotta pot filled with half grit/half compost, along with some sempervivums and sedums from the yard, to fill it out. The pot sat on a wooden deck that is raised a few inches off the ground through the winter. All that survived, come this spring, are a couple of little sprigs of Sedum reflexum. Meanwhile, the same small unknown sempervivum that died completely in the pot has survived in one of our rectangular troughs for 12 years, and also in our square troughs and in the ground for a few years. (I started moving some divisions to the square troughs and to various other areas in the yard a few years ago).
While this is hardly conclusive, I can only imagine it comes down to the volume/mass again... and a delicate balance... ?? The pot, though terra cotta (which helps, I imagine), has less volume due to the curved sides, than do our square troughs. Plus, the pot was raised off the ground, which is very likely detrimental.
Beyond that, I dunno...
hmm.. so a wide bowl shape.... and how big are your smallest troughs again? my square pot from last year (with one surviving semp and also a sprig of reflexum!) has acquired more plants over the summer--a veronica repens, more bits of semps and sedums...it will stay where it is--well, i may make one concession--its just very slightly raised, on a bit of wood, i may slide it off onto the ground... we'll see if any of those things make it...
i have a bunch of new semps received as small cuttings, and all are in smallish pots for now, but i will be burying all those pots for winter..
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Here are some more that have been made recently. These will be in full sun all year except for a few weeks between December and January. When Bob Gordon is asked what size is his garden he always says "about half an acre". How many troughs do I have now? One or two!
I've also started a mini woodland bed about 2m square
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hmm.. so a wide bowl shape.... and how big are your smallest troughs again?
Cohan, see:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3537.30
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hmm.. so a wide bowl shape.... and how big are your smallest troughs again?
Cohan, see:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3537.30
sorry about that, lori--as soon as i typed, i remembered you'd discussed that earlier on, i should have deleted the post.
your square ones are only a couple of inches wider than my pot, and much more shallow...but of course much thicker walls..
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Looking good, Mark!! 8)
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My Hostas are loving the rain thats been falling and being released from their pots.
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That's a really nice one Mark. There are very few really tinies available here. I bought one called 'Dewdrop' last summer, very small and blue leaved. Do you know it? It's just poking a nose up now.
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The Hosta nursery over here sends plants world wide with phyto certs. Are you allowed Hostas in NZ?
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Lesley, see this thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1810.new;topicseen#new
there's a link to the Irish Hosta place there. If you want to make an order, let me know.
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These are his miniatures http://www.mailorderplants4me.com/catalog/33 (http://www.mailorderplants4me.com/catalog/33)
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A little beauty there Mark and he has some real treats in his miniature list. It's almost enough to make one get back into Hostas having been swamoped by the larger ones.
Nerine undulata stalk just emerging.
johnw.
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Yes, we're allowed hostas and some are imported each year but almost always big kinds. (One I'd give a few teeth for is 'St Elmo's Fire,' a psychodelic lime green.) However, I can't import as it requires.......well, I've talked about this before and the process and costs are mind-boggling. However, I know - slightly - an importer and I might see whether I can encourage him to bring in some little ones. I'll direct him to the website as I think he mostly imports from America. Trouble is, exporting nursery has to be cleared by God knows who, for export to NZ and have all kinds of pre-season inspections etc etc, enough to make one commit murder.
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The trough I showed on page 3 of this thread has finally been planted. Here is the result
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Nice! Both Mark's Hosta and that excellent trough!!
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Thanks.
Is that a home made trough?
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Thanks.
Is that a home made trough?
See page 3 of this thread, Mark...... Oleg made the trough according to the BD's recipe!! 8)
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I've decided I'm going to lash out on some troughs from Hokonui Alpines. They're by far the best in New Zealand and since I can't take it (anything financial) with me, I may as well enjoy it here and now. Pictures in due course, though I have yet to order them.
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http://users.actrix.co.nz/hokpines/catalogue.html (http://users.actrix.co.nz/hokpines/catalogue.html)
Looks like a really good place to poke around the pots
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So pleased you found this site Mark. It is indeed a good place to poke around the pots and I do it twice every year, at great expense but greater pleasure. Their troughs are the best commercial ones I've ever seen and Louise's stone work in the garden is outstanding. She is skilled at growing the most difficult plants and it's always a great boost to my spirit to visit there. They do an excellent seed list too and send lots overseas.
When I visited lasted week, Louise greeted me with a gun in hand. She was after a bunny which has been eating the foliage of Irises, Crocuses and other bulbs.
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Folks, I thought I'd asked this before, in early September, but I cannot find the place and another person has contacted me asking the same question..... can anyone, particularly in Scotland, but a mail-order company might suffice, know of a supplier of lightweight polymer resin or lightweight, glass-fibre troughs?
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any big garden centre stocks them
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http://www.elmdenepatiogardenart.co.uk/acatalog/Lightweight_Stone_Troughs.html (http://www.elmdenepatiogardenart.co.uk/acatalog/Lightweight_Stone_Troughs.html)
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Maggi they are not cheap but I'm sure they would be on sale at this time of year
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Hi Lesley
I've decided I'm going to lash out on some troughs from Hokonui Alpines. They're by far the best in New Zealand and since I can't take it (anything financial) with me, I may as well enjoy it here and now. Pictures in due course, though I have yet to order them.
I like this attitude you have , I feel the same since I lost my sister, spend today, enjoy life and don't wait till tomorrow. we only have one life and its for enjoying. will look forward to see your troughs all planted up.
Angie :)
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Mark, excellent link, thank you.
I will, naturally , also suggest to the folk that they make some sculpted. painted SRGC fishbox troughs, instead!!
;D
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Lesely, I look forward to photographs of your purchases. Enjoy it all. Have great fun. Paddy
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Angie and Paddy, I'll certainly do pictures in due course. As yet I don't have my new troughs, they aren't even made yet but I'll take a trip south very soon and speak seriously with Peter and Louise Salmond and then we shall see what we shall see. 8)
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Hello all Dear Forumists,
Lost a little in my jobs and troubles but not forgetting the Forum, I would like to show You some of my troughs. Our spring is quite cold now (regarding the last years), so the alpines feel better :)
Arabis blepharophylla looks good in the background with the Sempervivum
[attachthumb=1]
Gentiana clusii, bought in Prague, this year the first time with 3 flowers
[attachthumb=2]
A pot with Lewisia tweedyi and Lewisia pygmaea seedlings
[attachthumb=3]
Trough with some Androsace carnea brigantiaca in flower and Androsace pubescens in bud (all from seed)
[attachthumb=4]
A trough with Primulas and the Gentiana shown before
[attachthumb=5]
A Daphne maybe arbuscula purchased a few days ago
[attachthumb=6]
All these are on our balcony!
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Mark, I have trough 'B'. They are excellent because they are so light, but be careful to check as I have seen some in garden centres with an almost invisible crack down one corner.
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Hi Katherine,
A lovely selection of pots and troughs. All looking quite natural in their design. I particularly like the one with the Androsace carnea brigantiaca and Androsace pubescens.
Graham
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Thanks Graham. That is my favourite too. :)
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Mine too, but all are really artistic and beautifully planted Kata - congratulations on such a splendid use of your balcony :D
Seeing your Gentiana clusii in flower for the first time is a real treat against the old/drift wood setting 8)
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Lovely to have you back with us Kata. I'm so sorry to hear about your work troubles. We have several Forumists who have been hit hard by the economic recession and I am amazed and very admiring of how positive they all seem when it must be very difficult to live cheerfully sometimes. I hope things improve for you soon. In the meantime you have beautiful and very healthy plants to help keep life on an even keel. Thanks for sharing them with us.
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Some plants from my troughs.
Gentiana-verna
Draba-imbricata
Douglasia-chinotricha
Saxifraga-strybrni
Androsace-muscoidea
\Draba-polytricha
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Franz,
The gentian is doing fabulously well for you in your trough as is the saxifrage, particularly beautiful.
Paddy
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Fantastic plants in your troughs Franz!
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I've never come across Douglasia chinotricha as such. Is it close to or even the same as Vitaliana praetutiana? Or maybe a bigeneric hybrid of it?
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Thank You Robin and Lesley for Your kind words!
Franz,
Your plants are lovely, as usual. I also have Draba imbricata and Draba polytricha, but they don't want to flower for me. :'(
D. polytricha are one year old seedlings, but D. imbricata is already "old" (4 years) and has a nice big cushion, but no flowers.
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Glorious looking plants Franz !!! Fabulous ! :o :o
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Thank you all together for the kind comments on my pictures.
Katherine
The Draba are propagate with seeds. Therefore there are rich-flowering and poor-flowering plants.
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Alpine troughs - collection of my wife
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How nice! Especially that with tufa rocks.
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Wonderful troughs Wolfgang !! :o :o
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Weren't saxifrages just MADE to live in troughs? :) Is that Olsynium douglasii at the top right of the second picture Wolfgang? It looks very happy?
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Hello Lesley and Luc;
Thank you for kind answer.
Lesley;
About the Sax longifolia is a small group of non-flowering daffodils. About this Dicentra cucullaria and right Primula hirsuta.
Regards, Wolfgang
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This is a picture of my favorite trough - favorite mostly because of its extra size and depth. Nothing has ever winter-killed in this one. It's not protected in any way during the winter. It's anchored by Daphne x hendersonii 'Ernst Hauser' in one corner. The rest of the plants are mostly from the Rocky Mountains.
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It's not surprising that that deep one is a favourite trough, Anne, it is looking very good indeed. I like the round set, too.... we have some containers like that, rather deeper... I have pines in them. That "middling" depth of your trio makes a neat display in itself.
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Maggi,
The trough is perfect!!!!!
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Ah yes, now I see where I went wrong: Olsynium = Narcissus plus Primula. ;D :-[
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Ah yes, now I see where I went wrong: Olsynium = Narcissus plus Primula. ;D :-[
I was fooled the same way, Lesley... the narcissus leaves are "topped" with the primula flowers which I took, because ofthe colour, to be a Olsynium!
Now that Wolfgang explains it I see where we went wrong! :-[ ;D
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Here is one of my troughs and a close up of the plant, sorry don't know its right name :-[
Angie :)
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Oh I l did that wrong :-[,shall try again, maybe I will someday I shall get a hang of this computer, hopefully soon.
Angie :)
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That's lovely, Angela....it's Androsace studiosorum. :)
PS - Ron Smart phoned yesterday and seemed in good form!
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Angie, to have a tough overflowing with such a beauty would be wonderful - thanks for showing us yours
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Thanks Maggi , I think my brain is slowing down, finally remembered how to post pictures but got my typing wrong - will go out tomorrow and put a label on the plant.
Went in to see Ron Smart last week he was so happy with the card and thought it was lovely of all the members taking the time out to put there names down. He so wanted to go to the show, :( but he smiled when I told him I took a 1st with his pine that he gave me and I promised to look after it.
Robin thank you . I have been re planting the rest of my troughs but didn't want to disturb this one.
Angie :)
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What a brilliant view Angie !
The Androsace hanging over the edge looks superb !! :D
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hi, some plants in throughs...
globularia
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild004-55.jpg?t=1274802044)
orostachys
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild006-49.jpg?t=1274802072)
dianthus erinacea
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild005-53.jpg?t=1274802104)
cheers
chris
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Chris really like the golbularia, Maggi and Ian had a few in there troughs so after seeing this lovely plant l went out and got a couple for my own troughs.
Hope mine grow and produce as much flowers as you have.
Angie :)
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angie, this is a very small species...very good for a trough...the bigger ones are not so good, only for bigger ones :)
cheers
chris
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Thanks Chris for that advice.
Angie :)
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hi, my little trough parade...
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild013-21.jpg?t=1274811078)
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild014-17.jpg?t=1274811106)
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild015-15.jpg?t=1274811128)
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/Bild016-12.jpg?t=1274811148)
cheers
chris
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Chris,
Yet another amazing part of your garden. :o
Is there more we haven't seen yet?
Graham
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Grand trough collection and I LOVE the stone pillars!
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graham, too much ;)
maggi, the pillars are for my bonsai collection....
cheers
chris
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A great collection of pots and troughs Chris. and I do like the white Globularia very much, an unusual colour for that genus.
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A very impressive parade Chris !! 8)
Wonderful troughs !!
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lesley, it´s a light blue...bad picture :'(
luc, thanks very much.... :D
cheers
chris
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hi, my little trough parade...
chris
splendid display! i really like the first one.. are the thick ones made with hypertufa, or stone, or concrete?..
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cohan, all troughs are sandstone...
cheers
chris
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some alpine mini troughs
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part 2
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hi wolfgang,
nice selection...looks very good...
cheers
chris
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Goodness Wolfgang - Do troughs grow on trees in Sachsen ???? ;D ;)
A very nice collection !!
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cohan, all troughs are sandstone...
cheers
chris
wow! i doubt i could even find such a thing here....
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wow! i doubt i could even find such a thing here....
Waiting here since long for planting ::) ::) ::) :-\ :(
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
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Chris,
A wonderful collection, arrangement and planting of troughs. A great interest in the garden.
Luit - you lazy thing!
Paddy
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paddy, many thanks...
chris
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
I bet you could even mail one to Belgium Luit !! 8)
We'll support Holland for the World Cup as a return gesture... ;D ;D
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Luit - you lazy thing!
Paddy
How right you are Paddy :D :D ;)
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
David, you want them send ‘First Class’ ? ;)
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
I bet you could even mail one to Belgium Luit !! 8)
Luc, Paddy’s words are rather clear about that. I’m probably even too lazy to do that ;D
‘She’ told me already so many years: SELL THEM.
I did not, because I always thought I will have more time later :-\ :-\ ::) ::)
We'll support Holland for the World Cup as a return gesture... ;D ;D
You think that would be helpful when Belgians support the Dutch players Luc? :o :o
I think they will win the Cup easier without :P :P :-X
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Ok Luit - then we'll support New Zealand - that might please other Forum Members... ;D
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Ok Luit - then we'll support New Zealand - that might please other Forum Members... ;D
Aaaaah, now I understand Luc.
You just want to support only the Underdogs, don't you? ;D ;D ;D
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:o :o :o ;D
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
David, you want them send ‘First Class’ ? ;)
That would do fine Luit :P I would like to see the postman coming down the street with those in his bag ;D
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Ooooooooooooo. Could you get them in the post Luit ;D
David, you want them send ‘First Class’ ? ;)
That would do fine Luit :P I would like to see the postman coming down the street with those in his bag ;D
David I see you want a bigger one then. Well those are granite, not sandstone.
Now I'd like to see the postman too ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Oh, just get planting, Luit. And we want photographs to show you have done this!!!
Paddy
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At the Alpine Garden Society publicity stand at the Chelsea Flower show, some familiar folks were helping to spread the word about the delights of miniature gardening.... see this AGS webpage to learn more..... and to see just how well JohhnyD scrubs up!! 8) 8)
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/events/Chelsea+Flower+Show/405/
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What do you mean underdogs? NZ has high hopes of getting into Round 2! (Actually, I think I mean hopes of winning a game in Round 1. I'm not sure what the system is for progressing.) We don't expect to get closer than the quarter finals. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D)
Troughs could be mounted on skateboards then pulled behind cycles. That should please the Dutch and Belgians. ;D
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I was going to put a short note in the AGS Forum about the show, but as always, I can't remember my login details. Several tries did nothing. So here it is.
I was going to say in response to someone's note about Chiastophyllum oppositifolium being (with the Saxifraga) the most popular plant. This I can understand because it is a lovely thing in flower. But in a nursery situation, even when seen in the accompanying garden, it is just about impossible to sell. Why it that? They love it but won't buy it. These are not people who already have it. Same at a show. Love it but won't buy it.
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Chiastophyllum oppositifolium in a pot has a tendency to look scruffy, something of a sprawler and I suspect that this is what puts folk off buying it.
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hi, orostachys and dianthus erinacea...
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/DSC_3565.jpg?t=1275653905)
(http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/yuccajoe/DSC_3564.jpg?t=1275653927)
cheers
chris
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Trough in the garden taken during bloom time of Vitaliana and various western-american phlox. The purple one is Phlox kelseyi "Lehmi Purple'. Taken from below trying to be "arty".
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Chris, I'm not sure that your Dianthus erinaceus IS that species. There is another which is often sold as erinaceus but whose foliage is finer and softer. The true plant has really painful leaves, as sharp as a hedgehog's prickles. This is the true plant. This one is a seedling from my original and darker in colour, from the ACW expecition to Turkey in 1966. Most are a softer pink.
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The picture quality is poor, being scanned from a colour print.
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lesley, thank you for showing, i was not sure yet, i had more varietys from dianthus "erinacea" i bought so ???...
do you have seed from yours, i´m very interested about... ::)
cheers
chris
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Chris I sometimes get seed and next time I do, you are welcome to some. Sometimes it doesn't and I think it is because it gets very dry. It flowers best if well watered in early spring. Mind you, harvesting the seed is a very painful process. :'( ::)
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Dianthus freiynii with a single flower.
A new trough is ready. Still another time - Ian's recepe was made use of.
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Very nice colour on your D. erinaceus Lesley !! :o
Oleg, a very promising trough ! Don't forget to post a picture once it has been planted ! :D
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lesley, fine...thank you....i´m happy ;D
cheers
chris
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My trough 3. The same rewcipe, but new experience of mixing concrete with water at +34C.
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I have a trough that wasn't doing too well and decided it needed a complete overhaul.
So as a distraction from the weeds and tidying that needed doing elsewhere I gave it a go.
I thought I would combine trough and crevice and here is the result. I only have two plants for it at the moment; Teuchrium subspinosum and Dianthus arpadianus
I have wanted Saxifraga longifolia or 'Tumbling Waters' for many years so will probably give one of those a try. The rest will be either glaucus or silver leafed but I don't know what they will be yet.
Graham
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Oleg, how did you make your troughs?
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A new trough is ready. Still another time - Ian's recipe was made use of.
I think Oleg may be on holiday, Mark......
This is Ian's trough recipe Mark.... seek and ye shall find........ :-X
Olegkon
Re: Troughs
« Reply #35 on: July 05, 2009, 08:18:14 PM »
This is my first trough finished today following Ian's instructions in Bulblog 1, 2008.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/020108/log.html
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and this is Ian's latest method....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html
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first place I looked http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/020108/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/020108/log.html)
and the second
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html)
The last one is how I do it and will be making about 6 before I start my new job
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I think making troughs is great fun and a terrific way of getting a container purpose built for any bit of space you might have to fill with plants that cannot be planted in a conventional fashion. Such a great home for the smallest alpines, too, which might just get lost in a regular garden planting.
A Trough a Day helps you work rest and play! Well, that might be a bit of an exageration.... but you get my drift!
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A Trough a Day helps you work rest and play!
You're absolutely right Maggi! And just right for those things you can't put in the garden.
I haven' constructed one yet though.
Graham
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I'm really thrilled that the plants I put in the first of my new Hokonui troughs are looking really well and yesterday I noticed that the 2 bulbs I included, are both up. They are Oxalis laciniata and Frit. alburyana. I'm always a bit anxious about bulbs in troughs as the little herbaceous plants will need water through the summer when many bulbs prefer to be dry but so far it has worked well, I imagine because the troughs are well drained. The smaller crocuses look particularly at home, and for this new trough, both these bulbs don't like to be arid during summer, so a little watering won't harm them. I think the frit will flower so will do a pic in due course. Daphne petraea is packed with buds. :D 8)
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A picture of a crevice planting in a trough. The rock has been pasted together with clay which blew open a bit during the spring rains but all the plants seem to be doing well anyway.
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Hi everyone, some amazing troughs on this thread, living art works.
I have started making my own troughs also and are getting better results with colour and textures each time.
Now I need to learn to set up the rocks and plants naturally.
Here are my first two attempts, the first with Draba starting to flower. Can someone correctly id this for me as I received the plant as D. aizoides? Also Edraianthus (centre) coming back to life, a Sax species and Carmichaelia enysii.
The second trough just finished planting today with Morisia monanthos (centre), Dianthus 'lionrock', Oxalis hirta and palmifrons, Calceolaria fothergillii and a campanula sp.
Still not at the quality level of this thread....practise, practise, practice. ;)
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They look good, Doug.
You might want to reconsider Oxalis palmifrons if it behaves the way it does over here. It has totally taken over a "trough" in the rock garden and is trying to invade neighbouring beds! I'm not sure if that is just this particular clone that we grow or whether it will do the same in your climate - just keep an eye on it or you maybe re-making this trough sooner than you expected!
cheers
fermi
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Thanks Fermi, will keep an eye on it!
Also the Sax in the first shot has been identified as Saxifraga cochlearis minor, cheers for that.
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I have started making my own troughs)
Hello Doug
Nice work.
What is the pitted rock that features in your second pic ?
Ta.
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Gidday Dave, the rock is all a type of limestone, the smaller pieces are off the Napi Napi beach, North Canterbury.
The big one I slogged out of the Waipara river, I'm hoping to get some smaller plants growing on it.
Next time you're up here we could go and have a look for some if you like.
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Hello Doug,
Nice through, I think it is Draba aizoides.
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Looking good Doug !
And don't forget : they will only get better !! ;D ;D
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The Rock from the Napi Napi beach looks like the nearest thing we might have to genuine tufa, even though it has weather-worn surfaces. The holes could well be planted in the bigger pieces and I quite like that smooth though lumpy surface, especially of many in a group.
I mentioned above that I thought my Frit alburyana would probably flower in its new home. It made a bud but that has aborted so I'll have to wait for next year. But it looks exceedingly healthy and exactly like the one on the Frit Group's new journal, just without a flower. Here it is from a couple of years ago.
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And here it is in its trough home, top right. The trough itself is looking even less exciting than when it was first planted back in the autumn when at least it had Silene hookeri in flower but Daphne petraea 'Persabee' (top left) is packed with buds and all the "dead-looking" things, like small Saponarias, are greening. Tiny seedlings of white Gent. verna, Edraianthus pumilio, Degenia velebitica, Saxifraga frederici-augustii and Dianthus glacialis are also still alive and rearing to go. :D
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The trough itself is looking even less exciting
It looks exciting to me Lesley.
A number of my troughs badly need redoing --message to self --add to list.....
Gidday Dave, the rock is all a type of limestone.
The big one I slogged out of the Waipara river, I'm hoping to get some smaller plants growing on it.
Next time you're up here we could go and have a look for some if you like.
Thanks Doug that would be great.
I have unlimited access to a disused limestone quarry however i've never come across rocks there that are suitable for planting ,most having couch grass growing through the cracks and holes.
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Daphne petraea 'Persabee' (top left) is packed with buds and all the "dead-looking" things, like small Saponarias, are greening. Tiny seedlings of white Gent. verna, Edraianthus pumilio, Degenia velebitica, Saxifraga frederici-augustii and Dianthus glacialis are also still alive and rearing to go. :D
I hope we get to see it in full flow Lesley ;)
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Yes please, your trough crevice construction looks wonderful lesley :)
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I'll post pics as things flower. You may remember I bought 6 troughs from Hokonui Alpines, way back in March but it is only in the last couple of weeks that the remaining 5 have been placed properly. They still have to have drainage, compost, rocks and plants added. But I'll get to it soon, now the weather is warming and the days are a little longer. I find I'm getting to be a wimp so far as gardening in very cold or wet weather is concerned. It didn't worry me years ago. Started after I came out of hospital last year.
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The second trough just finished planting today with Morisia monanthos (centre), Dianthus 'lionrock', Oxalis hirta and palmifrons, Calceolaria fothergillii and a campanula sp.
Hi Doug,
here's what O. palmifrons is like in our "trough" in the Rock garden,
[attachthumb=1]
cheers
fermi
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Fermi, is it this patch that you get flowers from? This is quite loose in growth - I guess it will grow to fill whatever space is available - or do you get the flowers from a potful where the growth is tighter and more contricted? I'd be happy with one flower, anywhere. ???
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Hi Lesley,
Yes, this is where I get an occasional flower on Oxalis palmifrons! From one spot about where the dry twig is lying on the right side. I've never noticed it flowering in a pot but we know it can! This pic was just to illustrate how much it can spread if left to its own devices!
cheers
fermi
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Fermi, removed the O. palmifrons and replaced with Campanula Zoysii x pulla (has any one have a photo of this cross in flower?) Thanks for the advice.
Just finished potting up my new NZ alpine trough - Celmisia argentea, C. spedenii, C. hectori, C. spectabilis minor, C. discolor, Clematis marmoraria, Ranunculus enysii, Craspedia robusta and last but not least, Leucogenes leontopodium.
Carmichaelia nana has put on an unbelievable show this season.
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I'm sure there's a picture in one of the bulletins of the AGS or the journals of SRGC, maybe a few years ago.
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Wow, Doug, you'd get a medal with that pot of Carmichaelia for sure! 8)
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Wow, Doug, you'd get a medal with that pot of Carmichaelia for sure! 8)
I agree with Maggi but I also like your trough Doug! Very good combination of black stones and silver leaves.
Also planted with some of my favorite plants. Altough they are not easy to cultivate here in our climate. In prevoius years I even last them when I cultivate them in pot. Wich substrate you use to fill the trough ?
I tried some in my new peatbed but I don't think they survive our winter...?
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Kris, here in North-east Scotland our New Zealand plants do best in our ordinary garden soil or in our raised beds and troughs which have basically the same mix as our potted plants.... 2 parts grit ( 6mm broken granite) 2 parts sand and 1 part leaf mould.
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These beautiful leaves can even beat some flowers, Kris!
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Hi there, just potting up another trough of Clematis marmoraria so I took a shot of my mix.
My mix consists of - 1.5-2 parts composted bark : 1 part 5mm chip : 1 part crusher dust.
We get pretty dry in the summer hence I add the extra .5 compost depending on the plants natural environment.
I am pretty fresh in the alpine cultivation world, but I have had good success so far.
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Here are a couple of pictures from my first Hokonui trough. It's looking reasonably established now, the Daphne petraea having flowered well and Campanula zoysii creeping about happily. I hope it flowers later.
Myosotis capitata, a native, insofar as the islands of the southern ocean are part of NZ.
and Myosotis 'Hokonui,' a delicious hybrid between M. capitata and another tiny native species, M. uniflora. It has soft yellow flowers and a luscious honey perfume, on a very small, tight bun-like mat. M. 'Hokonui' is the baby of Louise Salmond at Hokonui Alpines. This is my third plant, the others having succumbed to too much heat in summer but it likes this place on the cooler side of the trough.
These pics are of a hybrid which appeard here a couple of years ago, seedlings from Saponaria pumilio (which I believe should now be called S. pulvinaris though quite different from what I know as that species). Anyway, this is a very soft pink compared with the seed parent and has a slightly peachy colour from lutea, as well as the flowers being in little clusters of several per stem like the pollen parent. It is lovely and I'm thrilled it appeared here. I need a name for it I think.
Here are the parents, for comparison. Saponaria pumilio
and S. lutea
Don't know what's going on here. Pictures won't come up with the usual attachthumb code, so trying without.
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lovely Myosotis. Are they weedy? My lovely tiny M. decumbens died in this years winter big freeze
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Lovely plants, Lesley. Please keep posting as they keep blooming. Marvelous to see what grows in a climate so different from mine.
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Hi there, just potting up another trough of Clematis marmoraria so I took a shot of my mix.
My mix consists of - 1.5-2 parts composted bark : 1 part 5mm chip : 1 part crusher dust.
We get pretty dry in the summer hence I add the extra .5 compost depending on the plants natural environment.
I am pretty fresh in the alpine cultivation world, but I have had good success so far.
Thank you Doug for this very useful information.
Kris, here in North-east Scotland our New Zealand plants do best in our ordinary garden soil or in our raised beds and troughs which have basically the same mix as our potted plants.... 2 parts grit ( 6mm broken granite) 2 parts sand and 1 part leaf mould.
Thank you Maggi. Because our summers are drier I think I must added more leaf mould . But anyway I keep trying......
These beautiful leaves can even beat some flowers, Kris!
I agree Katherine! We always think of flowers but this beautiful leaves are there for the whole year and not only few weeks.
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Mark, the Myosotis shown here are definitely NOT weedy. If only..... :D M. capitata comes from the subantarctic islands, Auckland Island, Enderby and others in the deep southern ocean and should be hardy with you. It is monocarpic unfortunately and has to be resown but is well worth that samll task. I usually get good seed and should this year as I have half a dozen flowering plants. If so, I'll send some.
The other is a garden hybrid and has not set seed for me yet.
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While we were in India we visited Hampi the site of an ancient Hindu kingdom wiped out 500 years ago and only really re-discovered in the 1970s.
I saw this horse trough and wondered how many alpines could be accommodated in a trough this size! ;D
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It would take quite a lot of compost, eh?
cheers
fermi
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You'll have a job carrying it home ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Or how many horses? ;D Nice blocks of stone too. Each one, hollowed out would make a good trough.
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I planted another trough yesterday and though it doesn't look good at the moment, it should get better PROVIDED I can keep it cool, something of a risk as though it gets full shade until 1.30pm (on the longest day) it is fully exposed to sun and drying winds thereafter. The chunks of rock look as if they're on top but in fact are well bedded in and with more rock in the tough itself, to encourage the roots to go towards them.The top surface of the trough is about 18cms above the level of the trough surface, The rocks are standing at steep angles as I wanted to make shady slopes below them but that has been only partially successful. Time will tell whether it works but I hope so as the plants are all demanding of a cool environment and mostly are not replaceable now. They are:
Ramondas myconi 'Wisley Pink', nathaliae JCA 686, nathaliae alba and serbica
Primulas aureata and bella (see Primula ID thread)
Diapensia lapponica
Soldanella pusilla
A tiny plant of Salix x Boydii
and two (currently dormant) bulbs
Corydalis ambigua and my most precious frit.
There's space for one more plant and I'm tempted to add a little Shortia but they're TOO little so far so I'll wait and see how things do before taking that plunge. :)
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These little primula plants seedlings are under an overhang of rock.
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While we were in India we visited Hampi the site of an ancient Hindu kingdom wiped out 500 years ago and only really re-discovered in the 1970s.
I saw this horse trough and wondered how many alpines could be accommodated in a trough this size! ;D
It would take quite a lot of compost, eh?
cheers
fermi
yes, a lot of compost, and a lot of refrigeration to grow alpines in that climate, i bet ;)
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Very nice and promising, Lesley. I will be waiting to see pictures of the trough in bloom. Congratulations!
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just an example of one of my 18 years old throughs, planted with a mix of species from N. America, Himalaya and Turkey.
Everything is designed with travertin rock. Plants are doing well without any protection in winter.
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Nice trough, Ger. Which soil-mix do you use in your troughs?
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Impressive Ger !! :o :o
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Well, you have the time now Luc. :P I've been meaning to create some troughs for the last five years at least and haven't done it yet!
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Really lovely Ger, wish my troughs were looking as good as yours are.
Angie :)
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Well, you have the time now Luc. :P I've been meaning to create some troughs for the last five years at least and haven't done it yet!
Careful Mr Nicholson...you are living dangerously... ;D ;)
Some other projects have priority I'm afraid David... ::) there's a Mrs G. just as there is a Mrs N. ;D ;D ;D
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Yes Luc, I understand ;D You will have to copy our Wednesday day out regime.
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Nice trough, Ger. Which soil-mix do you use in your troughs?
Usually i fill it up with a mix of 80 % coarse sand, 10 % peat and 10 % loam, trying wit some additional lime if necessary, to get a neutral PH 6.
Plants are doing very well in this mixure. Every spring I fertilise the plants with a very low nitrogen content.
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just an example of one of my 18 years old throughs, planted with a mix of species from N. America, Himalaya and Turkey.
Everything is designed with travertin rock. Plants are doing well without any protection in winter.
Very beautiful trough, Ger, it could not be better, the hand of the master.
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A very beautiful trough, Ger. Nice balance of stone and plants. Can you tell us the plants in the trough?
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Here are a couple of pictures from my troughs.
Linaria-alpina
Oxalis-lacinata
Erigeron-Canary-Bird
Townsendia-formosa
Veronica-kotschyana
Veronica-prostata-Nana
Veronica-oltensis
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Franz, you have very good looking plants
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A super collection, Franz, all looking so happy in your trough - Linaria alpina is a favourite of mine but I have not yet seen it in the wild.
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Beautiful plants Franz ... many thanks for posting.
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Thanks, I am doing my best.
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Some lovely veronicas there Franz
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Some lovely veronicas there Franz
Yes, making me sorry I don't grow more of these pretty plants.
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They are certainly doing well just now Maggi, but I don't grow the ones Franz has shown. Shall have to watch for seed....
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Beautiful plants, Ger and Franz.
My troughs are just starting to bloom now.
1. Daphne arbuscula 'Muran Castle' growing in trough. The roots have gone into the tufa.
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Absolutely lovely - how big will it grow? :)
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I don't really know. It's been in the trough at least 6 years and it seems to have become part of the large hunk of tufa in the trough. It seems to be much slower-growing than the straight Daphne arbuscula.
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When I bought the troughs off Anthony last October I wasn't too sure what I was going to do with them. I eventually decided the small one should be a Hosta trough and here is the result. They are not new but taken from elsewhere in the garden.
They are -
Larger leaf on the left - 'Silver Shadow
Larger leaf on the right - 'Pretty Flamingo'
Running across the centre - 'Teaspoon'
Varigated on the left - 'Pandoras Box'
Varigated on the right - 'Hope'
The ivy is Hedera helix 'Minima'
There is also a Roscoe tibetica but has only just surfaced.
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Thay look good Graham. Maybe you'll need to move one or two after a year or so. ???
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A super idea Graham - they look really at home already in your newly acquired trough from Anthony. I love the way you have added the old log with moss and the trailing ivy spilling over the edge. You look as if you you have some wonderful containers in the background that look full of all sorts of other goodies :)
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Well Graham my troughs need more planting I think, the two that I got from Anthony are looking great.
Do you want to come here and put your magical touch to mine.
Robin I noticed all those lovely containers of goodies as well. So much to see.
ps Robin are you going to the discussion weekend in September.
Angie :)
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Angie, I would love to but think not...maybe next year. it was great to meet you & Derek at the Conference :)
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This trough is being taken over by a single plant, Oxytropis shokanbetsuensis. I dig the tiny seedlings and give them to visitors, but its progress has been inexorable. Two phloxes are hanging in there and another oxytropis, but barely. Putting it in a trough was a bad mistake.
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Angie, I would love to but think not...maybe next year. it was great to meet you & Derek at the Conference :)
Hi Robin
Ok will hold you to that. Derek was pleased to meet you, he hears me taking about you on the forum so like he said it's nice to put a face to the name.
This will be my first SRGC discussion weekend so looking forward to it. Hope that there will be more forum folks for me to meet.
Derek is staying home this time to look after the dog. I think he won't be bored, l bet he will golf everyday.
Angie :)
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This trough is being taken over by a single plant, Oxytropis shokanbetsuensis. I dig the tiny seedlings and give them to visitors, but its progress has been inexorable. Two phloxes are hanging in there and another oxytropis, but barely. Putting it in a trough was a bad mistake.
I don't think that was a mistake, Anne. I like to see "mono" troughs and in this case, it contains the wandering Oxytropis nicely too.... only a moment's pause to sympathise with its trough mates who are being squeezed, but overall I like the look!
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This trough is being taken over by a single plant, Oxytropis shokanbetsuensis. I dig the tiny seedlings and give them to visitors, but its progress has been inexorable. Two phloxes are hanging in there and another oxytropis, but barely. Putting it in a trough was a bad mistake.
I don't think that was a mistake, Anne. I like to see "mono" troughs and in this case, it contains the wandering Oxytropis nicely too.... only a moment's pause to sympathise with its trough mates who are being squeezed, but overall I like the look!
Anne I agree with Maggi, on all counts. I too don't think a trough has to be packed with lots of different things and in this case the single species works well.
Designing troughs is something I really enjoy even if they don't always work the first time. And perhaps not everyone likes what I do but then I do them for me.
Lesley I may have to make some changes to the hosta trough in a couple of years - Hooray I can start again with a new design. Thats the good thing about that one it wont do the plants any harm to be moved.
Angie and Robin, Thanks for your kind remarks. There are others. I have thirteen troughs, and some I have shown when they have been at their best in other threads.
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this tiny Phlox austromontana feels at home in a trough
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Maggi and Graham, I also like the looks of the trough but am not happy about the Phlox hendersonii and Phlox hoodii that are slowly being taken over. They have grown into the tufa and can't be removed. I did have a trough once that was planted with nothing but silver saxes and it was gorgeous. It lasted quite a few years although this is not a great garden for saxes, too hot and dry. There were a number of different cultivars with enough range in size and flower to keep it very interesting.
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And what is the name of the small oxytropis with grey leaves please?
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That phlox is a little honey Oleg. :)
Talking of phloxes, I have quite a nice seedling from Ron Ratko, of P. viscida. Can anyone tell me anything about it? It looks a little bit loose and lanky but that may be because it hasn't seen the great outdoors yet. My hope is that it will be suitable for a trough.
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And what is the name of the small oxytropis with grey leaves please?
[/quote]
I think that's Oxytropis lagopus.
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Thank you, Lesley
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1. the phlox I showed a week ago has progressed
2. Phlox helseyi Lemki Purple
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This trough is being taken over by a single plant, Oxytropis shokanbetsuensis.
Thats a lovely plant I havent seen before. Could I beg some seeds?
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Happy to oblige, Mark. I need an address. There is usually plenty of seed and obviously I never manage to get it all, witness what's happening to the trough !!!
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Blooming in a trough right now, Edraianthus pumilio. I've started putting this in the crevice garden and the plants are doing fine.
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Aquilegia scopulorum is in its best now
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Such an elegant flower, Oleg... and doing very well in your trough.
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I always thought how to get troughs higher , closer to our eyes, to make easier to observe tiny plants and without bending down. Also I was looking for solution how to get shaded north oriented crevices in my hot sunny garden. At first I have created supporting wall, anchored enough to hold heavy troughs. After that I have created 2 other side walls from flat stones. Finally I have created crevices. Maybe good to mention, that all troughs were broken in two pieces or without one front side. It helps me to reduce weight and costs as well.
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Brilliant Jiri! I hope we can see this new garden in 2013?
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What a lovely job.
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Wow that's brilliant, what a display.
Angie :)
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For me, getting a trough a bit higher and nearer to the eye, is usually a struggle to lift the darned thing up onto a concrete building block. Then I see a man with heavy machinery and I wonder is my life really worth while after all. ???
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Absolutely amazing Jiri! :o
For me the perfect combination of nature-look and man-touch
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Love the troughs, Jiri.
Lesley, a correction - the silver oxytropis you asked about is not O. lagopus but O. oreophila, sorry.
Blooming in a couple of troughs today, too hot and muggy to garden and the photo session was short for the same reason:
Two troughs
Hymenoxys acaulis
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wow that Hymenoxys is stunning. How hardy is it
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It has lived here for some years with temperatures to -25F and unreliable snow cover. I think it's tough as nails. It grows above tree line in the Rockies.
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Mark, take a look at International Rock Gardener 11 http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Nov261290804873IRG11_November2010.pdf to see where the Hymenoxys lives and some of it's neighbours . :)
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Love your crevice garden Jiri, its a stunner.
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Just after the Aberdeen show a very kind Aberdeenshire forumist gave me five glazed sinks.
Here is the result of the project.
Unfortunately one of the troughs broke into several pieces as I drilled the drainage holes and is tucked away under the others for now. I have a plan to bolt it back together but that is for another time.
Photos 1-4 are the empty troughs in place and include the reclaimed crazy paving slates and roofing slates used for the construction and decoration. They are completely different types of slate but they are all I had and the overall look isn’t displeasing.
The troughs run in a South East to North West direction or vice versa depending on which way you are looking.
Photos 5 and 6 are views of the planted troughs.
In the next post there are photos of the individual troughs.
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Photo seven is the first trough that you see as walk towards the group.
Photos 8 and 9 are two views of the second trough
Photos 10, 11 and 12 are views of the middle trough.
Photos 13 and 14 are of the fourth trough.
Photo 15 is an explanation of in the centre trough. The horizontal circular pieces of slate are of course coasters for the drinks whilst enjoying a well earned rest.
Nothing beats a good cup of tea :D(though the photo doesn’t do it justice).
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Darn it missed out photo 7. Here it is.
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Magnificent project, Graham. Already looking very good such a short time after planting.
One of the most important aspects of successful trough planting is shown clearly in this set of troughs... that of building UP the planting area ABOVE the level of the trough. 8)
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Thanks Maggi,
I had a lot of mature plants in both the garden and pots that I transferred to the troughs which helps with the immediate look.
There are some new arrivals too.
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Very nice Graham, love the mug stands, and the white dactylorhiza.
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Graham that's amazing 8) I am meeting the forumist today so I shall have to tell her to look at what you have done with the troughs.
I will go and empty mine, when can you come up and rearrange all my troughs ;D ;D anytime is ok with me.
Only joking, but seriously I need to do something about my sad troughs when I see yours.
Now you can sit back and enjoy.
Thanks for sharing.
Angie :)
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Taking them apart would be a trough decision Angie! ;D Thanks for a peak at your troughs Graham. 8)
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See that heat over there hasn't dulled your brain ;D Anthony your troughs are looking good, one had four orchids in it.
Angie :)
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Thanks Angie,
Sit back and enjoy :-\ :-\ I don't know about others but I find it really hard to sit for too long, and have to wander around and I always seem to find something that needs doing.
I need another project but Aberdeen is too far ;D
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Graham - I'm so glad your special trip to Aberdeen to collect the troughs was worthwhile, and I am amazed at what you have achieved with them. I shall be making an appointment to view when I am living nearer to you. Angie insisted I took time out to visit the forum and see your pics. The forum is a temporary 'no go' area for me with my impending move while I am clearing out a 40+ year time-warp of accumulated belongings. (I even found the dog's lead the other day, and there hasn't been a dog in the house for 31 years!)
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Hi Maureen, I'm pleased you like what I have done with the troughs.
You are very welcome to visit at any time and I will look forward to that.
Good luck with the move, I know it can't be easy.
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Thanks Angie,
Sit back and enjoy :-\ :-\ I don't know about others but I find it really hard to sit for too long, and have to wander around and I always seem to find something that needs doing.
Same here Graham I have seats all over the garden but find I never sit for long, just enough time to sip a coffee and off course a chocolate biscuit.
Angie :)
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Seats and benches around the garden are still very handy even if you haven't time to sit on them. You can put pots and trays on them.
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Everyone'll probably scream in horror but I wanted to put some troughs on our patio overlooking the pond. I hadn't time to make hypertufa ones so I got a job lot of 25 moulded concrete ones from a factory for a super, super price.
I positioned them, filled them with soil mix and planted them in one day, so bear with me if you think they're gross. I'm only experimenting and gradually over time I'll modify them to make them more suitable.
This one is sempervivums in hardcore.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6812.jpg)
I put stones on the flat here.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6813.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6814.jpg)
Sedum reflexum in translucent pea gravel !
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6793.jpg)
Delosperma in glass nuggets !
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6792.jpg)
Sempervivums in fault lines.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6807.jpg)
Sempervivums at the seaside.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6799.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6800.jpg)
They may look odd now but hopefully when the plants fill out, the ideas may work. (I'm expecting howls of horror.)
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I think you may have trouble quite soon with the planting, KSK, because you have only filled the troughs to just below the edge of the containers. The soil will undoubtedly sink over the next wee while, leaving the plantings looking rather "sunken". I think it's always a good idea to pile the planting mix quite high in a trough to avoid this problem :) :)
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It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks Kevin if you are pleased with them. Some of them I like, some I don't. Maybe it's just the picture but your soil looks to be very peaty and there may be insufficient drainage. If it is peaty I'd be inclined to whip out your plants, add lots of sand and grit to your soil, and put'em back in again. By the way I liked your Dolphin picture on your Web Site.
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I think you may have trouble quite soon with the planting, KSK, because you have only filled the troughs to just below the edge of the containers. The soil will undoubtedly sink over the next wee while, leaving the plantings looking rather "sunken". I think it's always a good idea to pile the planting mix quite high in a trough to avoid this problem :) :)
Thanks for the tip, Maggie. A good point.
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It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks Kevin if you are pleased with them. Some of them I like, some I don't. Maybe it's just the picture but your soil looks to be very peaty and there may be insufficient drainage. If it is peaty I'd be inclined to whip out your plants, add lots of sand and grit to your soil, and put'em back in again. By the way I liked your Dolphin picture on your Web Site.
Thanks, David. I'm not sure I like some of them myself but it's the first time I've done it and I like experimenting and doing things differently.
I used two soil types in different containers. One was brown, slightly alkaline with 50% grit in it. The other was black, acidic with about 25% sand in it. The black soil was fairly sandy to start with. All containers have about two inches of pea gravel in the base.
Glad you liked the dolphin pic.
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Changed two of the troughs today towards a more conventional rather than a wacky look. I've a load more to go.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6889-1.jpg)
I'm not happy with the stone that is jutting out, so I'll probably change that.
.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_6890.jpg)
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You're catching on quickly! ;) 8)
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Stone looks OK to me Kevin, I like 'em. Few more plants would be nice though if you have them.
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yeah much better looking now.
Some photos of your lake please. What size is it?
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Kevin the Forum is a super Self Help venue, instant reaction and helpful hints, you can't beat it.
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Yep, I've more plants David. I thought it would be overkill to put too many in initially. Plants came from Chris Pattison in Gloucestershire.
Thanks Maggi and Shelagh. It's a lovely, friendly, homely forum. Thanks.
Mark. You mean the little pond behind the trough? That one's 90 feet by a max of 30 feet wide.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/IMG_5095_1.jpg)
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Here are a couple of my granite troughs with the tufa rocks. The bigger one is 3 m long.
K.
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MAGNIFICENT troughs, Karel! 8) 8)
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Thanks Maggi. The next one with the crevice limestone rock ... ;)
K.
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The next one with the crevice limestone rock ... ;)
K.
Oh, I'm enjoying these ..... but I'm really glad I don't have to try and move them ;) ;D
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Nice pond Kevin. do you get little grebes?
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About 12 years ago I was the party to the creation of a unique trough display at Denver Botanic Gardens, which (alas!) may not persist in its present form: the garden is scheduled to be moved in less than a year. So this perhaps shall be its requiem. I was charged to design it: the concept was featuring different mountain ranges and ecosystems of Colorado. A very talented young man, Mark Fusco, built the troughs in 1999 (I think) or 2000. I did the rock gathering and seed collecting with my now ex-wife, Gwen Moore, who did the rock work and initial planting. The idea was "borrowed" from the wonderful trough terrace at RBG Edinburgh, although the focus on native plants was unique. The plants have thrived and have been a great education for us (we are amazed how many alpines will grow gangbusters in the troughs but be utterly impossible in the open rock garden)...Here you go:
1) Overview of the garden (which I wanted to call "Floristic Plaza" but which was saddled with the name "Wildflower Treasures" (gag me) The Sculpture is temporary (and now gone), by Alan Hauser, a famous American Indian sculptor whose work was featured by us this year.
2) Erigeron (probably just compositus form) and Phlox condensata, one of our greatest successes in these troughs. In fact, it needs to be contained spring and fall. Wonderful fragrance.
3) Telesonix jamesii in the appropriate Pikes Peak trough, blooming as the phlox fades.
4) One of a half dozen authentic stone troughs in the plaza: this one filled with Townsendia parryi, which self sows wildly in this corner
5) Second view of the same trough
I will be doing another batch of five pix in a separate posting...
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The last five pix (I know they say the postings can take ten, but I've had problems with too many)...
6) Our Mosquito mountain trough features a witch's broom Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) originating in the Mosquitos. The white flower is an Erigeron compositus (we have several distinct races in this garden that seem to stay pure).
7) The shrub in the trough is a witch's broom Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) undergrown by Lesquerella, with Erigeron compositus var. trifidus around the edge of the trough.
8) Closeup of Erigeron pinnatisectus and Phlox condensata in an alpine trough.
9) Orange wallflower (Erysimum asperum) in a San Juan mountain trough.
10) Physaria eburniflora and Echinocereus viridiflorus in another trough (this one in the Rock Alpine Garden, designed by Mike Kintgen, who manages this garden now)...
Well: you have a taste of these...better come see them while they are still there!
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About 12 years ago I was the party to the creation of a unique trough display at Denver Botanic Gardens, which (alas!) may not persist in its present form: the garden is scheduled to be moved in less than a year. So this perhaps shall be its requiem.
Hi Panayoti,
do you mean the whole of DBG or just this section is to be moved?
Those troughs do look great.
cheers
fermi
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Panayoti - any chance of moving those troughs to north-east Kent!! They look superb. I have heard so much about Denver and its surroundings but never even been to the States. It must be a real Mecca for rock gardeners. And I am impressed (something I have heard from elsewhere too) of the close and friendly links between Botanic Gardens and horticulturists in North America - there seem to be burgeoning legalistic reasons why this is less true in the UK. An error I think in the overall appreciation of the Plant Kingdom.
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I'll take the daisies please. You can keep the troughs
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Mark...you can have all the daisies you want! After visiting the Rocky Mountains back in the late 1970's, Tony Hall wrote that they should be renamed the "Daisy Chain": we have three or four dozen Erigeron alone in Colorado. And some of them are stunners (see attached). Got it as Erigeron algidus, but I have me doots.
As for YOU, Tim: when can we lure you? There is a grueling NARGS lecture series where they trot you around to eight or ten chapters (two days here, one day there, three days here), usually in the autumn or early spring. Not too much fun! But we can probably string two or three chapters together to get you out here: I've seen your pix they are stunning, so you must talk? I would suggest April so you could see the Utah desert in early bloom...a bit late to do this for 2012, but perhaps the next year?
Our botanic gardens are striving to be ivory towers as well: those that succeed are usually cut back fiscally in tight budgets. Denver Botanic Gardens has doubled membership (over 30,000 members and we are not cheap) and visitorship in the last two years of slow economy. We must be doing something right!
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As for YOU, Tim: when can we lure you? There is a grueling NARGS lecture series where they trot you around to eight or ten chapters (two days here, one day there, three days here), usually in the autumn or early spring. Not too much fun! But we can probably string two or three chapters together to get you out here: I've seen your pix they are stunning, so you must talk? I would suggest April so you could see the Utah desert in early bloom...a bit late to do this for 2012, but perhaps the next year?
Don't listen to him, Tim! (but LISTEN to him)! The NARGS lecture tours aren't REALLY gruelling and certainly ARE fun with a capital 'F'.
They are magnificent opportunities to meet like-minded folk and visit mind-blowing gardens, both public and private, in the company of some of the nicest and most knowledgable gardeners on the planet. Grab Panayoti's kind offer with three hands and strike while the iron is hot. I can recommend the experience and would repeat my 2010 tour at the drop of an invitation.
How could you resist Utah in April or Colorado in October. Don't give it a second thought my friend!
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I know it would be fantastic, but would need to go to a lecturer's 'finishing school'! Yes, I would certainly jump at the chance in 2013, and equally I would love to get people together in the UK at some time with the idea of trying to wake up gardeners inside and outside the AGS too! (What sort of malt do you drink Cliff?!).
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I'm good at carrying bags and things ;D
Cliff will drink anything!
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I know it would be fantastic, but would need to go to a lecturer's 'finishing school'! Yes, I would certainly jump at the chance in 2013, and equally I would love to get people together in the UK at some time with the idea of trying to wake up gardeners inside and outside the AGS too! (What sort of malt do you drink Cliff?!).
I would love to say Isle of Jura or an obscure distillery, Tim - but, to be honest, David is ABSOLUTELY right! :P ::) ;)
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Great to see these Panayoti, love the individual mountain themes..
Speaking of daisies, how much do you find the various spp interbreed? I'm drawn to numerous spp of Erigeron and Townsendia etc- some from my region, some from Alplains etc- but I wonder if one has multiple species in the same genus planted (I don't yet), whether any seed they produce is of any value or likely to be hybrid? Rather than producing a lot of mongrels, or have to be deadheading all the time (not likely) I could see sticking to one or two spp each from numerous genera...
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I've always had a passion for troughs and these are wonderful. I especially like the way they are placed in groups, on a base of gravel with some light planting in the gravel around them. Something like that here but I haven't got it quite right yet.
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Still looking for a definitive name for this little viola species. It is NOT albanica, though sold as such in NZ.
Wahlenbergia serpyllifolia is a little beauty but I seem to have lost the 'Major' form though.
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In a different trough is what I have as Primula bella but probably not. The colour taken in the shade is closer to true.
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Lesley,
The epithet crustata refers, of course, to the calcareous incrustatation on the leaves, but this is no more marked than in several other species of the section.
Rosette-leaves usually 10-25 x 2-3mm long, linear,scarcely, if at all, expanded at the tip, curved downwards
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new Troughs in winter
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Blooming way ahead of schedule in my favorite trough.
Douglasia nivalis v nivalis
Veronica caespitosa
Douglasia nivalis
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I took a tape rule to this stone trough at the RBGE. It always amazes me and the mind boggles at the logistics of getting it there in the first place. I think it came from a farm, but does anyone know the story? It measures 3.10m x 1.35m (about 9'10" x 4'5") There is another slightly smaller one at right angles to it which could do with a revamp as it is dominated by a now overgrown conifer.
[attachthumb=1]
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Today in flower.
Veronica caespitosa
Draba polytricha
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A super trough Maureen, so big. No two men could have put it there just by taking an end each. Must have been heavy machinery.
That's an amazing plant Franz of the Veronica, so many flowers on a plant I find difficult to keep let alone flower. The Draba's quite good too. ;D
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Magnificent, Franz! Such splendid cushions.
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A whole series of troughs taken at Harlow Carr RHS Gardens, North Yorkshire on the sunniest 1st April for many, many years. Two days later and they will all be covered with snow.
Harlow Carr
Alpine House
Interior
Raised bed
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More in a series of troughs taken at Harlow Carr RHS Gardens, North Yorkshire on the sunniest 1st April for many, many years. Two days later and they will all be covered with snow.
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More in a series of troughs taken at Harlow Carr RHS Gardens, North Yorkshire on the sunniest 1st April for many, many years. Two days later and they will all be covered with snow.
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What fantastic troughs Cliff! Alpine gardening is obviously really alive and well at Harlow Carr. I would love to have any one of those, but the great thing about troughs is have having a whole lot of them. I am encouraged to work on this for our garden and for the Kent Show next spring.
Franz - the veronica is truly wonderful; it looks to be planted in quite a narrow crevice and do you cover these in the winter or are they protected by snow? I am trying caespitosa on a sand bed, but it flowers nowhere near as well. I find these small veronicas delightful and also grow thymoides and cinerea which are rather easier.
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Hi Tim,
Alpine gardening has been rejuvenated at Harlow Carr in recent years after a very lean spell. The new alpine house and it's surroundings have proved an inspiration - I will add some more images taken in that particular area.
Ranunculus nivicola
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More from Harlow Carr ...
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More from Harlow Carr ...
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Final batch from Harlow Carr ...
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Very nice pictures, Cliff.
I only had a quick look at them, but I will take more time to look at them later today. Busy, busy!
This must have been a great day out for you.
Lina.
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I think the work done at Harlow Carr is terrific... and largely attributable to the efforts of Kaye Griffith, whoi has, of course, studied the innovations in the likes of Utrecht and has "run with it" .
See this thread from 2007, for instance:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=208.0
Pic by JIY of Kaye with Henk Westerhof in Utrecht
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Thanks for that link Maggi; I'd seen some of those ways of growing plants before but they are fascinating and thought provoking and I agree very much with Ian about the use of recycled materials - it opens up opportunities you would never think were there. Harlow Carr is a definite must for a visit one day. (I wonder if Kaye gives talks....?).
By coincidence I showed some pictures taken at Aberconwy at one of the local AGS meetings recently, and was reminded of it by Cliff's picture of the vertical tufa wall at Harlow Carr. I only have a slide of the tufa at Aberconwy - it is next to one of the greenhouses and I think made to capture water run off from the glass. I saw it before it had been planted and it rather resembled a Michelin Man! Would be interesting to see how the plants have done on it.
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Cliff, again thanks for the great pictures.
A few years ago I visited BG Utrecht and saw the big balls and admired them.
What a good way to use material again.
It is also very nice to see how this gives inspiration to others and see them doing it a little different.
Like Tim, I think troughs look best when you have more of them.
I am not a rock gardener, but seeing these pictures makes me think, where can I do something like this on a small scale in my garden.
Lina.
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Cliff, enjoyed your photos immensely. Thanks
Tim, I grow Veronica caespitosa in full sun. It is a plant of alpine cushion steppe at 3000m. No snow and cover in winter!
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Many thanks Lina and Franz.
A few more images from Harlow Carr that slipped through the net in the previous posts ...
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Cliff, nice to see these many nice troughs in Spring here. We were there in late September and I made a lot of pics then. Could not get enough of it.
Very interesting to see that after two winters on pic. 41 the Erodium is replaced by some more hardy plant.
My picture of Sept. 2010:
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Maggi, thanks so much for supplying the link to the Utrecht Botanical Garden. Really fascinating.
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Thanks for these wonderful pictures Cliff. The thing I remember about Harlow Carr (1981) was my camera being shoved out of my hand and broken on a concrete floor. Time I got over it. ::)
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At the Building Exhibition at the NEC last weeks there was an Architectural Salvage company that had some massive granite? horse? troughs for sale. I think the sign said they had originally 50 or so and just a few left. They were 6' or so long, ~20" or so high and front to back, but the only hole/recess was shell shaped the size of a bathroom basin in the middle. I can only assume the large space each side was for the rider/groom to stand or sit on, or maybe they doubled as mounting blocks. I forget the price; similarly massive I think.
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Cliff great pictures. One of my favourite places. Was there earlier this year and it was a very cold day. What a difference when the sun is shining.
I remember having some huge bun in the coffee shop. I think it was called a fat rascal or something like that ::)
Angie
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other troughs
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Excellent, Wolfgang ... many thanks for posting.
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Cliff I was at Harlow Carr two weeks before you. You had a lot more colour. What's the lovely Ranunuculus?
I see Plantago nivalis the woolly plantain in one of your photos. That's where I saw it and have asked for it in the plants wanted section. When I was there there were lots of 'flowers' but hardly any on your photos. Maybe Harlow has collected seeds.
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Hi Mark,
The lovely Ranunculus is the New Zealander; R. nivicola.
I would expect Harlow Carr to collect as many seeds as possible to prevent possible theft by visitors and to perpetuate such precious species.
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THanks and not guilty - honest
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All New Zealanders are lovely. ;D ;D
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Many thanks Lina and Franz.
A few more images from Harlow Carr that slipped through the net in the previous posts ...
Vau!
Tank's Clif!
Best Regards! Zvone
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Troughs released from winter protection. The white underground is snow.
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Many cushions and buns in troughs had severe burning due to ridiculous winter weather (80F in February for several days etc). I'm leaving them alone in the hoipes they may recover but some troughs will need some replanting. The trough below has been quite colorful, with Phlox 'crackerjack' now in bloom.
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It is often advised to put the trough on bricks or stones so that the drainage holes can do their job but of course that allows the bottom to freeze easily.
I wonder if putting the trough on the ground and drilling the holes at the base of the sides would be a good idea.Has this been tried and if so what was the result?
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Interesting idea. Some of my troughs do have holes drilled in their sides but as the holes are then filled with plants, I guess that wouldn't follow your idea.
There has rarely been much attrition in the troughs other than age but this winter's weather was extremely unusual. Buns and cushions in the garden also suffered burning.
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Can't say we've tried that John... but I would think there is no reason why it shouldn't work perfectly well.
Perhaps a case of us missing the obvious! When making a trough from a polystyrene box, more often than not they already have drainage holes at lower side edges... we fill them up because they are too obviously machine made! Perhaps next time we'll just adjust them to make them look more natural and see how that goes. Thanks for the idea. 8)
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When first making your trough, make an indentation from the holes on the bottom out to the edge. A flat sided dowel (or similar) placed in the bottom of your trough mold does the trick. If the trough is placed on a flat surface, they serve as little tunnels for excess water to flow through.
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All my biggest hypertufa troughs, (8 of them) have holes in the sides and none in their bottoms. The holes are at base level, immediately above the base, 2 on each side. They drain perfectly, the bottom third of each trough is filled with gravel which no doubt has a quantity of the compost mixed in now, as nothing was put over the gravel to separate the compost from the drainage.
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The troughs started flowering:
1. The second to flower is Androsace carnea "Brigantica"
and some willows:
2. Salix uva-ursii
3. Salix repens St Kilda
4. Salix retusa*pyrenaica
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Very nice, Oleg- love the Salixes :) Dwarf willows are high on my endless wish list ;D
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Some of my stone troughs have been in desperate need of a revamp for far too long and this weekend has been sunny (though cold) enough to allow me to get four or five of them replanted and top dressed. Some images taken this afternoon in between the live football matches on the television.
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Good work. Cliff. Great to be able to accomplish a makeover quite quickly with troughs, isn't it?
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Cliff, the troughs look marvelous - but what is the plant withred-orange and yellow flowers, please? I assume all your teams won as a quid pro quo for your virtuous endeavors?
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Looks like that fantastic Berberis I saw in another thread earlier today or yesterday. Would like it very much. ;D
My entire crop (3 berries) of ripe Vaccinium praestans disappeared overnight. Not a slug or anything so small, no nibbling, but total robbery. I suspect a possum or a rabbit.
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Hi Anne and Lesley,
The lovely little Berberis is 'Corallina Compacta', makes quite a show for such a diminutive plant. Only two inches high at present, but just a young plant.
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Great troughs Cliff.
Do I detect some plants from Gerd Stopp?
I have found that many of his plants prefer to be planted together in troughs - even the Tesco mushroom box variety! - rather than coddled in individual pots in the alpine house.
The pictures show plants destined for use in mini-garden conditions so are better not too big.
Now I am (finally) retired I may be able to keep up to them a little better! :P
J.
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The troughs are looking good, John ... retirement is a WONDERFUL thing ... ENJOY!!!
John and Clare enjoying retirement at the Alhambra.
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Thanks for the correct name Cliff. I know this was in NZ at one time, maybe back in the 60s when there was a great alpine nursery in Christchuch. It Still exists but the range of plants is smaller and quite different. I haven't seen this Berberis here for many a long year.
I still can't get whole enlarged pictures. Johnny is sitting in solitary state while Clare is separate when I scroll along. The picture itself doesn't seem too big, judging from the info at the bottom so I don't know what the problem is. I did what Maggi said, clicked outside the pic then rolled the centre button towards me but that made the whole page smaller, not just the picture, so the problem remained. This never happened before the change so maybe something in my settings has gone wrong. I have to scroll across with a lot of pics now.
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Yesterday I planted 8 species in what started its life over 50 years ago as a concrete calf drinking trough. They have holes in the bottom which were plugged when used as drinking troughs but could be opened for cleaning. I have 17 of these and all are in use as holders for seed pots. They take either 24 90mm pots or 15 100 mm pots, outside in all weathers but I throw a frost cloth over them in very heavy rain or, in winter if there's something tender among the seedlings.
This one had had all its occupants potted up except the plant on the top left which is Clematis gentianoides, the one only which germinated 4 or 5 years ago and has become so entrenched in the draining gravel and sand at the bottom that I can't remove it without taking all of that as well. So I decided to plant this one instead of using it for seed pots. Maybe in time I'll plant them all.
There are no rocks at present but I'll add a few crevice-type slivers soon. The soil is leafy/gritty and as well as the clematis which flowers freely, there are along the top, Salvia daghestanica and Helichrysum sibthorpii (virgineum) to give background in front of the top layer of troughs. The others are John Weagle's mini beschornaria (name unknown, 20cms in bloom) Campanula troegerae, Nepeta phylloclamys, Eriogonum douglasii, and two groups of 3 each, Saussaurea ?gnaphaloides. The mix may prove too rich for these but I have more and will try some in gravel/sand alone with just a little humus.
The mix is pretty much weed-free so as soon as it has settled, I'll cover the top with a thick layer of shale. One down, 16 to go! ;D
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The plant in photo H is stunning. What is it?
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Dirk, see replies 375 and 377. :)
Sorry, I misread your profile as Dirk, but I can't call you Dirt, can I? ???
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Does anyone know why the subject troughs is in bold when all the others aren't?
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???
Does anyone know why the subject troughs is in bold when all the others aren't?
Not entirely sure what you mean ???
The subject of every topic is bold. Troughs is one ofthe topics set to be "sticky" ( remain at the top of the listing) and so is one of those in a slightly different colour scheme..... :-\
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Dirk, see replies 375 and 377. :)
Sorry, I misread your profile as Dirk, but I can't call you Dirt, can I? ???
Thank you!
And of course you may; I am not a character from a Douglas Adams novel. Or DG will do.
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Planted another 12 troughs on Saturday.
Here's pics of 6 of them.
I'm only a beginner so go gently. :)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7567.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7558.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7560.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7562.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7565.jpg)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/IMG_7566.jpg)
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Firstly congrats to Mr Dower for finally joining the ranks of the retired. Money's not as good John but the hours are great!
Secondly some first class trough pictures over the last couple of weeks. I have this image in my mind of a certain Mr Buttercup roaming the hills above Whitworth scavenging drinking troughs from every available field and being chased by a posse of Rochdalian cowboys :D
Good start Kevin. I do think some top dressing helps to set off a trough though and the last one could do with a bit more stone. I still haven't started mine.
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author=ranunculus link=topic=3537.msg245790#msg245790 date=1336322934]
Some of my stone troughs have been in desperate need of a revamp for far too long and this weekend has been sunny (though cold) enough to allow me to get four or five of them replanted and top dressed. Some images taken this afternoon in between the live football matches on the television.
Cliff, nice trough, I like it.
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kindredspiritkevin - the troughs look great and will be a great pleasure to you. Top dressing, if you can get it, will help to reduce drying out, and protect the compost from being washed away in your Irish rain (it wasn't 'soft' rain when I was in Killarney!).
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Trough with Saxifragas and Dianthus microlepis
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The troughs are looking good, John ... retirement is a WONDERFUL thing ... ENJOY!!!
John and Clare enjoying retirement at the Alhambra.
JohnnyD: what is the brand name for the black plastic containers in your pictures? Great troughs
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The troughs are looking good, John ... retirement is a WONDERFUL thing ... ENJOY!!!
John and Clare enjoying retirement at the Alhambra.
JohnnyD: I am referring to the black container in pic 965. Thanks.
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Something more than willows is flowering in troughs
1. Phlox austromontana
2.Draba bryoides
3. Viola koreana
4. Draba loiseleurii
5.Phlox coviellii
6.Phlox kelseyi Lemki Purple
7.Phlox pulvinata
8.Dianthus microlepis
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Here's one or two of my troughs. The last one, if you are looking at this post, John, is my tufa garden in the making. Still have lots to do to make it look good for a show, but it has started to look a bit more established this year.
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They're looking really good Chris. I like the last because it gives an idea of work in progress.
Do you have a name for the little iris in the first picture? It must be a really tiny one to be so nicely in proportion.
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A trough that I stripped and replanted three days ago. It holds Lewisia cotyledons, a large Saxifrage 'Southside seedling', Delospermas, etc.
I have tried a new technique for the lewisias and the succulents of bare-rooting the plants, spreading the roots out in gritty, sandy soil and then covering the crown and the first few inches of root with a plastic membrane (a technical name for plastic milk bottles cut into four inch square sheets!!!). These are then covered with a layer of grit and large pebbles and then top dressed between the pebbles with a finer grit. The objective is to keep excess moisture away from the crowns but allow full development of the roots into areas of the compost not covered by the plastic squares. Time will tell if the extra effort has been worthwhile. Lewisias normally struggle for survival outside in our damp, cool and murky climate.
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Hi Lesley, I'm pretty sure its Iris reichenbachii or at least that's what I bought it as. It now has loads of flowers on it.
Cliff, for my tufa sink I root cuttings in sand and then insert them into the tufa. this has worked with some things and not others. It certainly did with sax. and semps, but its more of a struggle with primulas. I've taken to putting all of the plants I do in sinks this way, its easier to plant them up with tiny things and they grow a lot better and faster too. I don't do anything to protect them though, you are so meticulous, guess that's how one wins those prizes you win though..... and I rarely do.
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Thanks Chris,
I haven't won any prizes for years ... been concentrating on my camera and my presentations too much I guess! ;D
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Well your mini gardens look great, you should show them....
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The troughs took a real hit this non-winter with no snow cover and ridiculously high temperatures. Many buns got burned in the center and other plants started budding in Feb. when it was 80F. Then the temperatures plummeted and plants died or rotted. Picture is of "the line-up", with daphnes no longer in bloom. Everything was very early.
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Thanks Chris, it looks very tiny to be reichenbachii but maybe it varies. Whatever, it's a little gem. Now I come to think of it, there's a MBD Iris called 'Little Gem' (but this isn't it. ;D)
Cliff your newly renovated trough is incredible for just a few days. It looks established for at least a year. The Sax is a wonderful plant and to plant it out in full bloom must have taken some courage.
Ann, though I'm sorry about your losses and damage done through wrong weather at the wrong time, in a way your post cheers me as I'd had the feeling that absolutely everything in your garden was always lovely and grown to perfection. I know most IS, but that there can be slight blips is a bit reassuring for me who has had more than enough blips lately. :) The Edraianthus is really beautiful.
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Lesley, years ago a good gardening friend said "Don't mourn the dead plants, they leave empty spaces to try new plants". I did notice that this was not in practice when he lost something really special, but it sounded good.
My garden is far from perfect at any time but there's always something to cheer me.
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Hi,
Cliff I will wait with interest to see if your method with Lewisias works. I too struggle with Lewisias outside but keep trying. Some seem to do ok but others are replaced. I have a 'need' to keep trying.
Some photos of a couple of my trough set ups from today.
The first three photos are of a combination of five troughs from different angles. All the plants in these troughs are of North American origins; species and hybrids.
Some of the lewisias are new this year others are previous years plantings. There are also penstemons, iris, draba, primula and phlox.
The fourth and fifth photos are of the brick trough I created last year, (photo 4). Photo 5 is from today. A couple of the lewisias are new due to the death of last years plantings and the others aren't doing too well; perhaps they need another year. The dianthus and sempervivums have taken well, but the sedums have been damaged by mice over the winter and haven't been able to establish.
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Lovely collection of troughs. Lewisias are wonderful suppliers of color. I'm really interested in knowing what species of penstemons and phlox you are growing in your troughs. (or elsewhere in your garden)
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Lovely collection of troughs. Lewisias are wonderful suppliers of color. I'm really interested in knowing what species of penstemons and phlox you are growing in your troughs. (or elsewhere in your garden)
I will have to go out and collect the names of the penstemons - there are many. I may be gone some time ;D but will get back to you.
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I have to echo Ann's words. "Lovely collection of troughs." I always feel they look at their best in groups rather than singly and isolated. A group seem to become a small mountain range. The brick set-up is really interesting. Another little mountain. :)
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To echo Graham's super troughs, here is an image of some of mine taken yesterday.
I will keep you all informed about any successes or failures with the lewisias.
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Oh yes, definitely groups are best. In my last garden I had a small "hummock" of ground and places 22 troughs over and around it. Before they were planted it looked very similar to Edinburgh Castle. ;D
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I will have to go out and collect the names of the penstemons - there are many. I may be gone some time ;D but will get back to you.
Hi Anne,
Here is the list; in troughs unless otherwise stated
Penstemons -
rupicola - creeps and the old parts die off but never does well and only a few flowers occassionally.
rupicola albus - new
campanulatus pulchellus
laetus roezlii
procerus var. formosus - not doing well so I have just moved it.
procerus var. brachyanthus (in the rock garden)
davidsonii microphyllus
serratus (in the rock garden)
hirsutus pygmaeus - struggling
kunthii (trough and rock garden)
cyaneus
digitalis 'Huskers Red'
whippleanus (in the rock garden)
Not all do well and I have found that I need to dig up procerus var. brachyanthus and serratus every two years to remove the old plants and rejuvunate them with the rooted layers. This produces good flowering the next year then I start again.
Phlox:
austromontana - not flowered yet
Phlox douglasii 'Ochsenblut' - bought last week
Phlox subulata 'McDaniels Cushion'
Graham
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Hi Graham
Thanks for the list. Penstemon procerus v formosus is a wonderful plant that will remain "trough-sized". The flowers are such a lovely blue and it seems to be one of the penstemons that does not need to be in sun all day. Mine gets half day sun and is quite happy. It also propagates very easily because you can layer it. Try and find a way to make it happy - it's a really rewarding plant. Penstemon spatulatus is another trough-sized penstemon and quite beautiful. I sympathize with the struggles with P. rupicola. It's never liked my garden no matter where I tried it. Pity, because it's such a lovely splash of color. You are growing a nice selection.
Unless your troughs are huge, you might want to look for some of the western phlox. Almost any subulata type wants to take over the world. The easiest of the westerners seem to be Phlox pulvinata and P. hendersonii. Also P. diffusa if you can supply the moisture. I think Alan Bradshaw of Alplains Seeds usually has a good representation of the western phlox. You get very few seeds and they are expensive but every one germinated for me so it was worth it. He also has a lot of penstemon seeds, one of the rarest being P. debilis, quite beautiful and trough-sized.
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Hi Anne,
Thanks for the advice. I will look out for spatulatus and the phloxes pulvinata and hendersonii.
I should have said that McDaniels cushion is in the rock garden and needs controlling from time to time.
A nice selection of troughs Cliff. Quite a variety of styles, where all of mine are brown glazed troughs. I do hope your Lewisia experiment works.
I have another couple of combination troughs. The first (photos 1,2,&3), I showed last year just after I constructed it. There is no theme to the planting.
The second (photos 4,5 &6) I have not shown before. It is on the north side of the house on a curved wall. The gaps between the three troughs have a cylinder of butyl (pond), liner between them, planted up, and the fronts are disguised with pieces of logs. The troughs are decorated with moss covered tree branches, old tree stumps and elm burrs. It receives sun in May, June and July from about 4.00pm.
Plant list
Dactylhorizas, Epipactis, ferns, Primulas, Fritillaria, Dodecathons, dwarf Rhododendrons, hosta, Hepaticas, Saxifraga, Narcissus, Erythronium, Corydalis, and probably somethings I can't think of.
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What a creative way to use troughs! I like all of them. Please keep posting pictures as the plants bloom.
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Aquilegia scopulorum in a trough
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Oleg, that's a lovely aquilegia....
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Graham, that's a very interesting way to exhibit using bricks, I really like that. If I can find a suitable spot, I'm going to give it a go. So easy too. Did you stick them together with cement or just leave them loose?
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Graham - I am really struck by your shade troughs. They contain all the plants that are so difficult to grow down here in the south. We have never had many troughs but now have the opportunity to buy a collection of them (not stone I hasten to add!) and I am greatly encouraged that this would allow a whole lot of new plants to succeed in shady corners of the garden. How many do I need? I was aiming for 10 or 15 but now Lesley has had 22 and Cliff - I'm not sure how many are there but quite a few? (How many people stop outside the gate and peer over at all those treasures?). The lady whose troughs I am considering had around 60(!) and some very nice plants in many of them. But 60 might break the bank! (as well as the back).
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At least one hundred troughs around here, Tim. From the carved, painted fish boxes, through cement to sandstone and granite.... from little chaps less than a foot square to bigger ones, six feet by three ... you really cannot have too many!
Even just using the polystyrene ones to grow on seedlings or cuttings is a great way to be able to move them arround to get sun, hide from sun, whatever is required. thene there is the joy of all the little gardens, habitats and climates that one can create permantently ( or near enough so) in troughs.... best things since sliced bread!
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How many do I need? I was aiming for 10 or 15 but now Lesley has had 22 and Cliff - I'm not sure how many are there but quite a few? (How many people stop outside the gate and peer over at all those treasures?).
Hi Tim,
Actually amazingly few ... we are at the end of a cul-de-sac walkway and only our immediate neighbours and their very occasional visitors go past and peer. We get prolonged glances from leaflet distributors, parcel delivery men and carol singers, but they all have weightier priorities. LOL.
I agree with Maggi ... get as many as you can afford Tim ... you don't need to fill them all at once and they come in for all manner of purposes. I have 18 of all sizes (mainly genuine stone) in a very tiny garden.
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Tim - I'd always find a spot for another trough, they are indespensible and like Maggi says, they can be moved easily to accommodate the plants requirements. Clearly you have different conditions in the south than us folks up north, so most of mine hardly ever get watered. The ones in the fish boxes seem to do extremely well, I think its the insulation provided by the box, to keep the roots cool in summer and warmer in winter, that makes them so good for alpines. Good luck and keep us posted on what you get and what you do with them!
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Graham, that's a very interesting way to exhibit using bricks, I really like that. If I can find a suitable spot, I'm going to give it a go. So easy too. Did you stick them together with cement or just leave them loose?
Hi Chris,
You can find the method I used in this thread http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4656.msg201854#msg201854 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4656.msg201854#msg201854) No cement! It took me a while to find the thread. I suppose I should have put it here in Troughs rather then Crevice Gardening.
Graham
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Graham - I am really struck by your shade troughs. They contain all the plants that are so difficult to grow down here in the south. We have never had many troughs but now have the opportunity to buy a collection of them (not stone I hasten to add!) and I am greatly encouraged that this would allow a whole lot of new plants to succeed in shady corners of the garden. How many do I need? I was aiming for 10 or 15 but now Lesley has had 22 and Cliff - I'm not sure how many are there but quite a few? (How many people stop outside the gate and peer over at all those treasures?). The lady whose troughs I am considering had around 60(!) and some very nice plants in many of them. But 60 might break the bank! (as well as the back).
Hi Tim,
I'm pleased you have found a little inspiration from my troughs.
I have 21 - at the moment ;D. I don't think I have room for more but who knows if one comes available.
Buy them all and find somewhere to store them until you can use them.
Maggi is right - you can never have too many.
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The short answer to how many troughs you need, is - You need more. I had about 100 at one stage but some fewer now but more are planned. The most precious are carved out of blocks of solid limestone of various sizes. It is second grade stone (not suitable for building material) and more porous than the first stuff so that I discovered early on if I filled them to the brim with water from a hose, it had all seeped away by next morning, thus doing away with the need to have holes in the bottoms. They drain perfectly.
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Lesley you are lucky to live in a mild climate.
That may be fine in Z9 but even in Z8 such a stone would freeze into pieces during the first winter.
I was told that throughs made from concrete with light aggregates like expanted clay are damaged even in Z7.
Please share your experiences.
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It is probably thoughtless of me but I'm so used to my climate and have never gardened in a harsher one, that I assume hardiness of just about everything I plant. I do protect a few things like the chocolate cosmos seedlings but not the established plants. They're more likely to die of summer drought if I don't water enough. I've never had a pot or trough crack from frost. But Weldenia roots can force their way through strong hypertufa and split a trough down each corner. Salvia microphylla has done the same. My best hypertufa troughs are from Hokonui Alpines, a nursery south of here and I've mentioned them before. The ones I made myself are much less solid having a higher humus content and lower cement content but though those have crumbled around the tops, the only two to have broken were driven into by a visitor when he misguided his car.
Dunedin airport get as low as -8C sometimes and that is a couple of 100 metres below us in altitude. We rarely get more than -3 or -4C because being high on a hill, we get wind drift most evenings. Dunedin city 20 kms away gets a little more than we do, especially in the shaded areas whereas we are exposed to all the winds that blow.
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Quite a few troughs in this week's Bulb Log....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2012Jun061338982706BULB_LOG_2312.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2012Jun061338982706BULB_LOG_2312.pdf)
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Maggi and Ian - wonderful and inspirational troughs. I love the underlying desire to give plants just what they want and to watch the garden develop. So refreshing. Here are a couple of examples from Robin and Sue White and Peter Erskine after our group was extremely lucky to visit their gardens a week or two ago. Really like seeing a virtuoso performance with plants in both cases ... if only many more could see plants like this!
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Is this a dwarf cv of armeria maritima?I have a few but none is so compact.Nice!!!Only my armeria juniperifolia is that size.
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Maggi and Ian - wonderful and inspirational troughs. I love the underlying desire to give plants just what they want and to watch the garden develop. So refreshing. Here are a couple of examples from Robin and Sue White and Peter Erskine after our group was extremely lucky to visit their gardens a week or two ago. Really like seeing a virtuoso performance with plants in both cases ... if only many more could see plants like this!
Thank you Tim - I do think of gardening as a process not a product and patience to wait for and enjoy watching the plantings develop is much more satisfying than the instant gratification of TV type makeovers.
Is this a dwarf cv of armeria maritima?I have a few but none is so compact.Nice!!!Only my armeria juniperifolia is that size.
We got the original plant tens of years ago as a dwarf form of A. maritima but I have never researched to confirm that name it could well be A. juniperifolia as you suggest. It is a very useful wee plant.
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I started collecting armerias a few years back with a view to having a NC eventually. Rafa kindly sent me a link to a botanical paper describing those native to the Iberian peninsula, but it was all in Spanish of course. But it did have lots of b&w illustrations. What I found was that there are many many dwarf armerias similar to the one growing in Ian's garden and they might be any number of species really, I couldn't get my head around them and eventually gave up as all the ones I had were probably mislabelled.... but they are fascinating if very similar. They seem to be self fertile too, as I tried growing many from seed with great success, and they always came true.
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Pictures taken during the pre-Nottingham tour. The troughs were really wonderful.
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I planted this trough with sempervivums a couple of years ago and it's now beginning to fill out a bit. I made a similar trough many years ago but it was systematically ransacked by birds :( , so this time I made a net that I keep over the trough most of the time.
(Pics taken today)
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Know just what you mean Dave. I may do something similar with mine if it happens again. I hope to have it growing well enough to show at our local show later this summer but not if the birds get at it...
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Some things in my troughs
1. Heuchera parishii
2.Dianthus ferrugineus
3.Dianthus arpodianus
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Your troughs are looking good, Oleg. Is the lovely primula in this post also growing in one ?
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8426.msg249289#msg249289 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8426.msg249289#msg249289)
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Physoplexis comosa
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WOW! Congratulations on a lovely plant.
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Nice Physoplexis Wolfgang!
Here is one of my smaller troughs with this plant. You can see there self seedlings of P. comosa.
K.
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Some views from today.
Except the last one which is from a couple of weeks ago.
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Graham your troughs are really nice. I like the last one. Will the Physoplexis survive outside. I have this plant but have it in the greenhouse.
Angie :)
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Thanks Angie,
The Physoplexis has been in place for two years and has survived the harsh winter of 2010/11 and the milder winter of this past year.
I cover the trough with polycarbonate in the winter to keep off the winter wet but ensure that its qute high to allow for good air circulation.
I am pleased that its flowering this year but wouldn't call it a good specimen.
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Karel, That sink is beautiful. Is the stone in it dolomite or something alkaline?
Graham, your sinks look just great!
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Thanks Angie,
The Physoplexis has been in place for two years and has survived the harsh winter of 2010/11 and the milder winter of this past year.
I cover the trough with polycarbonate in the winter to keep off the winter wet but ensure that its qute high to allow for good air circulation.
I am pleased that its flowering this year but wouldn't call it a good specimen.
Maybe I will get another Physoplexis and try it outside, might not survive this summer let alone winter ::)
Angie :)
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Angie, we have Physoplexis outside in a trough here in Aberdeen.
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Just seen one growing in the new wall at the Dales' too. It survived the winter nicely outside.
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Angie, we have Physoplexis outside in a trough here in Aberdeen.
Just doesn't look that tuff. Will give it a go but will keep the one in the greenhouse just to be safe ;D
Angie :)
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What about trying it in a sink then? Maybe the insulation provided by the parameter helps?
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Hmmm, Graham, I spot a white Dactylorhiza in one of your troughs. ;D ;D ;D
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At a garden centre last week I spotted artificial white porcelain sinks. They looked like the real thing until I lifted them and found they were glass fibre/resin construction, single wall base, hollow twin wall sides. Very light in weight, but strong. Finish a flat (slight satin) white. Range of sizes, not expensive from memory.
They were in amongst the plants here but probably intend to be plumbed in and used.
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Here we tend to stick to homemade and recycled troughs- for the sake of least expense, but sometimes one cannot help but dream about the other end of the market:
http://www.dukes-auctions.com/Catalogues/pf270912/lot0987-0.jpg (http://www.dukes-auctions.com/Catalogues/pf270912/lot0987-0.jpg)
AN IMPORTANT ROMAN MARBLE SARCOPHAGUS the front panel centred by a portico with a triangular pediment carved with ribbons emanating from a wreath with a partially open double door below carved with lions masks holding wings and trophies with bold leafy swags suspended from ribbon tied bows and pilasters at either end the sides carved and incised with concentric circles and pierced at one end for drainage the back simply hewn probably Rome 2nd century AD 85 wide x 29 deep x 27 high.
Provenance: The collection of Sir John Charles Robinson CB FSA surveyors of pictures to HM Queen Victoria and founder and First Superintendent of the Art Collection in South Kensington Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum).
Sold by Hy. Duke & Son of Dorchester as part of the Newton Manor collection Swanage Dorset on September 1st-4th 1913 Lot 503 (illustrated in the catalogue) and acquired at that sale by the family of the vendor.
Various dates have been proposed for this magnificent sarcophagus. In a communication from the British Museum in 1956 a second century date was proposed but more recently an early third century date has been suggested. The quality of the marble and the sculpted decoration probably indicate an Italian origin and the undecorated back suggests that the sarcophagus may have come from an independent mausoleum where the tomb was placed against a wall.
Sir John Charles Robinson born in Nottingham in December 1824. He was one of the young men that took up with great zeal the movement inaugurated by Prince Albert after the first Great Exhibitions for establishing a general system of art education in England. When the South Kensington Museum was founded in 1852 he was appointed the first Superintendent of the Art Collections a post which he held for 17 years. His obituary records that he spent many seasons in travelling for the museum in Italy and Spain. With more funds at his disposal he was able to acquire at what we should now consider a paltry price a vast number of works in marble bronze and other materials which quickly gave South Kensington a unique position among the museums of Europe. It seems likely that this sarcophagus was acquired on one of these tours.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204955/The-trough-Dorset-garden-turned-Roman-sarcophagus-worth-50-000.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204955/The-trough-Dorset-garden-turned-Roman-sarcophagus-worth-50-000.html)
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Just going into the back garden for a look ;D
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Sue trying to bring this beauty back from Lake Como ...
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With one hand? Bravo, Sue!
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But what a waste - there's nothing planted in it!
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There would have been if Sue had been a bit stronger!!!
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May be it is already planted with plenty of spring bulbs!
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To think what I could grow in there :D and its just at the perfect height, no sore back planting this one up.
Angie :)
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At the Harrogate show a man was selling old troughs and making new ones
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May be it is already planted with plenty of spring bulbs!
I like that idea!
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Sue trying to bring this beauty back from Lake Como ...
You rotten beast! Couldn't you at least have taken the other end? ;D
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Give me a break, Lesley ... I already had the larger of the two troughs on my shoulders and a camera in my hands.
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The troughs at the front of my house are crying for a makeover. They havent been replanted since I made them in 2005 - gasp :o
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do you have a picture of that trough Mark ?
Gr.
Lily- Anne
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My troughs? Yeah I'll look for them later
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Cliff could you not have put the smaller trough inside the larger? And I would suggest Sue would have been happy to carry the camera. ;D
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Cliff could you not have put the smaller trough inside the larger? And I would suggest Sue would have been happy to carry the camera. ;D
Carry my camera, Lesley? Are you COMPLETELY insane? Do you know how precious that is? I did try carrying the two troughs like churns on a yoke, but then (as always, boom, boom) ... the yoke was on me!!!!!
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Spotted this one outside the public toilets in Dumfries. It was quite near the bus stop but the bus driver refused to take it :(
The inscription isn't easy to read but I think it says 'A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast'
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Spotted this one outside the public toilets in Dumfries. It was quite near the bus stop but the bus driver refused to take it :(
The inscription isn't easy to read but I think it says 'A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast'
Roma these bus drivers aren't very helpful nowadays ;D, would have been nice in front of your living room window
Angie :)
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Spotted this one outside the public toilets in Dumfries. It was quite near the bus stop but the bus driver refused to take it :(
Silly Billy! You should have tied it onto the back bumper of the bus! ;D
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Carry my camera, Lesley? Are you COMPLETELY insane? Do you know how precious that is? I did try carrying the two troughs like churns on a yoke, but then (as always, boom, boom) ... the yoke was on me!!!!!
You win! ;D
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Silly Billy! You should have tied it onto the back bumper of the bus! ;D
Perhaps we should all carry a set of wheels to have available for such opportunities. The trough could easily have been slid onto the wheelbase and towed along. No problem. ;D
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My mind is being exercised somewhat about how to transport my troughs to our new home. I don't intend to take them all - there are close to 100 - but certainly those from Hokonui Alpines, currently planted as crevice gardens, all the limestone ones and the best of our own hypertufa, maybe 20. Then there are 17 concrete calf drinking-troughs which usually have gravel on the bottom and contain seed pots, and 4 double concrete washtubs. I think all will have to be emptied, even to dislodge them let alone load them onto something - a flat deck truck I suppose - and transport them. Total perhaps 50! and all extremely heavy even empty.
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Lesley, the troughs that last the longest here are the concrete ones. The hypertufa troughs last maybe ten years before they start to crumble. The pictures are first of a disintegrating hypertufa trough with fabulous plants. I moved it and cracked a corner. This was repaired with a stone that looks like a wolf's head but now the side is starting to crumble. The last two pictures are of a cement trough which has lasted quite well and was made by Michael Peden in upstate New York.
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Trough from 1856 in French village, it proves that my troughs will survive me ::) Few examples from garden combining 3 smaller troughs.
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Brilliant Jiri!! Yes, the troughs will survive all of us. I must congratulate you on the rock work displayed in your pictures. As a field geologist of many years I often find that many crevice gardens do not work for me. But your rock work obeys all the rules of bed thickness with good imitation of jointing to give a pleasing effect. Crevice garden constructors should take inspiration from your work - picture 2 is particularly instructive. I also like the way you have intersected the troughs. The current harshness of the landscape will be nicely softened once the plants get well established. Hope you will share some pictures in a year or so time when the planting has established.
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Thank you Dave :D, this picture shows how troughs are connected with other crevices. Garden will be displayed next year during Garden tour after 2nd Czech International Conference, what about to come and check our crevices?
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Cliff Booker passed on this link to a TV piece from Wisconsin, of Ed Glover a NARGS and SRGC member, demonstrating the SRGC Fish box trough method to gardening show host Shelly Ryan.
There is a video here:
http://wpt.org/gardener/transcript.cfm?id=553 (http://wpt.org/gardener/transcript.cfm?id=553)
Ed has the SRGC method to a "T" though He does calls us the SRGS - which is a common hiccup!
The only difference with his demo of the troughs and ours is that he advised brushing the contrast paint spots, rather than stippling them, which we have found gives the best looking "stone" result.
Such fun that the fishbox trough is making itself so well known across the pond. - I think the Minnesotans and Albertans were among the first there to promote it in the early 2000s. :)
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Got permission off a farmer to quarry some weathered limestone in some of his fields.
Put some of the rock into a trough the other day and this is the result.
Plants are;
5 Saxifrages,
Potentilla Nitida Rubra,
Erysimum Amoenium,
Helichrysum Pagophilum,
Asyneuma Pulvinatum,
Antennaria Dioica Minima,
Anchusa Cespitosa,
& Petunia Patagonica.
Apologies. You'll have to scroll across the picture.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/Weatheredlimestonetrough_zps41e60744.jpg)
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Very nice, Kevin- a trough "built-up" like that is the creme de la creme!
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Thanks, Maggie. I'm not a flower person: I'm more into form, structure and shape. Although, I love Saxifrages when they burst forth in the Spring. :)
It's hard to find weathered rock, though.
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The only difference with his demo of the troughs and ours is that he advised brushing the contrast paint spots, rather than stippling them, which we have found gives the best looking "stone" result.
Such fun that the fishbox trough is making itself so well known across the pond. - I think the Minnesotans and Albertans were among the first there to promote it in the early 2000s. :)
Us Minnesotans do prefer the stippling with a brush (some use a rag or sponge). I do prefer the original SRGC method overall, but some in the Minnesota NARGS Chapter have come up with some other ideas, too. See here:
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=970.0 (http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=970.0)
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I read somewhere about lightweight troughs (maybe made out of tufa) but I havent found a supplier - any ideas?
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Troughs actually made from tufa are not something I think I have ever seen. Hard enough nowadys to find even little pieces of tufa to us e in a trough.
Perhaps you are thinking of "hypertufa" troughs? These are made with a mixture of cement and peat to give a lighter finish and a more easily moveable trough.
For the lightest weight troughs it is hard to better those made from polystyrene, which can be effectively disguised to hide their origins and yet make an excellent long term home for everything from alpines to herbs.
I believe that lightweight resin troughs are available from some garden centres but they ted to look a bit "plasticky"!
Elmdene Patio Art used to be a good source of lightweight troughs made from a polymer resin, mixed with some crushed stone for a good finish, but I don't think these are still on the market.
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I wish Elmdene was still in business. I have four of their troughs and they're absolutely wonderful. One of them is huge and you could get "feet" to match. This large one is extra deep and everything has done well in it. Will post picture as soon as I locate it.
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Drabas are ideal plants for troughs.
Draba polytricha
Draba aizoides
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Very nice Franz. Can they cope with winter and summer wet please?
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Superb, Franz.
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Picture is of my favorite trough, made by Elmdene. Everything has done well in this trough, which I think is due to the depth (18"). Wish there was someone who could buy the formula for making these troughs and start manufacturing them again.
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David,
Draba polytricha needs a moisture protection. Thanks
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Franz, many thanks.
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Put my Lewisias into their own separate trough on Sunday. The rock is perforated volcanic rock. The only difficulty I have is making up acidic soil.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/001_zps31bae048.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/001_zps31bae048.jpg.html)
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The lewisia trough looks marvelous. I like the dark contrasting with the shiny green of the plants. Hope you'll photograph it in bloom.
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I know I've shown this before but when Calceolaria 'Walter Shrimpton' is in flower I find it difficult to resist.
It goes to show that the saying 'if at first you don't succeed' is worth following as I had several attempts to get this going before I found a suitable place for it.
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Wonderful, Graham.
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I know I've shown this before but when Calceolaria 'Walter Shrimpton' is in flower I find it difficult to resist.
It goes to show that the saying 'if at first you don't succeed' is worth following as I had several attempts to get this going before I found a suitable place for it.
More than worth the showing!
How do you keep the slugs and greenfly off it?
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More than worth the showing!
How do you keep the slugs and greenfly off it?
Thanks Maggie and Cliff.
I've never had a bother with either Maggie, but will now keep a careful eye on it just in case. The only thing I do is to cover the trough in the winter to keep it on the dry side.
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Graham, congratulations to this superb Calceolaria.
I also love these little beauties, but our local climate is
excellent for growing good wine but not too suitable
for these coolness and moisture loving plants.
Attached are pictures from my garden, some of
the troughs need replanting. Erigeron aureus "Canary Bird"
is my favourite yellow one in spite of the slow propagation rate.
The yellow plant in the foreground of picture 3 is E.aureus from
wild seed.
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Wonderful buns in your troughs.
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Astragalus, thank you for your kind comment.
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Ok after seeing all these lovely troughs I am going to empty all mine.
Graham thats a lovely display of Calceolaria, I think I need you up here for a few days ;D
Angie :)
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Another one of Grahams wonderful troughs and a couple of his garden.
Thanks for a nice day today Graham.
Angie :)
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Oh and look what else I found just outside Grahams wonderful garden. I want to take these home ;D
Female Panda was a bit camera shy.
Angie :)
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Oh and look what else I found just outside Grahams wonderful garden. I want to take these home ;D
Female Panda was a bit camera shy.
Angie :)
That's a bloke in a suit, surely?! ;D
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Nice garden Graham. I liked Angie's last picture, makes your garden look part of a stately home, are you really Lord Catlow or something? ;)
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Nice garden Graham. I liked Angie's last picture, makes your garden look part of a stately home, are you really Lord Catlow or something? ;)
No David not a Lord, just plain me living and working in the grounds of an extraordinarily special place. :)
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Graham with that surroundings and the gate entrance you could fool all of us ;D ;)
Angie :)
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In bloom now, and blooming reliably every year, Saxifraga cebennensis. Unfortunately, it's planted in an old trough that is disintegrating. It's planted at the sound end and is almost the only plant left.
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Looks superb, Anne ... I think I might be tempted to break up the trough and bury the part containing the sax' in your lovely scree.
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Cliff, that's a great idea, thanks so much. I'll do that this fall when things cool down a bit. Right now we are in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave. Just had 4 pallets of the most gorgeous stone delivered and it's killing me not to be doing something with it right away, but it's just too brutal out, 91F. Maybe by Wednesday.
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An unidentified oxytropis in bloom in the largest trough. I grew it from what was labeled as astragalus seed - once it bloomed I realized it had been mislabeled.
That does seem to happen now and then. It's quite pretty and seeds true, so it can stay as long as it wants.
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Back in 2011 I built and planted a contemporary trough mainly for Lewisias but included a couple of other things.
Unfortunately the Lewisias and others didn't thrive but the Dianthus 'Whatfield Magenta' did and this is the result. Looking good but doing too well! I will be dismantling the construction in due course and reconstructing in a more usual way.
Photo 1. The trough in 2011.
Photo 2. The trough now.
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I have the "opportunity" to install a number ~6-8 of ceramic sinks, mostly ~2' x 3', in a new garden, but don't have the time or inclination for hyertufa coatings. (I've done it before) Has anyone experience of the lasting qualities of masonary paint or PVA +sand coatings etc. or would I be better off leaving just as they are, i.e. mostly dirty white, but a couple red/brown? I may use a couple for carnivorous plants, although they could be elsewhere.
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If you use it for carnivorous plants I guess you will use a boggy mixture.As it contains a lot of water it will expand with the first severe frost.So you will have to line it with polystyrene or the sink 'll crack.
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I normally grow things like Darlingtonia in spagnum moss alone, or mixed with perlite. This is mostly air so freezing should not be a problem, as long as any water layer at the bottom is minimal in winter.
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I have been really busy since my last post,we have moved house and are in the process of setting up a Nursery to sell both retail and to contract grow for a couple of large Nurseries in the area.
I have been lucky to find a supply of tufa and have been busy planting up a few troughs.Seed from the various exchanges has been germinating since the early spring over 700 packets sown, bulbs planted and new seed being sown weekly,and new plants are being added as I can find them.
Winter is just around the corner so there is much work to be done,I will post more pictures as i have time but for now here is a appetizer.
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Impressive Garry. In the UK tufa is as rare now as rocking horse manure!
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As a newbie, recently bought my first trough. It is empty and so have been reading about composts etc. Have read about the problems of a perched water table and why not to put crocks etc at the bottom of the trough. It all makes sense. However, is it not the case that most people put their troughs on blocks and that will create a perched water table?
Confused.
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Well spotted, Bob!
Yes, a trough raised on bricks will produce a perched water table - but at least it gives the plant roots a bigger root run through the whole of the container.
We get round this problem by having a "wick" of material hanging from the drainage holed to reach the ground. we use thick folds of fleece or some other heardwearing matrial that will last for a decent length of time to help wick away the moisture before needing to be replaced.
If a trough is seated on soil or sand it will be able to make a connection to allow drainage but then there is the potential problem of worms getting into the compost and roots either escaping from the trough or the likes of tree or hedge roots getting up into the trough - none of these are very desirable.
Nothing is ever simple, is it? !!
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Maggi, some of my troughs are half buried in a very lean scree. The bottom of the trough is lined with landscape fabric and I have yet to find evidence of a worm making its way into a trough. Also, there are no trees around so no roots to worry about. The troughs do better than the raised ones because I think the interior temperature and moisture level seems to be more even.
Although these troughs are are in a sense more part of the garden than the ones that are raised, the plants in them still have their own special place without interference from nearby more robust scree plants.
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Sounds like a perfect situation for your troughs, Anne - which, given what a super garden you have, is no surprise!
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Thanks, Maggi
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That's a really good idea Anne - we haven't many troughs and I've never thought of the clever way Maggi and Ian use a 'wick' to enable good drainage from a trough. We have two pieces of the 'rare as rocking horse manure' tufa buried partway in the sand bed and these have grown plants well, even through the last dry summer, showing the effectiveness of moisture moving both ways and providing more equable conditions for plants. Even quite some distance from a hedge we have had raised beds invaded by fine tree roots - gardening always seems to take some thinking about even when given excellent advice!
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And even when you have thought and thought, Tim, there is always something that never occurred to you. That's where the Forum is so worthwhile. I never thought of using something to wick from a raised trough a la Maggi and Ian. A great idea to try. Gardening just never gets stale.
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All of the troughs here are sitting on cinder blocks, and have for about a quarter century. Most require daily watering during the summer. I took these pictures a few minutes ago.
1. trough with porophyllum saxifrage (my favorite plants) trying to escape, and Primula Linda Pope, among others. Trough was broken and I glued it back together.
2. trough with dwarf Pinus contorta, Penstemon davidsonii, Douglasia montana (next to the pine cone).
3. trough with porophyllums, growing in mudstone.
4. trough with 20 year old Pinus ponderosa, Penstemon hallii, Phlox pulvinata, Poa abbreviata.
Bob
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Well, I could have waited until the snow melted.
1. Trough with Pinus contorta, Penstemon davidsonii, Douglasia montana;
2. mudstone trough with porophyllum saxifrages
3. trough with Pinus ponderosa, Penstemon hallii, etc. The dwarf conifers are unnamed selections from Jerry Morris; he lives quite close to me;
4. trough with Daphne 'Kilmeston', 'Apple Blossom', Gentiana verna, Campanula raineri.
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And ...
shale trough with...I was going to say what's in here but I'm feeling too superstitious.
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Just catching up with this thread after months away from it. Where was it? Didn't appear in my Inbox. No matter, it's here now. :D
A question: Who WAS Walter Shrimpton?
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A question: Who WAS Walter Shrimpton?
Calceolaria Walter Shrimpton was the result of a cross of Patagonian C. darwinii with C. fothergillii from the Falklands. The cross was made by Michael Shrimpton, (still?) an alpine plant specialist from Essex, who named the plant after his father.
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As a newbie, recently bought my first trough. It is empty and so have been reading about composts etc. Have read about the problems of a perched water table and why not to put crocks etc at the bottom of the trough. It all makes sense. However, is it not the case that most people put their troughs on blocks and that will create a perched water table?
Confused.
All my hypertufa troughs, except one, are raised on blocks & contain rubble (crocks) + sharp sand in the base. The exception has no base - it was cast directly on the soil - but otherwise has the identical rubble + sand. I use them to grow bulbs & in more than 25 years I have never had any obvious problems with drainage.
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All of the troughs here are sitting on cinder blocks, and have for about a quarter century. Most require daily watering during the summer. I took these pictures a few minutes ago.
1. trough with porophyllum saxifrage (my favorite plants) trying to escape, and Primula Linda Pope, among others. Trough was broken and I glued it back together
Bob, when you say you "glued it back together", what did you use? I haven't had any long-lasting luck trying this with broken troughs. With an older trough you usually have very established plants you don't want to attempt moving. Gluing back is a
worthwhile alternative.
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Been reading the answers to the perched water table issue with interest. I can see the definite advantages of avoiding a perched water table with bulbs in pots. However, troughs have a much greater volume (and depth) and most growers have success with putting their troughs on blocks with crocks and other drainage material in the base. The use of a wick is interesting, but does not seem to be widely used. The conclusion would appear to be that as long as you have a well drained compost with grit and sand, both approaches will give similar results. Or am I missing something?
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Hi Bob,
The problem with putting crocks or other drainage material at the bottom of any container is that it does not actually help the container to drain - in fact quite the opposite, it actually hinders drainage by, amongst other things, raising the perched water table. You can read a detailed explanation of this effect here: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/2007-February/v42msft361un0q238ci4t8eiv6.html (http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/2007-February/v42msft361un0q238ci4t8eiv6.html)
That being said, these effects are relatively small and many plants can actually cope with them. This is why I agree with you that in a deep trough growers often have success even if they have put unnecessary materials at the bottom. However, if you were trying to grow species that are particularly sensitive to moisture levels then success would be more likely if the whole container were filled with a well-draining mix without anything else added in layers beneath.
Paul
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Thanks Paul.
I had read your interesting article and you certainly make a very convincing case for plunging pots in sand.
As you say, the effects are relatively small, especially for troughs.
I gather that the main reason usually given for crocks is a fear that the drainage holes will get blocked.
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In my experience if the gaps between the crocks/rubble in the base of a container (trough or very large pot) is filled with sharp sand then the mix above drains perfectly well - at least as well as if the container was filled with the the mix alone. I see no difference in principle between this procedure & standing a pot on sharp sand to facilitate drainage.
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Paul, I think the problem is that many troughs, at least those available in the U.S., are NOT deep enough. My best trough came from Elmdene (spelling?) and it is 18" deep. Everything performs beautifully in this trough. Most of the others are 6 to10" in depth and I live in a very windy, cold area with winter minimums to -20F (but not in the last few years). It is brutal for troughs and their plantings. Some of them are protected from winter wet with a rain shield which is open on the ends for good air circulation. Personally, I've found the deeper the trough the better it is for the plants.
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Anne - Paul showed us the value of deep containers beautifully by simply using a rectangular wet sponge and holding in a sideways and vertical position. In the former it held water at least halfway up and in the latter the water drained away much more leaving only the bottom part of the sponge wet. I suppose the best way to use shallow troughs is to build up the planting with rocks and crevices so you actually increase the depth considerably. One of the best 'troughs' I have seen was made using upright paving slabs (2ft x 2ft) in Mike Smith's nursery, as was, near Swaffham in Norfolk. A shallow trough I have looks quite nice but the moisture levels fluctuate far too much. But there must be many exceptions that prove the rule!
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Tim - I've seen that sponge trick demonstrated and it certainly shows the value of depth in troughs. But even more it is the necessity for root space, especially for tap-rooted plants of the Fabaceae. With a very shallow trough you need to be very clever with watering and also fertilizing because whatever nutrients are there will be quickly exhausted.
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Does anyone have any experience or comments on the use of (non clumping) cat litter as part of the compost for a trough? I take it that the point is that it will absorb water from watered compost and act as a reservoir, making water available if the compost gets too dry. So it will cut down on variations in moisture levels while also acting in a similar way to grit. (Like perlite?)
Last year we got a new cat from the cat shelter (elderly, arthritic and high blood pressure) and so she was kept in initially. She now asks to go out and so we have left over cat litter. Put some of the litter in water outside about 6 weeks ago to make sure it would keep its structure and it has not been affected in any way.
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Thank you Luit, for the note about Walter Shrimpton. So many people are commemorated as named plants but we (I) frequently don't have a clue who those people are or were. This plant is truly wonderful (it must be, I've lost it several times ???) and it's good to know the background.
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Thank you Luit, for the note about Walter Shrimpton. So many people are commemorated as named plants but we (I) frequently don't have a clue who those people are or were. This plant is truly wonderful (it must be, I've lost it several times ???) and it's good to know the background.
Lesley, while researching on the net as well, I found an interesting article which I totally forgot to add to my reply:
http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/brings-best-horticulture/story-19605226-detail/story.html (http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/brings-best-horticulture/story-19605226-detail/story.html)
When clicking on the > in the picture you'll see a pic of Michael Shrimpton.
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That's a nice article about Michael Shrimpton, Luit, thanks for the link - I love hearing that he discovered a love of alpines when visiting the mountains to watch Le Tour de France!!
Cheery photo of him with the copper kettle too. :D
I believe he and his wife are also successful at AGS shows.
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The problem with putting crocks or other drainage material at the bottom of any container is that it does not actually help the container to drain - in fact quite the opposite, it actually hinders drainage by, amongst other things, raising the perched water table.
Paul, raising the perched water table doesn't hinder drainage in troughs if above crocks in bottom.
The basic effect of the crocks is free access of air to the perched water table through the draining
holes and the free spaces between the crocks, so that the water is sufficiently saturated with air.
The purpose of the bottom drainage is to prevent anaerobic state which in reality kills the roots,
not the water.
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I believe he and his wife are also successful at AGS shows.
That is good to hear Maggi, he must be far in the 70ties by now.
I am always on the search for stories on plant names and still surprised how much I can find on the net :D
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Thanks for the link Paul. I was told to stop using crocks quite recently and have now done so. What I failed to do was realise I should use the same science for my sinks. I will do so from now on. But I have a question - if I put rocks into a new sink is it wise to put them in right down to the bottom of it or is it better to put smaller ones in leaving the bottom largely soil mix?
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Gone circular. :) :)
First one, saxifrages in Tufa and water-worn limestone.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/003_zpsf59eaf51.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/003_zpsf59eaf51.jpg.html)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/005_zps5d968215.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/005_zps5d968215.jpg.html)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/006_zps566764d7.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/006_zps566764d7.jpg.html)
I quarried some limestone myself for a second saxifrage circular trough.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/001_zps43559c51.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/001_zps43559c51.jpg.html)
Sempervivums in Sandstone rock.
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/second%20album/012_zps404aca35.jpg) (http://s77.photobucket.com/user/scattery/media/second%20album/012_zps404aca35.jpg.html)
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Again Luit, thanks. So it was the son Michael who named the Calceolaria hybrid after his father. A nice touch.
I'm very relieved to hear too, that Michael found his initial love for alpines on a trip to see the Tour de France. It was a great worry to me, how much Maggi and Ian were obsessed with the race, when they could have been outside gardening. But it seems the cycling event can be of some benefit to gardeners after all. ;D
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Chris - if I were you I would use rocks rather like Vojtěch did in Tábor, building them up high rather than burying them deep - might as well show them off as much as possible and create high crevices to improve drainage even more.
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Tim - maybe I should but didn't he put a lot of chunky stuff in the bottom too? I seem to recall he half filled the chasm with it before adding soil mix?
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Oh - I missed that bit whilst I was watching Zdeněk and (was it Paul?) planting their trough. You pays your money and takes your choice!
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Tim - maybe I should but didn't he put a lot of chunky stuff in the bottom too? I seem to recall he half filled the chasm with it before adding soil mix?
Would chunky stuff then create the problem of a perched water table though?
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Matt I don't think that would be a problem if some of the compost mix went right down to the bottom of the trough. I haven't been able to do a high trough as not enough rocks and my climate is maybe not suitable anyway but I did put large chunks of rubbishy rock in the troughs, almost filled them in fact, then added the compost and built that up as far as possible and added just a few small rocks on the top. The plants have done really well, much better than planted in just compost mix and I'm sure that it is because the roots have been able to find their way among the buried rocks. I'll do some pictures later today.
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I have a small collection of pieces of tufa left from splitting large pieces and from drilling holes because sometimes I got too close and accidentally sliced off a piece. All of these were saved and in troughs for lime-lovers I takes handfuls of the "smalls" and place them in the bottom of the trough. As I add mix for the bottom layer it gets stirred with the tufa. Large rocks are then placed etc. and everything firmed up before placing the smalled connecting rocks etc. At the very bottom is a piece of landscape fabric which drains well and prevents things (worms, etc) from working their way into the trough. This seems to work well even on the troughs which are partially buried at one end (some of the troughs are on a sloping scree so one end is buried partway in the scree although resting on block.
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Gone circular. :) :)
These round containers are rather nice - gives an extra challenge to the planting to REALLY have to make things attractive from all angles - which is not always done with square/oblong troughs.
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Tim - maybe I should but didn't he put a lot of chunky stuff in the bottom too? I seem to recall he half filled the chasm with it before adding soil mix?
Chris, As I recall Vojtěch filled the bottom with gravel from the ground, as did ZZ because they had not brought enough compost to fill both the troughs up as they would have liked.
Any gravel added should be mixed through the compost and not left in a zone at the bottom.
Large rocks can be bedded all the way to the bottom of the trough if you want or I start by building as high a mound of compost as I can in the trough then start to add rocks. Sometimes I need to remove a bit of compost to accommodate a large rock.
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That's very helpful Ian. Yes they did put stuff in the bottom looked like the rough stuff used under Tarmac to me so I started getting confused and that's quite usual for me these days... I'll keep in mind when I make my next containers thanks everyone
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I think the real thing about troughs, as with gardening in general, is that you can try different approaches with the material you have to hand and compare results - plants are quite forgiving unless they are Eritrichium nanum or Ranunculus glacialis - and many will grow happily in sinks made in many different ways. What I would particularly like to do is to use troughs for very different groups of plants - eg: ericaceous species in a shady spot, maybe a whole trough full of Gentiana verna like I remember at Joe Elliott's nursery, and one devoted to those fascinating eriogonums. The great thing about seeing what other people do is that it stimulates, but there is no reason to feel you have to do the very same.
These are two nice examples that Jon Evans and his Group displayed at the Hillside Centre, Wisley, a year or two ago with quite different types of plants.
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Lovely pair of troughs there.
Yes, without doubt the almost limitless possibilities of what and how to plant in a trough is the absolute gem of their appeal. Add to that the chance to grow something in a very small area where one might not otherwise be able to cultivate the ground - even to the point of a balcony or doorstep - and the capacity with troughs to have lightweight versions that can be moved around to allow a seasonal splash of colour to be brought to the fore - there isn't anything I can say against troughs, really. I think they are wonderful aids to growing- especially for the smaller alpines, of course as we see in the examples above.
Not to mention it beats the blazes out of having to dig three acres - anytime!! ;) ;D
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I've been fancying some troughs for long and last summer I finally braced up and said to myself "it's time".
Plus, there was a perfect spot for them: the unused ledge outside my apartment on the 8th floor. YES!
Some pictures from last summer wit the "finished product" can be seen here (this is where I store my pictures - can't upload those here, cause they are too large).
http://s87.photobucket.com/user/calinromania/library/Hypertufa%20-%20Sempervivum?sort=3&page=1 (http://s87.photobucket.com/user/calinromania/library/Hypertufa%20-%20Sempervivum?sort=3&page=1)
But I took some pics now, showing that all looks OK, the pots haven't fallen apart (YET!) and the plants look real snug.
And a picture with the view at the end of January. Now the snow is all gone.
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Great view!!
What are the troughs made of?
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My first attempt with a trough, planted up earlier today. Perhaps early February is not the best time of year in Scotland, but patience is not a strong point and today was sunny with showers in Stirling so seemed ideal weather. The plants arrived from Craigiehall Nursery late yesterday afternoon. Filled the trough with compost about 10 days ago to give it a little time to settle.
Added the names of the plants to the aerial view of the trough so that the labels could be removed as they were no longer necessary. The side view is after the labels were removed. Tried to add some height with large stones, but the pictures do not show the increase in height very well. It is slightly better in reality!
Looking forward to Spring growth and flowers.
Bob
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Very interesting method for preserving plant names, I have used a similar system with pen and paper ... I must update my trough plans on the laptop.
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About what length is the trough Bob? Looks good- and you know, we always say that the best time to do anything with your plants is when you want/have the time to do it! There may be an "optimum" time for some things for the plants' point of view but this is the real world, and if the gardener isn't willing or able at that time then the "best" time is in your time! 8) :)
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Thanks Maggi. It is 94 cm long and 39 cm wide, bought from Hawthorn Alpine Troughs near Falkirk. (Christmas present from my wife.)
Bob
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Useful size - and you've chosen a good range of plants.
(..... we don't like labels sticking up either!)
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Thanks Maggi, I'd say it's the best view in my city. Baroque palace and a huge Roman-catholic church behind.
I think I made the troughs from one part cement, one part sand, another peat (well, what I can call peat is the dried up potting mix, sifted, and kept the "dust").
There is no place around here that sells just dried up peat (is this what it's used for hypertufa? I don't want to mix up the words.)
So far, they look good.
All ice cover is gone. We are experiencing really warm days now.
Cute trough Bob. Love your plant choices.
Sure they will spread out nicely :)
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Love seeing troughs that actually have plants showing. This is what I see now.
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Anne - not far of this date last year here! At least the plants do well under the snow. Our winters are so varied that you never know what to expect, and last year there were snowdrops being shown into April. a month later than normal. This year we have hardly had a frost so far - both the plants and the gardener can have a wide tolerance to climate!
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That's very helpful Ian. Yes they did put stuff in the bottom looked like the rough stuff used under Tarmac to me so I started getting confused and that's quite usual for me these days... I'll keep in mind when I make my next containers thanks everyone
Chris,
If you abandon the rough stuff in the bottom, you solely move the water table to the bottom
provided the trough inside is not in contact with the plunge below the trough,
and the water table will be not aerated in deeper troughs.
If you use a sloping layer of rough stuff in the bottom, the water table will reduce
to the lowest corner of the substrate which may consist of pure sand.
I always use a synthetic tissue separating the bottom rough stuff and the
substrate in my troughs and am completely satisfied.
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I carried out several experiments in order to model and observe the situation in a trough.
I recommend you to repeat the following one.
1. Take two transparent plastic containers 15 cm high
2. Made a hole of 2 cm diameter in the bottom of either container
3. Cover the holes with a piece of grid
4. Put 3 cm bottom drainage layer of sieved coarse gravel 8-10 mm in one container
5. Fill the containers with cultivation substrate
6. Stand the containers horizontally with enough free space below the holes
7. Pour in water slowly in abundance
8. Observe carefully what is happening
9. Inform us
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Josef. You have more or less described the demonstration that I recall seeing some years ago at the Alpine department in RHS Wisley. I don't recall what type of pots they were or what they were standing on, but as far as I remember it, a measured amount of water was poured into the pot with gravel in the bottom, and the water draining out noted. Then the same amount of water was poured into the pot with no gravel in the bottom and it was noted that much more water came from the drainage holes. That is the absence of gravel gave better drainage.
I am not sure why you recommend gravel to improve the aeration of this trapped (suspended?) water. If there is little or no trapped water layer this additional aeration is not necessary. In the open garden, on a level surface, the only aeration is from above by natural gas exchange or by being drawn in as water percolates down.
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I recommend you to repeat my experiment and observe the aeration.
Weighting is nonsense. You will see why yourself.
Observe 24 hours at least.
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Well, that was a good read. I am already to go now. I think I have enough gravel to last years. Oh well it was an anniversary present from hubby ::) saying this I am left to barrow it out myself.
Just need some nice weather and I can get some new troughs planted up and the old ones re-done.
Angie :)
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Well, that was a good read. I am already to go now. I think I have enough gravel to last years. Oh well it was an anniversary present from hubby ::) saying this I am left to barrow it out myself.
Just need some nice weather and I can get some new troughs planted up and the old ones re-done.
Angie :)
Have fun Angie ! :P
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That's what I love about Derek - like Ian, he thinks his wife should have whatever she needs! ;D
I see he also seems to have got you a new wheelbarrow, Angela? 8)
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I got money from my brother last year for my birthday and bought 20 bags of gravel with it. He was a bit surprised but bemused at what I really really want... I've been very glad to have it as I now don't have to scrimp when mixing compost and suchlike. Before I was forever running out... So I'm sure you'll enjoy the luxury of having plenty Angie... Heave ho....
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That's what I love about Derek - like Ian, he thinks his wife should have whatever she needs! ;D
I see he also seems to have got you a new wheelbarrow, Angela? 8)
Yes Maggi I know I am so lucky ::) :-X My new wheelbarrow, its metal, I wanted plastic but metal was cheaper. My niece got a Mulberry handbag, hey but I can't complain I got two wheel barrows.
Chris you must be so much like me, we have everything what a woman would want, and now that we have gravel we have it all. Its funny when folks say to me did you get something nice for your anniversary, you should see there faces when I say what I wanted and got, sure they think I have gone mad, mad but happy.
Life is so good, only wish I had some more hepaticas, Oh I better stop there.
A very happy Angie :)
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Gonna dig you up a couple and send them to you. They seed all over here... Pot luck colours though...
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Chris I have been watching out for the seed like you said and I will give it a try. I remember Michael Campbell telling me to give the seed a go. Just not very good with seed but here goes.
Angie :)
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Troughs started blooming
1. Draba paysonii
2. Draba lasiocarpa
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Blooming away in the largest trough, a mystery oxytropis. I grew it from seed some years ago and it was supposed to be an exceptional astragalus, but the seed was misnamed and when it bloomed I saw it was an oxytropis. The flowers are dark purple and it has seeded itself a bit. You can see one of the seedlings next to it in the picture.
Incidentally, my mystery astragalus is almost certainly Astragalus vulneraria, from Turkey.
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Part of a set of five troughs arranged as an island.
This should have had three Saxifraga 'Southside Seedling' flowering stems but a very naughty puppy (not so much a puppy now) took one off.
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Part of a set of three troughs against a North facing wall.
Dodecathon media (just past its best) and Saxifraga 'Little Piggy'
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South facing trough from today.
Verbascum „Letitia“, Dianthus erinaceus, Globularia repens (only on flower :)), Edraianthus montenegrinus (dwarf form), Saponaria pumilio and Hypericum kazdaghensis.
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For those within striking distance of the great Wrightman's (http://wrightmanalpines.com) specialist alpine and rock garden plant nursery in Kerwood, Ontario, Canada - you need to know that the nursery is on the move : they are relocating to St. Andrews - but not in Fife, Scotland, , the St. Andrews in New Brunswick, Canada.
We wish them all the best for the move. :)
When the move is completed it may be worth getting in touch to see if they have any more of these :
[attachimg=1]
Real tufa troughs !
Harvey Wrightman, the current NARGS (https://www.nargs.org/) Vice President, has worked a lot with Josef Halda and there are super videos on the Wrightman website about crevice garden construction, trough planting and so on.... 8)
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For those within striking distance of the great Wrightman's (http://wrightmanalpines.com) specialist alpine and rock garden plant nursery in Kerwood, Ontario, Canada - you need to know that the nursery is on the move : they are relocating to St. Andrews - but not in Fife, Scotland, , the St. Andrews in New Brunswick, Canada. We wish them all the best for the move. :) When the move is completed it may be worth getting in touch to see if they have any more of these : (Attachment Link) Real tufa troughs ! Harvey Wrightman, the current NARGS (https://www.nargs.org/) Vice President, has worked a lot with Josef Halda and there are super videos on the Wrightman website about crevice garden construction, trough planting and so on.... 8)
We are well aware Maggi and MAGGIEPIE(!) and have our motors running.
johnw
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Part of a set of five troughs arranged as an island.
This should have had three Saxifraga 'Southside Seedling' flowering stems but a very naughty puppy (not so much a puppy now) took one off.
That's such a nice setting. Sorry about the puppy but he/she will grow up eventually.
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Gosh, those are super troughs from Wrightman's. I love my Hokonui and limestone versions but these have a really natural look to them. Are they carved from real tufa?
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I believe that they are carved from whole blocks of tufa - lovely are they not? It was some time ago that they were advertised but I felt it was worth seeing them, even if they are but a dream!
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And of course the bits and pieces carved out from the middles would make marvellous chipping or flakes for around the plants. I wish.....
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Penstemon thompsonii v desperatus in a trough. It does well in the rock garden if you can give it a space in full sun and free from competition. A really lovely plant but difficult to photograph well. I sow the seed directly and then collect the seedlings from the trough the next year.
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About the Wrightman move : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609048899210764 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609048899210764) - they think their hardiness zone will remain the same at around 6a.
Some photos of the St. Andrews by-the-Sea New Brunswick Canada area where Wrightman Alpines are moving to......
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.603937279721926&type=3&l=d67aa55dab (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.603937279721926&type=3&l=d67aa55dab)
and you can follow the move on Twitter, too : https://twitter.com/alpineplants (https://twitter.com/alpineplants) :)
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I was asked in another thread if I would show my troughs - so here they are.
The first is a set of 5 troughs created to form an island, The central trough is raised on blocks above all the rest. The north south and west ones are also raised but the eastern one is on the ground. The central and south troughs have a different rock to the others but I'm thinking of changing them.
[attachimg=1]
An over view as of yesterday.
[attachimg=2]
The southern trough earlier in the year.
[attachimg=3]
The east trough from a few weeks ago.
[attachimg=4]
The east trough from yesterday.
[attachimg=5]
The west and north troughs.
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WOW!! Magnificent!
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Thanks Lori.
The next set will be in two posts.
This is 4 troughs in line facing north to south. Three of the troughs are raised on blocks.
[attachimg=1]
Looking from the north
[attachimg=2]
Overview
[attachimg=3]
The north trough
[attachimg=4]
The North trough second view
[attachimg=5]
Second in line
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[attachimg=1]
Third in line - note the coasters for the tea mugs or wine glasses
[attachimg=2]
Fourth in line
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The next set.
[attachimg=1]
An old trough with mainly Gentiana acaulis which looks great in the spring.
[attachimg=2]
A new trough just a few weeks old
[attachimg=3]
Trough 3
[attachimg=4]
Trough 3 last year when the Saxifragas and Dianthus were in flower
[attachimg=5]
Trough 4 last year the Calceolaria didn't do too well this year.
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Well done on a fantastic series of troughs Graham!
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Thank you, thank you for showing close-ups of the troughs. They are absolutely stunning and have given me some great ideas. How far down do the vertically placed rocks go in the trough? One of the troughs with vertical rocks of some size doesn't look very deep.
I guess I'm wondering what keeps them from toppling over.
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They look great Graham and everything so well and healthy. I really like small groups of troughs, 3-7 or so in the group. They can make up great "collections" of plants with similar habits or requirements.
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Thanks Steve, Anne and Lesley.
Anne the vertical rocks are close to the base of the trough although it is only four or five inches deep. They are stable but it takes a little time to ensure they are secure.
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Graham, garden and troughs are looking really lovely. Mine are still needing done, hint hint ;)
Angie :)
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Wow! Graham ! Beautiful and special troughs
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Anne the vertical rocks are close to the base of the trough although it is only four or five inches deep. They are stable but it takes a little time to ensure they are secure.
Thanks, Graham. I did notice that the trough with the extra tall rocks was placed next to a trough that was higher so that would prevent the rocks from tipping that way. I really like the way you have placed your troughs in groups. Some of them look almost like a seamless planting, very clever.
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Thank you Lily-Anne,
Angie - if only you lived round the corner I'd love to help out. :D
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But Graham, Angie DOES live just around the corner. ;D Well, a few corners. No distance at all really and you would love her garden, and I bet there would be a chocolate cake in too, or something similar. (Angie, I recently found that men in general, and surgeons and anaesthetists in particular, will promise anything, if offered chocolate cake.)
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2.5 hours of corners Lesley ;) I have seen Angies wonderful garden. One of the best gardens I have ever seen. :)
Some people are going to be horrified but chocolate cake wouldn't do it for me. I like chocolate but not cake flavoured with it.
Can't beat a good old fashioned Victoria sponge :D
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Sometimes I think we must be siblings, Graham - I agree with you so often.
Especially about the chocolate thing and Angie's garden!
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;D ;D ;D
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OK, what's a Victoria Sponge???
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A Victoria sponge is a thing of beauty - and a joy for about ten minutes!
[attachimg=1]
A very British treat - simply delicious!
Recipe here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/victoriasponge_13555 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/victoriasponge_13555)
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We always have Victoria Sponge, Chocolate and Coffee cakes (plus sometimes Lemon Drizzle) when we open the garden, and to be honest they often attract more attention from people than the garden itself :'( Fortunately there are usually a few bits left over...
I've seen one or two pictures of Angie's garden but are there any more anywhere?
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Sometimes I think we must be siblings, Graham - I agree with you so often.
Especially about the chocolate thing and Angie's garden!
Here's something for you chocoholics: http://www.rbge.org.uk/whats-on/event-details/3231 (http://www.rbge.org.uk/whats-on/event-details/3231)
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A deeply shocking statement Graham. Life without chocolate cake would be, well, deeply shocking. My most recent favourite is one from Rachel Allen's Cake Diaries, a chocolate fudge cake. I've made 8 in the last month and another is required for our alpine group speaker on Thursday night. (He has let it be known that a choc cake would be preferred to a good bottle of Central Otago Pinot Noir - another deeply shocking statement!) Ms Allen's recipes are always very reliable and turn out triumphant every time. ;D :P :P :P
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Many congrats, Graham ! You're troughs blew me away.... (and that takes some blowing ;D)
Marvelous troughs !
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Thanks for the info, Maggi. Victoria Sponge looks yummy. My favorite is still Trifle (spelling?).
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My favorite is still Trifle (spelling?).
The spelling is fine, and I agree. :)
Chris
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Lisimachia japonica with Degenia velebitica to the left
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The troughs that Graham showed us are where fabulous ! Great landscaping with troughs.
Here a smal trough devoted to Androsace .
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Very nice Kris, do you give any cover through winter?
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Very nice Kris, do you give any cover through winter?
Thanks Chris , yes this one get a cover in wintertime (late november/december until the end of february)
The trough is planted with some Androsace that not amused with our winterwet......
Here the (actual )playlist of this trough ....
Androsace aff. delavayi - A. pyrenaica - A. pavlovskyi - Saxifraga columnaris - A. pubescens - Chamaecyparis obtusa dwarf form- A. tapete - A ochotense - A. aff yargongensis - A. helvetica - A. vandelii - A. wulfeniana.
There where a few others that not survived the winter even with cover (A. bisulca var. brahmaputra - A. yargongensis A. bayaharshanii e.g. )
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Some wonderful troughs Graham, Kris and Oleg.
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Hi Kris,
I may give this a go. If I use a fish box I'll be able to lift it into the cold frame where I can control moisture from above quite easily. I germinated a few Androsace this spring and have been wondering what to do with them. They all look very healthy so far.... But I'm aware they might not be as happy outside during the winter here.
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Hi Kris,
I may give this a go. If I use a fish box I'll be able to lift it into the cold frame where I can control moisture from above quite easily. I germinated a few Androsace this spring and have been wondering what to do with them. They all look very healthy so far.... But I'm aware they might not be as happy outside during the winter here.
Good idea to manage like this Chris ! Sure that you can succeed .
I have sometimes problems with them in summer. Especially when it is dry and hot .
But in that trough I am able to grow them better during hot spels ...
It is also an advantage to put them together in one trough ..........
Wish you good luck with your happy seedlings .
Kind regards ,
Kris
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I managed to root A. Muscoidea Millenium Dome at a workshop with Ian Christie last autumn and foolishly left it exposed to the elements last winter. It looked a bit bedraggled in the spring but it's come back ok now, but I won't leave it outside this year, it's growing quite well again now. I've plunged the pots into the sand in the cold frame and they appear to be coping with the heat.
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Chris I wouldn't presume to offer a suggestion because I think your winter is a bit tougher than ours (though you wouldn't think so, from the complaining I'm doing about lack of sun and recent frosts) but let's face it, Androsaces DO look a bit bedraggled in winter. So long as that little central pad of each rosette remains green/grey, they seen to resurrect well as the weather warms. I have 6 nice seedlings (which I initially thought looked more like a Draba) of A. bisulca aurata and they're looking really good - so far. It took a few months for them to develop the central pad, hence the Draba look.
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Many congrats, Graham ! You're troughs blew me away.... (and that takes some blowing ;D)
Marvelous troughs !
Thanks Luc
Kris That's a great trough - really natural looking rock formation.
Whats the plant providing the height? It too looks good.
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Hi Lesley, I've had no experience with them, other than the ones that are robust enough to put out in the garden so any thoughts are appreciated! I did think I'd lost that one but it's looking very good now and has grown quite a bit since early spring. I've got a very small container I can use, just need to get some suitable rocks to put in it... The search continues... Still looking for broken breeze block...
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Kris, your androsace trough is really wonderful. The plants look so perfect in the setting.
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Kris, your androsace trough is really wonderful. The plants look so perfect in the setting.
Many thanks for this kind words Anne. I like to puzzle with rocks and stones , it is a joy to do ......
For me it is a form of art , just like painting or something else ......... ;)
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Kris That's a great trough - really natural looking rock formation.
Whats the plant providing the height? It too looks good.
Thanks Graham , this is a dwarf form of Chamaecyparis ...........But I wil look for the complete name later on ......
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Hi
I note in the television page of today's Scotsman that this evening's Beechgrove Garden has an item where 'Carol Baxter demonstrates two ways of planting up Alpine troughs'.
Looking forward to disagreements in her approach from members of this forum!
However, good that alpine troughs are getting some publicity.
Bob
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Does anyone know which Sky channel carries the Scottish BBC channel by chance? I'd really like to watch what she does...
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Sky channel for BBC Scotland will be somehwere between 950 and 985 - it doesn't show up here for me because I'm in Scotland! If you scroll through those it will show you I'm sure.
Remember the programme is also repeated on UK wide tv too.
I think it MAY be Sky for BBC1 is channel 951 for BBC2 it's 971 - hope that helps.
Flippin' 'eck! Whata carry on- it seems these blasted channels keep changing - the Beechgrove twitter page says Sky channel 970
7:30pm on Wednesday 23rd July on BBC2 Scotland and on Sunday 27th June at 09:35am on BBC2 network.
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Just tried it and ee by gum it's right! Will be watching! Thanks Maggi!
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Hello All,
Starting a new small business which also includes hypertufa troughs.
I am a bit confused.
On some sites, describing the perfect recipes, most mention Portland cement which they stress it's different from concrete.
The 3 troughs that I have were made with the use of normal cement that we buy from stores and which is used in construction (mixed in with sand, grit, lime and water, I guess).
Is this grey cement WRONG?
I don't think the clerks at stores have any idea what Portland cement is. I have no idea!
And can anyone write a good recipe for cold winters?
We can get -15-20 C here sometimes.
I think
1 part cement
1 part perlite
1 part peat
1 part sand
water
should be just fine. Right?
Thanks,
Calin
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Calin
The mixture that I use contains only one part cement and three parts sand plus water of course.
It is best to use a fine sand as used in making a mortar or brick laying cement mix.
I do not add porous materials such as perlite or peat and have never worked out why you would add those as they weaken the mix - I have tried that type of mix many times over the years but they always fall apart after a few years due to the continual freezing and thawing of our winters.
The new mixes work great attracting lichens and mosses so after a few years they look just like real stone.
check out the article in the latest Rock Garden or search the bulb log for more details on my cement troughs.
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Couldn't agree with you more. The standard trough mix in the U.S. has always included peat etc. In my climate, a particularly well-made one might last 5 years before repairs become necessary. This is not very practical because once one of these troughs develops a weakness (cracks, etc) you are just staving off the inevitable of a trough self-destructing. The ones that have made it long term have no peat or other "light" ingredients in the mix. They will probably outlast me. The others will be buried in the garden in order to preserve fabulous plants growing in them that can't be rescued any other way.
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Originally, peat was included in the mix as a means to make the hypertufa troughs lighter in weight and so more easily moved. It worked to some extent but not, in my experience light enough to make them easily moveable for a lady of advancing years! And I agree with you Anne, the peat, or any organic matter such as pine bark fines which I used sometimes, gradually breaks down and the trough becomes weaker, especially around the edges, with frost getting in and breaking up the whole.
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I made my first troughs in 1987 and they are still intact. The mix was 1 part peat:1 part sand:1 part Portland cement. The rest were made using the same formula by Ken in the mid-90's and they have held up well also. And this is an extremely rough climate with bumpy winter freeeze/thaws causing widespread road pot-holing. I never liked the look of perlite in the mix, as well it quickly disintegrates to powder here after the first month or so of cold weather.
johnw
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Thank you all guys... and GOSH! This is bad news now to me :)
I was thinking about bringing something new to the Romanian people... but reading your posts, makes me rethink the whole thing!
I thought this hypertufa thing is great. Sturdy pots and troughs, "lighter", made of ingredients that are still new to most people around here, and well an entirely new thing, really.
But I wouldn't want to have customers coming back after a few rough winters and complain.
So there's really no "lighter" but cold-winter-resistant recipe other than just plain concrete?
Lucky me they were out of perlite yesterday at the shop I went to :)
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Yes, there is a lighter method - as Ian says, look at his bulb log (and if you are a full SRGC Member- at his article in the most recent journal) to see his method of making a cement trough with a polystyrene/styrofoam box inside it to make a trough that looks like stone but is not as heavy as a fully cement trough.
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I made my first troughs in 1987 and they are still intact. The mix was 1 part peat:1 part sand:1 part Portland cement. The rest were made using the same formula by Ken in the mid-90's and they have held up well also. And this is an extremely rough climate with bumpy winter freeeze/thaws causing widespread road pot-holing. I never liked the look of perlite in the mix, as well it quickly disintegrates to powder here after the first month or so of cold weather.
johnw
We do hear of people like you who have had tremendous success with hypertufa troughs, John while others, like ourselves and Anne, have no luck with them at all. It's a very odd thing -I have yet to work out why this is - I suppose it is as puzzling as why plants perform so differently in apparently similar gardens in the same street!
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Maggi - Strange isn't it. The peat is quite fine but sifted for stray twigs and the sand much like beach sand sans sel. Could it be the Portland cement of which I know absolutely nothing other than it is pretty hard on bare hands?
Here's a limited shot of some of the 1987 batch - the rectangulars and the later ones. 27 and 17 yrs. old respectively.
johnw
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We, in USDA zone 4 Minnesota, have good success with hypertufa made with screened peat and vermiculite also. Both of these ingredients disintegrate over time. We (apparently) do two things differently from most others:
1 - In lieu of something like a chicken wire armature for strength, we use a fibermesh material that is incorporated throughout the mix.
2 - Unlike sand and perlite which quickly wet, peat and vermiculite take some time. After all the ingredients are incorporated and before we construct with the mixture, there is a wait time of 15-20 minutes to allow for complete absorption of water. Then, if more water is needed for the correct consistency, it can be added. I read how people mist their finished products during the initial curing process. In my opinion, they don't add enough water in the first place!
Edited to correct spelling
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Some gardeners incorporate polystyrene beads in their potting mix instead of grit.
I wonder if that would work for throughs.Of course a top dressing with real grit would be necessary to avoid any"escape".Maybe someone has already tried it.Would definitively improve the weight of the trough.
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Elisabeth Zander writes about a trough and tufa event with Harvey and Irene Wrightman - read it here : http://www.seed-aholic.com/2015/04/making-magic.html (http://www.seed-aholic.com/2015/04/making-magic.html) 8) 8)
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Liked that! Now the hunt is on for some tufa. Actually we have done something similar with a few pieces of hypertufa left over from covering troughs and cast into the shapes of rocks. A lot of possibilities here... and a good subject for a future meeting.
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We have various posts about the super Wrightman Alpines videos throughout the forum - a quick reminder -
This is on "How to Create Clay Crevices in a Rock Garden" and is very relevant to Elisabeth's artcle :
http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/archive/5/201301 (http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/archive/5/201301)
and we can find other videos here :
http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/video (http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/video)
8)
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I can't see the point of adding polystyrene beads to a mixture, either for potting - as I've seen done - or for troughs. It may make the troughs a little lighter but one couldn't use enough surely to make a real difference? and for potting, no nutrition is added, the reverse in fact and the advantage to roots of a gritty mix would be lost while the beads look horrible in the mixture and escape to pollute the garden/landscape. In fact, I hate polystyrene. I use trays made of the stuff because they are lightweight but they are no longer available here (ex mushrooms for export trays) and most of what I have left are damaged to some extent. As well, our three chooks eat them to the extent I expect we'll have eggs soon with polystyrene shells!
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Lesley, I have to agree that they don't make the troughs much lighter. In my experience, a planted trough is not a movable feast (except by a couple of very strong young men with the assistance of a tractor if moving any distance). I take a lot of time placing them before planting because that's where they will most likely be until they disintegrate, something that happens sometimes in this climate.
In bloom in a trough now: Petrocallis pyrenaica (actually pinker than the picture shows), grown in full sun. It is also very fragrant.
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Beautiful Petrocallis! I'm still waiting for mine to flower this year.
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Campanula alpestris
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At Jacques Thompson's garden in Michigan, I saw troughs made out of solid sandstone with no drainage holes. IF it's the right kind of sandstone, you can fill it with water and the next morning it will be dry as bone. It also can't be dynamited as in a quarry because there may be minute fractures you don't see in the interior - after a couple of years in the garden it will literally blow apart. If it's the wrong sandstone, you need drainage holes.
A series of pictures to show how it's done.
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Working with stone chisels, you hit the stone on either side and it breaks and can be wiggled out. I tried this - it's easy and a ninety pound weakling could do it. (It's sandstone, not granite).
The final trough is left with a rough bottom, no need to tidy it up.
They are really cool looking and blend beautifully in the garden because they're real - no extra work needed to make them look like stone.
Something to try if you have large hunks of sandstone in your area.
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And here's a picture of a planted sandstone trough in Don Lafond's garden in Michigan.
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Ian Y's latest Bulb Log features troughs : http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2015Jun031433327631BULB_LOG_2215.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2015Jun031433327631BULB_LOG_2215.pdf)
[attachimg=1]
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Maggi, thanks for posting this - what wonderful troughs. Do you find that after x number of years a trough will need replanting?
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It depends, Anne -some need to be re-done after only a few years and others go on really well for 15 years. Others re-seed themselves so are self-perpetuating - there is no set time they last.
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Peeking over my favorite trough, Penstemon thompsoniae v desertorum, one of the best of the caespitose penstemons.
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I have two large glazed sinks which have been sitting around for over 30 years. I know where I'd like them but husband does not approve , I couldn't get anyone to move them for me and now he wants them gone. I'm never going to get them planted so if they are of use to anyone they are free for collection. They are 18 inches by 15 and 24 inches deep. There is no drain hole in the bottom but small holes have been drilled. I'm sure someone handy with a masonry drill could enlarge them.
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I know a chap in Aberdeen who can re-cycle most things! ::) :-X
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I am sure this has been covered before but can someone tell me if a sunny aspect (south facing) is suitable using tufa in a sink, or would the tufa be better used in a west facing position. The former will get sun from about 8.00 to 16.00, the latter from 14.00 to 18.00 at the peak of summer, but a lot less in winter of course. Most of my tufa is old from previous sinks so hard, but 2 unused pieces I have in a sack are still soft and crumbly. I have alternative rock I can use. I have only used tufa in a shaded position before.
Rainfall here is only ~20" a year so watering will be necessary anyway.
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I use tufa in full sun which means from 7a.m. til sunset, but my conditions may be vastly different. Summer here is hot, dry and humid. Much of the rainfall in the summer is from thunderstorms and runs off quickly. It's a very exposed and windy site. Tufa here in shade becomes a mass of mosses.
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Harlow Carr RHS Garden recently ...
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Quite a trough, Cliff. I like the way the rocks are placed making a slope, always good for drainage.
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Very attractive trough Cliff. I do like your labels - Wishing they were available here.
Edna
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Fishbox Troughs
Ian's article on making trough from polystyrene boxes - lightly updated with photos now directly included :
http://files.srgc.net/general/FishBoxTroughs-JIY.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/general/FishBoxTroughs-JIY.pdf)
The newer method using a fish box inside a cement trough : http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html)
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I have a faux lead trough (30 inch x 11 inch and 11 inch deep) made from fibreclay. It has 3 drainage holes. Wondering what the arguments were against using it as an alpine trough as I had not seen any examples of such use on the Internet.
Bob
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I see no reason why you don't use if for such a purpose, Bob.
It's already a good depth - so I would be sure to build the surface high as possible- with some nice stones to stabilise things and take the chance to grow some plants that might otherwise want a good deep root run in the garden. Maybe a Pulsatilla .... other things with tap-roots, for instance.... notthat at this minute I can think of any names, of course! :-\ :-X ::)
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Celmisia would appreciate a cool, moist, deep root run?
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Thanks Maggi. I will give it a go. Aim to build the surface up and to have a mini crevice garden.
I had not heard of fibreclay before and there seems to nothing about it in alpine gardening books or websites. It is made by combining fibre recovered from the waste material of pulp mills with clay and so seems environmentally friendly. Also said to be: 'extremely durable, frost & UV resistant and almost impervious to the effects of weathering'.
There are lots of websites selling fibreclay troughs, but virtually no examples of their use. Got the impression that they were mainly used for short-term planting with the contents being replaced fairly regularly which is why I was not sure about its use as an alpine trough which would be for the long term. The much thinner walls compared to stone troughs make the contents more susceptible to external heat and cold, but we do not get the extremes in Scotland that is experienced elsewhere in the world.
Bob
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Some lovely trough plantings in here and great techniques - I particularly like the 'hewing out of sandstone' approach!
I do like a nice trough, but have never really succeeded with them. I mean, I have kept things going but the same plants generally do better in the garden. Quite a few of the choicer plants that you would want to do well in a trough seem to struggle - perhaps too much temperature fluctuation? They also need plenty of watering and in all honesty I have enough to be doing in the garden. I'm focussing on making larger rockeries which have a more even root temperature and moisture content due to greater depth of soil, which will hopefully allow me to grow a wider range of things.
One thing I do have though is a tall outer wall with some deep coping on top. In order to soften the lines a bit, I've infilled with gritty compost and top dressed with gravel, then planted with really tough things like Sempervivum, Dianthus and Sedum. Not exactly choice but it was looking very jolly last year and will hopefully be even better this. Will post pics when in flower. I've also been jamming spare pieces of things with a bit of compost into crevices in dry stone walls, which generally works quite well. I'm wondering if some of the trickier Campanulas might like this treatment.
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I don't think "jamming in" works too well with most drystone walls, although sempervivums probably wouldn't mind. Sooner or later, plant roots hit air and that will often be the end of them. Planted walls are great when you can plant as you build.
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Astragalus - I know what you mean and certainly Sempervivums seem to quite like this treatment. They look great too. But I've also had some success with some saxifrages (in a shadier area) and Erodiums. It's important to jam in plenty of compost first (not always easy). I agree that building into the wall would be greatly preferable!
I also think our wet oceanic climate also helps get things established.
Best, Tristan
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Agreed, Tristan. We are very hot and dry but humid (a weird combination) during the summer months. It would not be too unusual to have 8 to 10 weeks with no rain. Difficult to establish new plantings when you're not able to water (inadequate well).
Some of the phlox cultivars can do well in a wall but are their best at the top where they hang over and occasionally manage to root somehow lower down. Also Sedum cauticola does very well and blooms at a very welcome time. Saxifrages I only dream of.
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In January, I asked about the suitability of using a faux lead trough made from fibreclay as an alpine trough.
Have had a go and built up the surface. Started to plant it up with Kabschia saxifrages, Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Vaccariana', Primula 'Lismore Peardrop', Primula marginata, Aethionema 'Warley Ruber', Androsace and Erodium x kolbiana 'Natasha'. Couple of pictures below.
We will see how it turns out.
Bob
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So far so good, Bob. Nice choice of plants.
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I think your trough will be great Tristan. You'll soon want more. :)
So far as deep rooted things are concerned, in my two big double washtub troughs, I've found that Anchusa caespitosa and the low Carduncellus species (rhaponticoides and pinnatus) are especially happy and have made very large plants in less than two years, having got their roots down among the large boulder-type rocks I used as ballast and to save on planting mixture. Jasminum parkeri is doing very well too. Usually though, I use my troughs for much smaller things such as drabas, small primulas, campanulas, Gentiana verna etc which are a bit small for the open garden.
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Oh, I have plenty of this kind of trough Lesley, just working out how best to use them! ;D
Here's one of the Sempervivum calcareum clones (possibly Mrs Giuseppe - I'm not very careful with keeping labels I'm afraid and anyway it's quite difficult to label plants in crevices!). Only planted last year but establishing well. Slightly to my surprise one of the Sax hybrids also seems to be establishing well on a shady side of the same limestone wall.
[attachimg=1]
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Bob I like the faux lead and the choice of plants. I think it would look even better with a grey top dressing to match the rocks. Please post more pics when it's settled down and in flower.
Best, Tristan
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... and here is the Saxifrage - I think it is 'Tvoje Pisen'
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
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This photo of Jo Walker and her rather unusual sink garden is from Razvan Chisu - Raz wrote
"Alpines are easy! Jo Walker's creative planting in a sand blasted sink"
[attachimg=1]
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Wonder if the loo looks good too? ;D
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Good drainage too I expect...
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I recall Brian Walker used to chip all the white glaze off sinks too.
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.....and much pleasanter then those "in lieu." ;D ;D ;D
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Sorry David, didn't notice yours before rushing into print. So much for my brilliant pun! ???
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Established for 1 year, trough contains the following flowering plants: Primula x Kusum Krishna, Draba bryoides imbricata compacta, Androsace sempervivoides 'Susan Jane', Sax. grisebachii. Other plants (probably too many in the long term!): Dryas tenella, Dianthus erinaceous, Bolax gummifera, Sax. 'Dawn Frost', Sax. 'Dora Ross'
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Jolly nice Maureen. :)
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Once de glazing has been chipped off I guess the sinks are porous and prone to frost damage.
Is it not better to use Ian's method and paint them with glue and sand as he does with polystyrene boxes? ;)
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In 1994, I visited Gran Sasso. which is a mountain in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. On this mountain grows Leontopodium alpinum ssp. nivale. The collected seeds I have grown into a trough. 1996 flourished the plant for the first time, by this time the Edelweis increased by self sowing.
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Beautiful Franz! This is a very fine Leontopodium....
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Magnificent, Franz.
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Once de glazing has been chipped off I guess the sinks are porous and prone to frost damage.
Is it not better to use Ian's method and paint them with glue and sand as he does with polystyrene boxes? ;)
Rising damp in old houses used to be coped with by coating the (internal) walls with bitumen emulsion, allowing to dry to the tacky stage and then liberally coated with gritty sand, by throwing it at it. When dry this was a good base for normal lightweight 2 coat plastering.
Has anyone found a successful coating of a bonding agent and sand/grit which lasts outside in all weathers, without shelling off a porcelain base?
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Really beautiful Leontopodium Franz. We rarely see this form and it never seems to be in the seed lists so thank you for these pictures. A perfect plant for trough planting.
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In 1994, I visited Gran Sasso. which is a mountain in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. On this mountain grows Leontopodium alpinum ssp. nivale. The collected seeds I have grown into a trough. 1996 flourished the plant for the first time, by this time the Edelweis increased by self sowing.
I hope this is what I'll dream about tonight!
First I need to google about Gran Sasso right away :) Thank you!
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Flowering here just now Adonis vernalis Adonis cyllenea Gentian acaulis
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Matt Matthus, the president of NARGS (North American Rock Garden Society) write about alpines in troughs in his latest blog : http://www.growingwithplants.com/2016/05/how-to-make-real-alpine-trough-garden.html (http://www.growingwithplants.com/2016/05/how-to-make-real-alpine-trough-garden.html)
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Various Rhodohypoxis cultivars
(Sorry about the hosepipe in the baclground)
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Flowering in my through:
Thalictrum kiusianum
Mimulus cupreus Whitecroft Scarlet
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Amazing to me to see Thalictrum kiusianum in bloom in your trough. Here, it doesn't start bloomimg until the end of August or early September, about the same time as Gentiana paradoxa. I wonder why?
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I think my garden is warmer and some plants begin in spring earlier to growth.
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That's interesting, Ann. Here in Minnesota, flower stalks are just beginning.
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Rick, nothing here except the foliage which is really very nice. If it repeats its usual pattern, it will bloom end of August or beginning of September as it has done so far. Surely your garden is colder than mine so it can't be the cold that's delaying the flowering. I haven't seen it in bloom in other gardens so just assumed it was an end of summer bloomer.
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Flowering in my through:
Campanula choruhensis
Physoplexis-comosa
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I was recently gifted from some good friends 4 small troughs with measurements of --1 metre length --350mm width --150mm depth.
Spent a few hours trying to work out where to position them and finally decided to narrow the width of a path and remove some limestone edging along one of the Trillium beds near the BBQ area.
Mixed some left over pumice with compost and chipped one of the larger redundant limestone rocks for some top dressing around the raised planting.
I had a number of saxifraga in pots purchased a few months back from a local nursery ,( where the troughs previously resided ), that needed planting out ........
One down , 3 troughs to finish ... :)
Cheers Dave.
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Very nice! They're a good size for quite a few subjects.
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Thanks Maggi
Might take awhile to finish them all as although I have plenty of plant material available I'm undecided at this stage on what rock to use and in what form for the other 3 troughs .
Had an idea tonight that I might try and disguise the fact they are 3 separate troughs in a row by raising the rock higher with peaks and hollows so I can cover the concrete ,(end), edges where they butt on to each other to give the impression ,at least from a top view of one continuous narrow trough ...... :-\
There is no urgency and in any case I think half the fun is in mulling over ideas .
Cheers Dave.
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I wonder why those labels look so familiar? ;D
Dave you would have loved the long troughs in the Czech gardens. Some were 3 or 4 metres long and they housed great collections of rare and lovely plants. I have some photos somewhere.
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I wonder why those labels look so familiar? ;D
;D
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I wonder why those labels look so familiar? ;D
Dave you would have loved the long troughs in the Czech gardens. Some were 3 or 4 metres long and they housed great collections of rare and lovely plants. I have some photos somewhere.
If you find the photos I would love to see them Lesley. Which Czech gardens did you go to?
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Eljay: The two forum threads below have many photos from the various gardens visited during the Czech Conferences/Tours of 2007 and 2013.
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=471.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=471.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10484.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10484.0)
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I'll have a dig among my Czech pictures Dave. I used some the other day in a trough talk, but mostly smaller ones. The best long ones that I remember in the amazing Holubec garden but there were others too. Maybe they were horse troughs originally? But do look through Maggi's links above. Great memories for me there. :)
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Eljay: The two forum threads below have many photos from the various gardens visited during the Czech Conferences/Tours of 2007 and 2013.
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=471.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=471.0)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10484.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10484.0)
Thanks for showing the links to those threads again Maggi --some wonderful images ...
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Regular Forum readers will probably remember an old stone sink I bought from my local tip for 50p many years ago and never did anything with. Well, I've done it at last, sort of! I had grown on a load of Saxifrage cuttings and planted it out a few days ago. The local Magpies and Jackdaws seemed to like it and took out not only the black labels I had lovingly written and buried just about to their tops in the soil against each plant, but took many of the the plants out as well. Re-planting has been done, no idea for most of them what their names are, and this time I've netted it.
It's the one and only time I've wished for cats :P
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[It's the one and only time I've wished for cats]
You are loosing it David,You are loosing it,are you not taking the tablets. ? :) :) :)
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You are loosing it David,You are loosing it,are you not taking the tablets. ? :) :) :)
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I must be getting old Michael!
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A visit to a bluestone quarry was worth the effort for the beautiful stone I found. I was told I could pick though the overburden, which was a HUGE pile of assorted stone. I was looking for interesting looking stuff with troughs in mind. I'm quite pleased with how my first crevice garden pot has come up.
Apologies for posting so many photos, but every angle has a different character and I couldn't choose. :)
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That looks great Jamus, maybe you could buy a few slabs from the quarry to wire together and make a trough? Would look amazing with matching rocks inside.
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Tristan I love that idea! It never occurred to me. I don't have a lot of space for troughs, but I guess I can make more space by getting rid of garden beds.
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Yesterday and today read the whole topic. And I've seen a lot of creative ideas.
I made these 3 meter trough in September 2015. While creating, I took lots of pictures. A full description in pdf which you can see or downloaded here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wSWiwm_WABRDdqd0Zjc2xGbWc/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wSWiwm_WABRDdqd0Zjc2xGbWc/view?usp=sharing)
Even a small overvieuw video https://www.youtube.com/v/-fRLeT6coDE (https://www.youtube.com/v/-fRLeT6coDE)
Anyone can make this trough does not require any special skill.
The third picture is the winter (rain) protection.
Photos are just after planting.
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Jan Tholhuisjen is really good at sharing his experiences with making things for the garden to keep his plants happy - now he has turned his attention to something else helpful for all - Jan has made a great compilation of Ian Young's trough making articles - "With permission from Ian I have 5 blogs about the fish box troughs collected and put into an e-book. It is very interesting info, to see how to make this type of troughs and see the planted results. You can download the entire report in PDF.
Click on the page, on the bottom right for full screen."
Click here to see the e-book : https://issuu.com/jantholhuijsen/docs/the_fish_box_troughs (https://issuu.com/jantholhuijsen/docs/the_fish_box_troughs)
Well done, Jan! Exactly what is needed for a wider audience to see all Ian's trough advice in one place.
[attachimg=1]
easy place!
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And a link to see Jan's methods .... which have also been in the IRG such as this one : http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2016Oct271477579167IRG82.pdf (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2016Oct271477579167IRG82.pdf)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wSWiwm_WABZ29ub1cwWmRzNEU/view (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wSWiwm_WABZ29ub1cwWmRzNEU/view)
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THis link is to another of Jan's super compilations - https://issuu.com/jantholhuijsen/docs/troughs_in_the_rock_garden_e9e6ec6d2f7950 - read it online or download it.
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Today a rainy day, but after the sunny spring days is a bit of rain for the grass well.
The series lightweight troughs I ended yesterday.
It became eight troughs and a trough table, accounting for 9.40 meters.
Usually, prompting the composition of the substrate in the troughs
It is 40% crusher sand / coarse river sand, 40% Japanese split (2-6 mm)
20% special blend of 50% loam and 50% white peat
On April 22, it is already selling day by the NRV, so sellers here I come !!!
How do you make these troughs, here you can read and download everything.
https://tinyurl.com/Practical-projects-for-the-roc (https://tinyurl.com/Practical-projects-for-the-roc)
and
https://tinyurl.com/The-trough-table (https://tinyurl.com/The-trough-table)
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Here are the other four
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The table turned out really well, Jan! I'm breathless at the amount of work you have done recently and the great results you have had. I think the plants and seeds sown in these troughs will have a happy life.
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The table turned out really well, Jan! I'm breathless at the amount of work you have done recently and the great results you have had. I think the plants and seeds sown in these troughs will have a happy life.
Thanks Maggi. :)
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Very skilfully done
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An alternative use for an Alpine Trough! Our Jack Russell, aptly named 'Bandit' by some.
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Ideal plants for a trough.
Androsace muscoidea
Draba rosularis
Veronica caespitosa
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The Edelweiss blossoms satisfactorily
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Phlox pulvinata bloomed some time ago in this trough. It's my best one because of the lovely blue tones. Since I started taking photos with the IPad that was a Birthday gift, I've been unable to figure out how to get the pictures on the Forum because they are huge. Hopefully, this will work.
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Something a little different; some auricula in a wooden planter box which forms one side of our little garden gazebo. I hope they like their new home.
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Trough with Papaver microcarpum, Daphne arbuscula just starting to rebloom, Veronica thymoides pseudocineria, Silene acaulis, and sharp eyes will spot a seedling of the pea family.
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Some saxifragas in my garden.
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Posting for Chris B. :
"Today I finally tackled an overgrown garden trough. I’ve potted up some of its contents but mostly binned it. Acquired some lumps of slate whilst in the Lake District and top dressed with house slates bashed up. Quite pleased with the results, but it will look better when the plants settle in I’m sure.... "
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[attachimg=2]
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Thanks Maggi!
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:-*
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Fishbox Troughs
Ian's article on making trough from polystyrene boxes - lightly updated with photos now directly included :
http://files.srgc.net/general/FishBoxTroughs-JIY.pdf (http://files.srgc.net/general/FishBoxTroughs-JIY.pdf)
The newer method using a fish box inside a cement trough : http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2008/170908/log.html)
Yet another NARGS chapter is having a styrofoam trough workshop! Great isn't it?
https://www.nargsnw.org/styrofoam-trough-making (https://www.nargsnw.org/styrofoam-trough-making)
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for my snowdrop-garden I got some day ago 4 old origin sandstone troughs and will they give a good place and fill with different rocks and alpine plants. Such old sandstone troughs are very rare now! In the background - my new greenhouse and a little "stonehenge garden"!
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Aquilegia jonesii in a trough. Have this plant for7 years. It stopped flowering 4 years ago. This year started with 6 buds. Unfortunately one flower was damaged. I am covering the plant to get self fertilized seeds.
Last time it flowered I did not do that and all the seeds were hybrids.
1. Aquilegia jonesii
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We had a very warm spell for the season. 23 for several days which resulted in pushing everything to bloom. This is our chain of troughs. And then the closest one again with some drabas and primulas flowering
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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This plant was received as Draba Thomasii. But there should be 4 petals. Is it really draba?
[attachimg=1]
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I seem to have found it. Can it be Saxifraga androsacea.
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Do you've a zoomed detail of the end of leafs?
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Thanks, Yann. Will try to take it tomorrow.
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Different shapes and colours in a very small space...this is what makes the planting of troughs so attractive.
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A few in my troughs from this year
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Very nice Philip. In the third picture is the yellow plant Linum flavum 'Compactum' please ?
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That's what it said on the packet and has stayed 'compact'.
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Part (shallow) trough and part living roof - on a cover for wheelie bins... (only photo available)
[attachimg=1]
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Super post from Alpine Garden Society on Twitter - " Seven year old Ian Galloway shows you how to create your own alpine trough from scratch - Go Ian!
Ian is John Galloway's (AGS Trustee & Treasurer) grandson & learnt to garden because of his Grandpa
Isn't it wonderful to see children gardening?"
YES!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbVr5eVi3U4
Young Ian already does better than many on TV!!
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Super post from Alpine Garden Society on Twitter - " Seven year old Ian Galloway shows you how to create your own alpine trough from scratch - Go Ian!
Ian is John Galloway's (AGS Trustee & Treasurer) grandson & learnt to garden because of his Grandpa
Isn't it wonderful to see children gardening?"
YES!!!
Young Ian already does better than many on TV!!
great to give children a chance to develop some real world interests :)
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John Dower, that well-known grower and doyen of alpine mini-garden makers has made a video talk on these fascinating, and very popular planted containers - Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B0RHDmdqRI
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Great video on filling and landscaping a trough from Paul Spriggs in Canada:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7btxnqq9Q5c
Alpine Garden Club British Columbia
Demonstration of construction of a crevice garden in a hypertufa trough by Paul Spriggs on September 19, 2021 at Darts Hill Garden Park. The demonstration was part of the anniversary celebrations of the Darts Hill Garden Conservancy Trust Society.