Troughs

[astragalus]

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.

[Lesley Cox]

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?

[Maggi Young]

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!

[Lesley Cox]

And of course the bits and pieces carved out from the middles would make marvellous chipping or flakes for around the plants. I wish.....

[astragalus]

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.

[Maggi Young]

About the Wrightman move : 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

and you can follow the move on Twitter, too : https://twitter.com/alpineplants       

[Graham Catlow]

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.

An over view as of yesterday.

The southern trough earlier in the year.

The east trough from a few weeks ago.

The east trough from yesterday.

The west and north troughs.

[Lori S.]

WOW!!  Magnificent!

[Graham Catlow]

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.

Looking from the north

Overview

The north trough

The North trough second view

Second in line

[Graham Catlow]

Third in line - note the coasters for the tea mugs or wine glasses

Fourth in line

[Graham Catlow]

The next set.

An old trough with mainly Gentiana acaulis which looks great in the spring.

A new trough just a few weeks old

Trough 3

Trough 3 last year when the Saxifragas and Dianthus were in flower

Trough 4 last year the Calceolaria didn't do too well this year.

[Steve Garvie]

Well done on a fantastic series of troughs Graham!

[astragalus]

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.

[Lesley Cox]

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.

[Graham Catlow]

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.