Evolution of a Crocus Garden

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

In the Feb thread people had expressed interest in seeing my new Crocus (and retic Iris and Narc bulbocodiums of course) garden.  I posted pics at the time of the "before" shots.  Rather than having this strung out over multiple months and never being able to find previous pics to compare I thought I'd start a specific thread to show the garden as it progressed.  I hope no-one minds me doing it this way, but I figure it is easy enough for those who aren't interested to just ignore it completely this way!! 

OK, here's the previous shots I posted that were taken a month ago of the area of wild and woolly pots where the garden will be....

[Paul T]

And these shots were taken on Monday of this week, showing the cleared area, basic sleeper frame, and the concrete drive strip for the driveway running underneath!!

Currently I have been madly recycling potting soil from old dead pots (well overdue to sort through a lot of old pots where thigns have died in our dreadful drought the last few years) and from repotting Narcissus etc.  I am avoiding using potting mix that came from Crocus, retic iris or hoop pietticoat daff pots, so that I don't get any accidental volunteers.  I figure that anything else which pops up unexpectedly will be easily seen to be from the old mix and won't be a problem.  If I re-used the Crocus mix here I'd never know if a Crocus was supposed to be there or not, well at least until I lifted the baskets they'll be planted in to check.  At the moment the recycled mix sits at about 2/3 of the height of the sleeper, which saves me a lot of money I would have needed to buy that much fresh soil.  It mightn't be ideal to recycle, but it is the only way I can do it at the moment.  I will be buying a bunch of sand to mix with it to improve drainage as well.

I'll keep posting pics as things progress.

[Paul T]

And I thought I had better add a picture of what I was trying to describe before......

The white fabric is Geotextile fabric and is supposed to help restrict root penetration.  I am trying to limit the amount of root invasion from the Prunus mume pendula next to the garden.  I don't expect it to keep them all out, but I am hoping it will help.

As you can see, that's a lot of recycled potting mix!    The garden dimensions are appromixately 2.4m x 1.8m

[Maggi Young]

That's coming along well, Paul. Why are there "legs" of wood sticking out beyond the oblong???

[mark smyth]

I thought that also.

[Paul T]

Because I haven't got the chainsaw out as yet and cut them off!!    The wood isn't actually bolted together as yet either (if you want to get technical!!  ).  I have to do all this before it gets much further along I know, but just hadn't done it "yet".

I'll make sure to rectify this before the next pictures are posted!! 

[Katherine J]

I figure it is easy enough for those who aren't interested to just ignore it completely this way!! 

And easy enough for those who ARE interested to find it! 
Waiting for the next chapter, thanks!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very interesting to see your operation developping Paul !
You've been a very busy boy - it looks very promising too - it will be great to plant up empty area like that... 
Obviously, we look forward to the next episode.

[Otto Fauser]

Paul, now I have a much clearer idea of your raised bulbbed devoted to Crocus ,than your description over the phone . I have a raised frame too , about the same size ,but double the height of yours [much kinder to an acheing lower back], but instead of Crocus , I grow my oncocyclus and Arilbred Irises in it .In prolonged rainy periods in winter and summer, I can cover the bed with clear, corrugated polycarbonate sheeting.
 Maybe for those Crocus species that enjoy cooler conditions & some moisture during their rest period , make provisions in one corner of your bed-like Cr.vallicola and banaticus-which are just starting to flower here. however I grow these species with my dwarf Rhododendron species . How do the alpine Rhodos . behave in the Canberra climate?
       Ciao Otto.

[Thomas Huber]

Great work, Paul - now you have to hurry with planting the Crocus as Otto's plants already start growing!

[Paul T]

Otto,

The "front" left hand corner (front being furthest from the garage) will have some summer shade from the Prunus mume pendula, and so will be used for those which prefer a bit more shade and moisture.  I don't know vallicola, but grow C. banaticus and cvijicii which should like that area.  plenty of sun in winter when the leaves have fallen, then the Prunus is cut right back to a tiny ball at the top and starts its droppers again for the following season.  By the time it gets to full heat they have wept back down to the ground again, providing that shade.  The middle of the bed will be higher as well, and will be used to accomodate soem deeper growing bulbs like our native Calostemma which should like similar conditions to the Crocus but want their bulbs down deeper.  It'll be interesting to see how it all works out.... I don't expect it to look at all "natural", but hopefully the arrangement won't be too jarring to the senses.  Everything small will be planted in mesh baskets so they are retrievable for sharing, and hopefully allow me to keep everything separate from everything else.

I haven't tried many of the dwarf Rhodos, at least not those really dwarf ones which I think you're talking about.  Can't exactly buy them around here so it isn't something I've had to contend with.  I love the dwarf Rhodos I see pictures or, and try to buy smaller types when I can find them, but I think you're talking the species and soforth aren't you?

Thomas,

Yes, I am concerned about the stored Crocus at the moment as well.  I am about to start potting them into their mesh baskets to give them a start with moisture, but realise they can't be kept that way for too long.  My moisture loving species as mentioned above are in my shadehouse currently, so they're all potted and safe.  My big worry is actually pulchellus, which I would imagine is probably shooting in it's bag right now, waiting for soil.  That is where potting them into their mesh baskets now in preparation for planting into the garden later, will give me another week or so to complete it without damaging the dry bulbs any further.  I just have to get the energy and the sand purchased to get the rest of it set up, then take a trip out to my sister's farm to get some more mossy rocks to complete the banking arrangements within the garden.

AND I have seeds to send off to people of the Cyclamens etc.  So much to do and so little energy to do it!! 

[Paul T]

And on checking the stored Crocus pulchellus this evening in their paper bag...... there are little white shoots everywhere.  They're going into their basket tomorrow to get them started, then I have to get the garden finished!! 

[Michael]

Wow! that is looking nice! Keep on the good work!

[Paul T]

Those who were eagle eyed amongst the viewers should now be pleased to know that the sleepers are now bolted and the "legs" have been removed.  It is now a large solid rectangle, 3/4 filled with recycled potting mix.  Tomorrow hopefully will be a half cubic metre of sand.

The quest continues......

[Paddy Tobin]

Ah Paul,

I don't know. Look back to the first photographs you posted above; look with gently and appreciative eyes and ask yourself, 'Will my garden really be improved by the removal of those two large white buckets of water?"

Personally, I think you will have lost something, an artistic horticultural arrangement of planting containers of pristine plastic.

Perhaps you should reconsider this development. After all anyone can grow crocus but to grow two plastic buckets of such beauty is a rare achievement not to be dismissed lightly.

Paddy