I find these plantings quite interesting! Naturalistic plantings can be wonderful, but frankly, how natural will a tufa outcropping be in the backyards of most of us? The geometry of these plantings, especially with the brick supporting walls, is exactly their charm.. I gather most of these are planted on only one side? I think I would also like something like this with a lower brick/concrete support with the rocks rising above it a little... I believe we also saw someone's garden which had geometric beds with a stone/brick frame/low wall with various sorts of rock plantings inside the beds-- I think the geometric framework separates the less formal constructions within from one another (no need to tie together a tufa bed, a sand bed, etc etc) and from the surrounding environment (no need to visually explain or excuse rock crevices in a flat forested site, etc).... Cohan
On Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 6:46 PM, Jan & Dave Dobak <[email protected]> wrote: > Since Jane asked about placing material in a manner that > does > not look naturalistic, I have posted 5 pictures to AlpenPix > Gallery > taken at the Royal Horticulture Society garden Harlow Carr. > Their newly redeveloped alpine area has some displays that > are anything but naturalistic. > > http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/index.php?gal=AlpenPix&gen > us=1-gardens&id=3257 > > http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/index.php?gal=AlpenPix&gen > us=1-gardens&id=3258 > > http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/index.php?gal=AlpenPix&gen > us=1-gardens&id=3259 > > http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/index.php?gal=AlpenPix&gen > us=1-gardens&id=3260 > > http://botu07.bio.uu.nl/temperate/index.php?gal=AlpenPix&gen > us=1-gardens&id=3261 > > Nevertheless, the alpines on display at Harlow Carr are > stunning! > The surround is formal, geometric, etc., but then who cares > when the > plants are wonderful? > > Note especially in 3258 the proximity of a large > steel-framed alpine house > and large black rainwater storage tanks. > > Dave Dobak > Portland, Oregon, USA > > > > > > > I am wondering whether I should incorporate some > > vertical slabs on > > one side of the garden, remembering Harry Jans's > > remarkable garden > > features. I have some thin slabs that will be fairly > > easy to drill. I > > know putting this material vertically won't look > > naturalistic, but > > the prospect of growing chasmophytes and being able to > > set winter > > rain protection easily over them is quite tempting. > > Should I forget > > imitating nature? After all, the tufa garden will be > > next to a great > > big steel-framed bulb house and an 1100-gallon > > rainwater storage > > tank, so nobody is going to feel like they're standing > > out in the Dolomites. > > > ... > > > > Comments very welcome! > > > > Jane McGary > > Portland, Oregon > > >
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