The Rain/Rock Garden – Stage 2

– Posted in: Garden Design

rain-rock-garden-stage-2-a

Several weeks ago, I posted about a new project here at Emory Knoll Farms in The Beginning of a Rain/Rock Garden. It’s now time for an update.

We’ve finished stacking the boulders and we have the water flowing nicely down the three large horizontal stones into the infiltration garden. I had to do a little chiseling to make the cascade work the way I wanted.

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The first planting has begun, with Orostachys boehmeri being placed in a little rock nest (above) and some moss I collected from an area with exactly the same sun exposure. Hopefully it will adapt and spread along the cracks in the rocks.

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Chris Speno made a walkway out of recycled pavers and placed some more boulders to simulate an upheaval on the east side of the walkway (shown in the photo at the top of this post). We have sanded the wall for repainting and are waiting for warmer weather for the rest of the planting. I know the photos aren’t the prettiest, but I think it’s good to see the process sometimes as well as the product.

5 comments… add one

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linda March 14, 2009, 8:11 am

I like seeing the process, especially on a project like this. It helps demystify something I haven’t tried yet but would like to.

Linda,
I’m glad about your demystification. I believe there are many small things we can do around the house and garden once the curtain has been pulled back.
Ed

Eleanor at OutOfDoors March 14, 2009, 1:25 pm

I absolutely agree about the process…especially in the garden. Seems like starters often get frustrated or plant things too close because they are striving for the finished magazine look right at the beginning. I have a funny picture of what happens when gallon plants grow up here.

Eleanor,
Thanks for the photo link, it is funny and sad at the same time. For me one of the joys of gardening is watching the plants grow in. I would feel somewhat cheated by having an instant garden.
Ed

Don March 15, 2009, 10:23 pm

I love projects like that. I want to put some Japanese water chains up somewhere.

Don,
I love those rain chains too and I may have used them but I wanted the water to be falling in a precise spot on the boulder.
Ed

healingmagichands June 22, 2009, 2:28 pm

I love seeing the process. I wondered sometimes about my photos of the process when we were doing our new Stroll Garden, but nobody complained that they were ugly and boring, just as these are not.

I really like the overall effect of your boulder pile.

Deanne July 10, 2009, 10:03 pm

I am looking for a orostachys boehmeri. Can you tell me where I can find one?

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