New Crevice garden

[Palustris]

As mentioned in the I am so happy section, we decided to build a new crevice garden. Now I have a list ofplants which I intend growing in it so that is not the problem. Next to it is quite a large area of well drained, slightly acid poor quality soil. The area is about 6 metres by 4 and slopes down to the North west. I wondered whether or not this would be a suitable place for an Alpine lawn or meadow type of garden? If so, anyone any suggestions as to what to plant in it? I am not a purist nor a plant snob so Aubrieta and Arabis and Alyssum and Phlox subulata/douglasii are ok by me.
This is what it looks like.

[Lesley Cox]

If the soil is slightly acid, it would seem to me a shame to waste it on aubrietas and the like. Could you add some humus to improve the soil quality then try small rhodos, cassiopes, Asiatic primulas and gentians and other non lime-loving plants, especially if the area slopes to the north/west? The phloxes and their chums will grow anywhere.

[Palustris]

Thanks Lesley, we have some dwarf Rhodo's elsewhere which I had thought about transferring to this section. They are a bit overgrown where they are. We have tried Cassiopes before without success in this garden. I would love to be able to grow Asiatic primulas and Gentians, but sadly they fail utterly for us. I have one struggling G sino-ornata type in a pot which is all that is left of a big one we bought a couple of years ago. And as for Primulas, well the leaves just go crisp and the whole plant dies. We are just too dry an atmosphere for them. We get about half the average national rainfall here. We have stood and watched the rain approach to within a hundred yards of us and then stop on many occasions. We have even walked  half a mile along our lane from dryness into heavy downpour.
After looking through the site I discovered a question about Alpine Lawns mentioning the Anne Ashbury book of the same tittle. I have a copy and there are some nice ideas in it. We might try some of her ideas.

[Lesley Cox]

Oh well.....