Newbie makes a small crevice garden

[MatthewStuttard]

Just to share my 'newbie' enthusiasm.
Something wonderful in the way these have developed since they were put in only a few weeks ago.
In particular how the crevice plants have gently flowed and moulded their forms to the rock contours.
Is that ant feeding on Sax nectar?

[ChrisB]

Looking good....

[MatthewStuttard]

Late May update.  All going well so far. Have only had to do a bit of dead heading and the slugs seem to dislike climbing up the railway sleepers so no losses to them.
The Ramonda myconii pic was taken through the trellis at the back of the bed, it seems happy enough in its shady nook.
Potentilla may be rather ordinary but it gives a lovely splash of yellow, especially after rain.
I like the way the Erodium flowers are held high on bendy stems so they nod in a breeze, but it is quite a sprawling plant which might need a trim soon.
In contrast Sax Winifred Bevington looks very neat and sturdy in a shadier spot.
The Pulsatilla pic was taken in April - just one flower but a lovely one, I tried sowing the seeds it produced in a tray a couple of weeks ago following the advice on the Pulsatilla forum pages - no seedlings yet! Possibly showing my ignorance but I wonder if the seed is viable as I only have one plant.
The Corydalis posted previously finished its first flush of flowers a couple of weeks ago and I was expecting more as it is supposed to have a long season - no new buds visible today. Should I do anything except wait and see?

[astragalus]

Maggi, I keep a bucket of rain water at the top of the garden and automatically any bought plant is swished gently in the bucket until the roota are pretty clean.  The it gets gently dragged over sand  or I sprinkle some sand on the roots to keep them from clinging together too much.  Then it gets planted in the crevices in my own mix.  Maybe a few weeks later. depending on the plant, it gets some slow-release Osmacote scratched in.  Too much peat and other strange things in potted plants.

[astragalus]

Matthew, what a nice range of plants you're growing. 

[MatthewStuttard]

What's species? Found in the garden today. Just beautiful.

[Diane Clement]

I don't know many moths but I think that's an Angle Shades

[Chris Johnson]

What's species? Found in the garden today. Just beautiful.

A great find, Matthew, a mating pair of Eyed Hawkmoths (Smerinthus ocellata). If you get to see the lower wings you will see a pair of dark 'eyes' on a reddish background.

[Chris Johnson]

I don't know many moths but I think that's an Angle Shades

Diane: Angle Shades has a similar shape but smaller and much lighter colouring.

[Diane Clement]

Diane: Angle Shades has a similar shape but smaller and much lighter colouring.

Thanks Chris   

[MatthewStuttard]

Thanks Diane and Chris,
Great to have the identification.  Their wing shape - especially the trailing edge - looked fantastic.
I did not want to disturb them so did not get to see the undersides or sides. They stayed like that for over an hour.

[MatthewStuttard]

sprinkle some sand on the roots to keep them from clinging together too much

Astragalus, this is a great tip, I used it recently when planting out leeks and it makes it much easier to get the roots into the dibbed holes. I'll use it next time I plant alpines too!

Early June in the crevice bed and the Eidelweiss is developing.  I'm not much of a fan of this plant but couldn't have an alpine garden without it.


Aubretia 'Bressingham Red' is still going, which is a pleasant surprise.  It has also spread to form a fairly compact cushion - seems very well behaved (no pic here).
Rhodohypoxis milloides is the first of the rhodos to flower - really brilliant colour.


Centaurem scilloides is coming on.  Petite flowers.


Edraianthus pumilio has lovely colour, but a very short season - this pic was taken last weekend and the show is almost over now.  Not helped by the heavy rain in the week.


Finally the Sysirinchium has flowered quite well - now nearing the end, and has more than doubled in vegetative mass.  Some of the leaves are not looking happy though.  I'm trying a slow release fertiliser.  Any other tips would be welcome.

[MatthewStuttard]

Solstice update.  Overview pictures taken on 21 June. 
'Side' pic shows the aubretia (front left) has made a lovely cushion and is still flowering.
The other cushion at the front is a Zauschneria.
'Front' pic reveals one of the the Oxalis 'Ione Hecker' plants has got a very bad dose of rust (I can't bring myself to post a close up!).  I did not have time to treat it when it first appeared and it has now really taken hold and the leaves look very unwell. Have sprayed Dithane. The plant is still flowering gamely.
Overhead pic shows how the plants have filled out compared to the end April ( http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11785.msg304559#msg304559 )
Some - a bit too much.  The Erodium at the far end has now had a trim.
The little stars newly in flower are Sempervivum Arachnoideum and Campanula "Dickson's Gold".
Two weeks ago I took offsets from the Semps for another little project and they rooted very quickly in a tray kept in the greenhouse, they will be ready to plant out next week.

[Maggi Young]

That looks great, Matthew.

Where else apart from "rock and alpine gardening" could you get such a wonderful garden with so many plants in such a small place making such a good show in such a short space of time? And one that will go on to give pleasure for so many years to come with only gentle maintenance ?
Rock plants really do rock!!!!

[David Nicholson]

Well done Matthew, looks good.