New tufa garden

[Lori S.]

I built a small tufa garden today... It's about 8' x 6, though I had envisioned it being at least half again as large... but compromises must be made, and it turned out all the tufa was used up anyway.  (I'm glad I heeded my husband's advice to buy  more tufa at the local rock garden club sale this spring than I had originally intended... he was absolutely right!!) 
Well, it's an improvement over the "dog's grave" of fall 2007*, LOL!   Now, the question is, will it grow plants?

*First crevice garden, improved and enlarged in spring, 2008 (and made to look much less like Rover's final resting place.  )

[cohan]

I built a small tufa garden today... I had envisioned it being at least half again as large... but compromises must be made, and it turned out all the tufa was used up anyway.   Well, it's an improvement over the "dog's grave" of fall 2007*, LOL!   Now, the question is, will it grow plants?

*First crevice garden, improved and enlarged in spring, 2008 (and made to look much less like Rover's final resting place.  )

congrats! do you already have plants you want to put in there? or is this an excuse to get new stuff?

[Lori S.]

Thanks!  No, I'm afraid I'm always way ahead with the plants waiting to be planted!   It did give me a place to put more of the ones I grew from seed though... I read that Asyneuma limonifolium is supposed to like calcareous substrates so I hope it will be happy!  I planted it up this evening, and will map it up tomorrow and pull out the tags.

[cohan]

Thanks!  No, I'm afraid I'm always way ahead with the plants waiting to be planted!   It did give me a place to put more of the ones I grew from seed though... I read that Asyneuma limonifolium is supposed to like calcareous substrates so I hope it will be happy!  I planted it up this evening, and will map it up tomorrow and pull out the tags.

yep, i know what that's like, i have various things that need planting in beds i havent even begun to dig from the forest...lol
have fun

[David Nicholson]

Lori, you are lucky to be able to get hold of tufa, it's as rare as hens teeth here.

[Lesley Cox]

And lucky to have a husband who suggests you buy MORE!!! than you intend to. Do you have a spare Lori? (husband, I mean  )

Any new and empty garden is such a treat to see, and a real invitation to do something really exciting with plants. An artist must feel the same when confronted with blank canvas and new paints. You'll have fun with this one.

[Maggi Young]

I am cynical enough to think that Lori's husband only suggested she buy more tufa at that time was to save himself the bother of having her complain later she hadn't got enough and would he please go and fetch her more ! (I speak from years of experience asthe wife of the BD.    )

I've just uploaded Paul Cumbleton's latest Wisley Log, which is the first of two which will deal with  Sand beds.... a subject not a million miles from that of this thread ..... thought you might be interested!
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Jul021246568306Log_14_of_2009.pdf

[Lori S.]

David, yes, the source of this tufa is private land in British Columbia, where the deposits of springs laden with dissolved calcite are being quarried by the owner.  The amount shown in the photo (though much of it is beneath ground level and so not visible) cost $220 in total, including 2 bags of 1/2" tufa gravel and one of calcite sand... largish chunks were individually priced at $20 and $25, though pricing was discounted for larger purchases.  We probably could have done a bit better on the cost, but I am no bargainer and I was certainly satisfied with that!  (N.B.  Sadly, it is probably a very interesting and, in fact, rather special habitat which is being exploited.  But, unfortunately, everything one does has impacts, needless to say... the stone I used for my other bed was also quarried somewhere, causing destruction to some other interesting habitat.  The cement for our troughs was also blasted from limestone beds, likely in the mountains west of here, and the peat came from ancient bogs in the boreal forest...  ... drat.  Sorry, now I'm all depressed!  )

Lesley, a spare? (There have been times when I would have auctioned the original off to the highest bidder, LOL!  But... I'm sure he'd say the same of me!) He is tremendously handy, smart and very talented at water gardening, to boot!  However, in anticipation of that inevitable "next time"...  I'm sure he'd love New Zealand but it's only fair to warn you that for prolonged contentment, he does require access to some quite sophisticated (read: "$$$") stereo equipment... just so you know, and can prepare in advance!  

Yes, Maggi, cynicism aside, if the suggestion was with forethought, it was a very clever move on his part... I appreciate that it saved face for me, and also saved another trip for him!  Well done all 'round!    
 
Thanks for the reference.... I have been thinking of a sand bed too... now where to put it?

[Lesley Cox]

That could probably be arranged Lori, provided it was the big Bs he wanted to play on it.

[Lori S.]

Hmmm, if "the big B's" stands for Beethoven, Brahms and... errr... Bach (to a lesser extent and at appropriate times... calm Sunday mornings, say)... you're playing his tunes, LOL!  

If it's big bands, it's me who should come and visit instead, LOL!  I must admit I'm nowhere near so useful though.  

[Lesley Cox]

No Lori, you'd better stay home. Just send the other half. Bach (at ALL times), Beethoven, Brahms and some Bartok too.

[Lori S.]

Oh, I'm crushed!    Guess I can just go sit out in my new rock garden and eat worms...

But substitute the Bartok for Shostakovich and Prokofiev and you've got his number! (Otherwise, I see irreconcilable differences ahead.  )

(You know, I realize I'm really stating my preferences here, LOL!  I am not as fond of Bach as he is... )
Hmm, tomorrow, if I am not totally exhausted from hiking, I hope to find out here whether I've made any really heinous boo-boos in the plants I've stuck in the tufa garden... anything that really despises lime, I mean. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I built a small tufa garden today... It's about 8' x 6, though I had envisioned it being at least half again as large... but compromises must be made, and it turned out all the tufa was used up anyway.  (I'm glad I heeded my husband's advice to buy  more tufa at the local rock garden club sale this spring than I had originally intended... he was absolutely right!!) 
Well, it's an improvement over the "dog's grave" of fall 2007*, LOL!   Now, the question is, will it grow plants?

*First crevice garden, improved and enlarged in spring, 2008 (and made to look much less like Rover's final resting place.  )

Looks very neat Lori !
I'm sure you'll enjoy it and be sure to show us how it gets along !

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Maggi, cynicism aside, if the suggestion was with forethought, it was a very clever move on his part... I appreciate that it saved face for me, and also saved another trip for him!  Well done all 'round!

Yup, the proverbial win-win situation..... can't be beaten for a success!

I think that many "new" gardeners will be inspired to see these projects documented in these pages and look forward to seeing how things progress.

[Lesley Cox]

I'm very happy with S and P too Lori. However, in view of my advanced years, I could be accused of cradle-snatching, so....

I too, am looking forward to hearing how the tufa garden progresses.