New beginnings...a rock garden in the Alps

[Hristo]

Coming on a treat RR, enjoy the process! 

[Ragged Robin]

Paul and Hristo, your own efforts in gardening always interest and inspire me - Evolution of a Crocus Garden and Plants Flowering in an Open Rockery are especially helpful and even though our climates and conditions, and therefore plants, are often so diverse there is always something we have in common - photography and recording included!  Thanks for coming by to see the new beginnings  

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks Tony and Robin. It was the colour of the Dianthus that caught my eye
and made me think it would look good in my rockgarden 

[Ragged Robin]

It would, Thomas, I'll find another photo to give you a better idea of size of the plant - the 'floating' heads are tiny and blood red 

[Thomas Huber]

Robin your photos already show the beauty of your plant.
A google search also brought lilac-pink coloured Dianthus deltoides,
is the species really that variable in flowercolour?

[Maggi Young]

Dianthus deltoides is indeed very variable in colour, Thomas. My favourite is the rich dark but bright red that is in Robin's garden. This colour also has nice bronzy foliage here.
It is a super plant which I think would look terrific in your garden... it is useful for  flowering through the summer. We have it in one or two places, but it is prettiest in our drivway, where it survives difficult conditions, compacted soil, some salt residue from the road, being walked on... etc! A really good plant!

Now for the disappointment....   I don't know if I have any seed.... but I will check!
 

[Ragged Robin]

Glad you like and grow it too Maggi, felt awful that I had thrown all those seeds away and only have one stalk left    Hope you have some seed for Thomas

Attached a couple of photos to show it growing in situ earlier in the year ('scuse the mess)...would love to see a photo of it in your drive if you have one - I think the idea is terrific  

[Maggi Young]

Robin, Ian often pictures the driveway in his Bulb Log, though perhaps before the Dianthus is in flower, since it is later and he mostly pictures the bulbs and geraniums...... I'll have a search if poss.
Pics here of west drive with geraniums http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Jul081247060860BULB_LOG__2709.pdf
Dianthus are mostly in east drive, now I think about it!..... .... you can see a few of the Dianthus just beginning in the pic of that further on in that log. 

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks for the info, Maggi and Robin.
Don't worry if you don't have seeds.
I can wait another year.....hardly   

[Ragged Robin]

Maggi, I have told so many gardening friends about your rock garden driveways since I saw them in Ian's Bulb log - they are really magnificent and he saw the potential, which most would not have done (hate paved front gardens - totally souless    ).  I suppose the slope here gives me the same random wild feeling, which for me is essential, as it gives such pleasure with the surprise element each year - and who could knock such a lovely tapestry for free with not a lot of heartache to control...I bet it bring loads of butterflies and insects to your garden too  

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks for the info, Maggi and Robin.
Don't worry if you don't have seeds.
I can wait another year.....hardly   

So sorry Thomas, next year I'll keep the best for you 

[tonyg]

Thanks Tony and Robin. It was the colour of the Dianthus that caught my eye
and made me think it would look good in my rockgarden 

I seem to remember you have a hat nearly that colour

[Ragged Robin]

Just for the record, in Alpine-Garden-26 photo I showed my recent planting of Ghislaine De Feligonde rose - I can't wait to see it its first flowering as I think it will eventually look spectacular behind the lavender and beside the blue pine (not sure of name)  So in anticipation here is a link with all the details:

http://www.ph-rose-gardens.com/01023.htm

On this subject I would like also to dedicate my rose to Forum Member Ghislain, who was so kind when I started out on my Alpine Garden venture early this year and sent me all sorts of photos of his wonderful rockery together with plans of planting       Alpines Re:Fleurs de montagnes thread

The winding pathways are still to come and the more natural look in the future, I hope    Here is his inspirational website:

http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.net/

[ranunculus]

I seem to remember you have a hat nearly that colour

Oops, and I nearly said 'A robin's breast, too'!!??!!   

[Ragged Robin]

Keeping abreast of your observations, Cliff, I'd say "close"