Crevice Gardening ......in defence of rock.....

[krisderaeymaeker]

Kris, your trough is wonderful.  I also like the way you seem to have integrated the trough into the garden, it looks very natural.  I think the large troughs are the best for plant survival in a cold climate.
What are the measurements?  You seem to have found room for a lot of very good plants.  Do you protect it in any way during the winter?

Thanks Anne. Sorry for the late reply , we where on holiday the previous week. I used the same rocks as the ones I used for my crevice .
Actually this is my smallest trough. I try to give dimensions later on . Last two winters where very warm here  but in cold winters I wrap this trough  with bubble foam when severe frost with no snow is expected. Yes I give this trough a cover but I do this as late as possible. I just putted  a cover on them this weekend. And already in mid february or end february at latest I remove this cover. Offcourse depending on the situation wich can be very different from year to year. This trough is mainly devoted to Androsace , because I can't grow the most of them in the open garden. 

[krisderaeymaeker]

Why not grow Crocus as a creviceplant ?

[David Nicholson]

As I proceed through my 70's I can't help thinking about what I've never grown and how long I might be able to continue my gardening interests before time catches up with me. With this is mind I'm now growing far fewer bulbous plants than I used to and trying to grow more alpines. Over this year I've developed a new rock bed the end of which will be a small crevice which I have yet to finish but aim to complete so that I can buy some plants, to add to those I'm growing from seed, at the South West AGS Show at the end of March 2015. Here's one from seed, and apologies for the fuzzy picture, struggling to open fully in the very wet and grey days typical in a maritime climate, Androsace albana, I think?. Sown October 2012 from AGS Seed Ex 11/12-1303. I note from Smith and Lowe that this will probably die after flowering, should have read that before I sowed them    

[Maggi Young]

There are so many great Androsaces, perennial and monocarpic  - have you seen the examples from Franz Hadacek's collection in the IRG of  September 2014?  http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2014Sep251411672305IRG57.pdf

[astragalus]

Finally a free day to spend covering a large part of the garden with chickenwire.  It has to be raised off the ground or the deer will walk all over it.  I've been using the u-shaped wire supports from old political signs, but as the garden keeps growing (when I'm not looking), I no longer have enough.  This year I had to get quite creative as you will see.
First, a picture of what happens when the garden is not covered.

[astragalus]

We had some old wrought iron chairs etc waiting for me to paint and make some seats, etc.  They have now been put to work.  I also have used the iron chairs from the terrace despite protests from my husband.  I pointed out that they sit outside all winter anyway so they wouldn't be hurt by a temporary change of location.  Also upended  all my work buckets to keep the wire raised. The garden now looks rather strange but it will stymie Bambi.  Even the back of the cliff is now protected, and that was difficult.  Sharp eyes will see the daphne still with small flowers under the wire  (D.velenovskyi v 'Balkan Rose').

[Jupiter]

Amazing bit of ingenuity Anne, I respect your motivation and hard work. I have heard some reports that wolves are being reintroduced into the Northern United States, to bring the ecosystem back into balance. Do you have wolves there?

[astragalus]

Don't I wish!  We don't have wolves yet - they would make a huge difference in the deer population and in a short amount of time you would never see deer in the open.  With predators around they would have to revert to their earlier habits.  We have coyotes but they're much smaller and would only be able to handle a disabled fawn.  I've heard that mountain lions are slowly moving eastward and that would certainly make a difference.  In the meantime it's impossible to garden here without resorting to fencing or some sort of winter covering.  The biggest frustration is finding pieces of plants left here and there, even acantholimons are not safe from their daily raids.

[krisderaeymaeker]

 Paraquilegia anemonoides growing wel in my crevice .

[Maggi Young]

A delicate beauty, Kris. 

[David Nicholson]

I like

[krisderaeymaeker]

Thanks Maggi  and David .

[krisderaeymaeker]

In a crevice between two tufarocks : Silene nivalis

[David Nicholson]

I like that too Kris

[krisderaeymaeker]

I like that too Kris

A wee little beauty I would say  ...But a difficult plant , it is already my fourth attempt David....
It failed in tufarocks and in pot and in another crevice .....But it seems that this place fits better , at least I hope so .....