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

[Lesley Cox]

I hope you get the go-ahead Paul. In my experience senior managers have this nasty habit of backing away just as the price estimates come in, and when work could reasonably be starting. Good luck for your project. It would add something extra and very interesting, to Wisley.

[astragalus]

The second crevice garden is finally finished.  The last part is only partially planted because this has really been the summer from hell.  Starting in the spring when we had record breaking days of heat, there has been nothing but that dreaded combination of heat (90s F), drought (2 months of no rain at all), and high humidity.  Many of the western american plants simply go dormant but revive when some rain comes, the high desert plants thrive although some really dislike the humidity, and many other alpines simply go permanently dormant.  Valeriana supina, thriving in the tufa garden at least 6 years, appears to be gone.   It's one of my favorites.  I'll do some planting in the new crevice garden in the fall and finish up in the spring.
Jiri's new crevice  garden looks wonderful.  The plants are really taking hold.  More pictures, please, Jiri.

[Paul Cumbleton]

I am really delighted to report that my proposal for a crevice garden at Wisley has now been approved and the funding provided. Zdenek Zvolanek has very kindly agreed to come and lead us on this project and will be with us from 1 November for a couple of weeks. I will write about it all as it happens in my Log so you can all follow the progress there.

Paul

[Carlo]

Excellent news Paul! Wish I could be there to help....

[David Nicholson]

Good news Paul. I look forward to seeing the finished article.

[Maggi Young]

I am really delighted to report that my proposal for a crevice garden at Wisley has now been approved and the funding provided. Zdenek Zvolanek has very kindly agreed to come and lead us on this project and will be with us from 1 November for a couple of weeks. I will write about it all as it happens in my Log so you can all follow the progress there.

Paul

Well done on your successful proposal, Paul.
I think you will find there is almost universal delight at the prospect: while there are some who are not much in favour of this style of growing there will surely be tremendous interest from visitors to the garden to see it there.
And to have ZZ himself involved.... a coup indeed 

[angie]

Looking forward to follow the progress of your crevice garden.

Angie

[Ragged Robin]

Fantastic news, Paul, what an exciting venture - looking forward to seeing your crevice garden at Wisley progress 

[Lesley Cox]

Excellent news Paul and since it will be happening late this year, there will be more to see at Wisley for those visiting for next year's Conference. I'll get to see their pictures even if not able to take some of my own. Great that in these difficult financial times some institutions are prepared to fund what's really important.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Work on the new Wisley crevice garden can be seen in my latest log, just posted today
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=wisley

Paul

[astragalus]

One of the places the pre-Nottingham Conference Tour will go is to Wisley.  Can't wait to see this crevice garden.  What  an amazing amount of work in just a few days.   I'm used to doing this work with one other person and no machines.  How I'd love to use those machines for even a day but I can see they're operating in a flat area, not on the side of a cliff.  Any machine here would probably land in the lower garden in no time.

[astragalus]

Those of us lucky enough to be on the pre-conference tour got to spend the day at Wisley.  The garden was spectacular but first on my list was the crevice garden.  Paul et al have done an amazing job.  It's huge as the pictures will show.  The fun will be in the planting, because crevice gardens eat up plants.  We also got to go in the propagation house and see some of the plants that Paul is growing for the crevice garden.  It's a wide selection and I was happy to see some North American plants there as well.  I have to give Paul a "10".  He has accomplished so much in so short a time.  The pictures are:
fornt of garden (I think)
middle of garden
back of garden
Aubrieta glabrescens (new must-have plant)

[astragalus]

Blooming today in the crevice garden.
1. Hymenoxys acaulis v caespitosa
2. Coronilla vaginalis
3. Aubrieta 'Marjorie Reynolds
4. Daphne x hendersonii 'Amyon Correvon'

[astragalus]

Also in the crevice garden, where ithas been warm but not too warm.  Blooms are lasting as a result.
1. Daphne velenovskyi 'Balkan Rose'
2. Androsace villosa

[astragalus]

A few more pictures of the plants in the new crevice garden at Wisley.  Young plants, of course, but looking happy and doing very well.  I hope Paul will continue to update us on the new plantings.