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

[astragalus]

I think that must be it, Cliff, although when we hiked there the thing that lingered in your mind was the huge boulders on top and apparently some of those have fallen now.  It is a quite spectacular place and I still have a little basket filled with obsidian I scooped up (while keeping an eye out for rattkesnakes).

[Gabriela]

This one also wouldn't look natural for some, if I'll be to reproduce it in the garden (at smaller scale of course).
Flower Pot Island, in Bruce pen., Ontario.

[Maggi Young]

Exactly!   I must confess to being rather irked when people complain of  things not being "natural" - certainly, a thing can be well done, or messed up, but to say something doesn't exist in nature is usually to make a big mistake - the natural world is FULL of  amazing things, rock formations or otherwise, that are  quite extraordinary - and perfectly natural!

[Jupiter]

Here in Australia we have a lot of exposed rock; it's an ancient land! No one should be surprised to see rocks at any angle or stacked in any interesting way. My Dad sent me this photo he took while searching for driftwood in his home of kangaroo island. The scene reminded him of my crevice garden. A bit bigger scale though! I told him the salt spray would severely limit plant choices when it came to planting it out! 

[Maggi Young]

Nice rock!

[astragalus]

This one also wouldn't look natural for some, if I'll be to reproduce it in the garden (at smaller scale of course).
Flower Pot Island, in Bruce pen., Ontario.
(Attachment Link)

Gabriela, we saw these wonderful "flower pots"  on our way to Prince Edward Island years ago.  Incidentally, P.E.I is another place to see wonderful rock (at North Rustico).  And I've seen pictures of the Pancake Rocks in New Zealand.  The rock formations in Utah are really incredible as well - look up "slick rock".  I'm sure Cliff could provide a picture of the "devil's staircase".  I agree with Maggi - "natural" covers a lot of territory.

[ranunculus]

Gabriela, we saw these wonderful "flower pots"  on our way to Prince Edward Island years ago.  Incidentally, P.E.I is another place to see wonderful rock (at North Rustico).  And I've seen pictures of the Pancake Rocks in New Zealand.  The rock formations in Utah are really incredible as well - look up "slick rock".  I'm sure Cliff could provide a picture of the "devil's staircase".  I agree with Maggi - "natural" covers a lot of territory.

I could Anne, if that particular laptop full of images was more accessible at the moment … I'm sure Google would provide hundreds of photos of same.

[Gabriela]

Gabriela, we saw these wonderful "flower pots"  on our way to Prince Edward Island years ago.  Incidentally, P.E.I is another place to see wonderful rock (at North Rustico).  And I've seen pictures of the Pancake Rocks in New Zealand.  The rock formations in Utah are really incredible as well - look up "slick rock".  I'm sure Cliff could provide a picture of the "devil's staircase".  I agree with Maggi - "natural" covers a lot of territory.

P.E.I. will be on the travel list then  With our dollar being as it is now, there is not much chance for traveling outside anyway. In Utah I've only been in the Wasatch Mts. - amazing rock scenes. Hard to choose only a few, so these are really just the first ones that came up; there are more pictures with rocks in the folder than with plants!

[Gabriela]

Here in Australia we have a lot of exposed rock; it's an ancient land! No one should be surprised to see rocks at any angle or stacked in any interesting way. My Dad sent me this photo he took while searching for driftwood in his home of kangaroo island. The scene reminded him of my crevice garden. A bit bigger scale though! I told him the salt spray would severely limit plant choices when it came to planting it out! 

Very nice by the water rockery!
Along the Georgian Bay (Ontario) there are also places with amazing rocky shorelines. Sometimes there are also plants 

Occasionally, you can hike around on massive rock formations without 'touching land' for a couple of hours.

[astragalus]

P.E.I. will be on the travel list then  With our dollar being as it is now, there is not much chance for traveling outside anyway. In Utah I've only been in the Wasatch Mts. - amazing rock scenes. Hard to choose only a few, so these are really just the first ones that came up; there are more pictures with rocks in the folder than with plants!
(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

"Slick Rock" formations are near Moab, I believe, which is in southern Utah.  It's quite incredible, and not far from natural rock bridges formed over the years.  Weather and erosion play fantastic tricks.

[t00lie]

Just up the road from here the Central Otago ranges of New Zealand have numerous schist formations called tors on their summits .....

Then on the East Coast of the South Island of NZ natural crevice gardens just about 'par excellence'.

[astragalus]

Fabulous crevice gardens.  Looks like someone was at work with a giant chisel and a ruler, they are so precise.

[t00lie]

Fabulous crevice gardens.  Looks like someone was at work with a giant chisel and a ruler, they are so precise.

I think their beauty is enhanced by the non existence or at the most minimal vegetation clothing the rock. I'd be happy to create exactly the same in our garden as a salute to the 'gods of rock' however if that was the case I'm sure my 'planting fingers ' would be very itchy ......

[Maggi Young]

Jan Tholhuijsen wrote  : " The new crevice garden of Vladimir Valenta, with our good friend Paní Stašková "
http://www.caroveniky.com/INDEX.htm

Yet another stunning example of a Czech rock garden - these people are the Masters!

[astragalus]

That really is amazing.