Blog of the construction of a new tufa mound in the rock garden

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Often having been confronted with pictures on this forum of magnificent, well grown plants on and between tufa rock, the idea had been growing to try and build a tufa feature in the garden.  After the long, cold winter had finished, it was time to get things started.

1) Where ?
A piece of lawn in the corner of the garden.

2) What to do first ?
Get rid of the grass of course...    

3) The turf was removed and turned upside down, to serve as solid base for the mound.

4) A first load of tufa blocks was fetched from our local Alpine Nursery

5) Tufa blocks and compost were "dragged" to the "scene of the crime"  

6) Holes were drilled and the first blocks were given their place.

7) Part of the plan was/is to make one corner of the mound into a small raised bed in which I want to try and grow, amongst others, some Oncocyclus Irisses.  This corner will be protected from rain if and when necessary.  As I had obtained an Iris paradoxa about to start flowering, I did this part first.

8 ) This picture shows this corner as part of the mound.

9) Couldn't wait to plant a Physoplexis comosa as an official opening in one of the holes

10) a few more plants found a home.

To be continued !  

[ranunculus]

A super topic Luc that will be read and re-read many times by members new and old over the months and years to come. This sort of practical demonstration always attracts enthusiastic converts to this wonderful form of gardening and I have no doubt that gardens of this type will soon be created all around the globe (providing, of course, that they can find an inexpensive source of tufa). 

[Paddy Tobin]

Looking good, Luc.

Here, it would be very difficult to source the tufa.  Rarely seen.

Paddy

[Gerdk]

Great and interesting plan, Luc!
Please watch out for slugs - I'm almost sure they had already noticed the
Physoplexis.

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

Great and interesting plan, Luc!
Please watch out for slugs - I'm almost sure they had already noticed the
Physoplexis.

Gerd

 Yes, that's for sure.... I heard three in our garden discussing a channel hop.......

[Luc Gilgemyn]

My bazooka is in place, in case any slug gets within a mile of my Physoplexis !!  

And Maggi, I have a submarine watching the channel with orders to sink any Slug afloat...  

[David Nicholson]

Hey Mr G, you've made a start Wow, I'm going to keep my eye on this. I assume Mrs G was in full agreement especially about loosing some lawn?

[Lesley Cox]

What a great idea Luc. Already it looks interesting and a good lesson in practical gardening for all Forumists. I really hope you had a liquid something when you planted the Physoplexis, as official "opening." And I don't mean water! (except for the Physoplexis of course. )

[angie]

Really nice Luc. I would love to get my hands on some tufa and do something similar.
Will be great to see it mature. Just speak nicely to the slugs and tell them to stay away, they might listen 

Angie

[mark smyth]

well done Luc!

Do you and Luc2 want to come for a visit .. and bring a car loaded with tufa?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks for all your kind reactions everyone - about time for the second episode !

1) Result at the end of the first episode.
2) More Tufa rock was needed, so I had another haul ! 
3) Plants were patiently waiting for their faith in finding a suitable location.

More holes were drilled, and then came the moment to put a giant Daphne petrea "Lydora" in place.

4-5-6-7-8 : the careful process of sliding the plant in it's hole and filling up the cavities with a mix of J.I. and Tufa dust, result of the drilling.

9 and 10) more rock is put in place and planted with new inhabitants

[Luc Gilgemyn]

1) and yet more plants...  
2) view of the mound at the end of an afternoon of planting

A closer look to some of the "stars" of the show :

3) Cryptantha paradoxa - beween two tufa blocks
4) Draba "John Saxton" (sorry for the blurry picture) - in the tufa
5) Erigeron aureus "The Giant" to provide some summer colour
6) Gentiana pumila ssp delphinanta - very close to G. verna, but supposedly longer living..  
7) Viola pedata bicolor
Further plants that found a place on or between the Tufa blocks were : Helichrisum milfordiae, Campanula nitida, C. hercegovina nana, Primula x chivalry, Daphne petrea "Grandiflora", Dianthus microlepis albus, Centaurea pestalozza, Viola cazorlenzis, Townsendia hookeri, Ghypsofila aretoides from Iran.

On the slightly raised sandbed at the left of the mound : Iris iberica elegantissima, I. paradoxa and I. korolkowii

8. Iris paradoxa
9. Iris korolkowii
10. General view of the back garden, with the tufa mound in the far corner.

To be continued.. 

[Graham Catlow]

Great job Luc

[Knud]

Very nice, Luc, congratulations! Thank you for an interesting and inspiring lesson, I look forward to reports on the flourishing in years to come. By the way, I never knew they made special trowels for planting in Tufa, looks very handy  . And I agree with Lesley, this feat deserves at least a Kwak.

Knud

[ian mcenery]

Expertly done Luc