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

[David Nicholson]

David, your Dutch is getting better every day 

And there was me thinking I'd written it in Flemish. Still, you know how good we "Islanders" are at languages

[ChrisB]

Great tufa bed Luc, and thanks for the detailed instruction.  Now, if only we had one of those quarries here in Northumberland....

[Tim Ingram]

It is very enjoyable watching this tufa mound growing! In Duncan Lowe's book on 'Raised Beds, Troughs and Tufa' there is a super drawing of a large free standing tufa block in his inimitable style. I've never seen anything like it in the flesh except in Alan Furness's amazing garden on the way home from the Edinburgh 2001 Conference. Silly to ask on the SRGC Forum but is anyone down in the South-East thinking of getting a truckload of tufa? If we can find a good source I would certainly be interested.

[Maggi Young]

Huge numbers of "Southerners" tuned into this forum, Tim.... wouldn't be a bit surprised if you manage to drum up a Tufa cartel/syndicate!

[David Nicholson]

Loads of potential buyers but it seems to be as rare as rocking horse manure!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A small update on how a few plants have developped in and between the tufa blocks over the last few weeks.
This, at the very moment where the tufa mound is experiencing just about its first rain shower worth mentioning since I built it.
I've been watering it just about every single day...  ... but not with the beer shown on the previous picture... 


I'm quite happy with how Eritrichium nanum has established itself in its vertical hole since it was planted.
Picture 1 was taken in early April, just after planting and Picture 2 on June 6th.
New growth is clearly visible - I keep my fingers crossed... 

3 and 4) Edraianthus serbicus, was one of the first plants to show a flower.

5) Silene hookeri ssp bollanderi is planted in a crevice between the blocks and also shows flowers

6) Same with Erigeron aureus "The Giant" that was flowering when first planted in early April, it's still going strong and quite a lot of new buds show that it's not finished yet ! 

More in a few weeks.

[art600]

Luc

Just found this thread and really enjoyed seeing the process from the beginning.

[tonyg]

It is very enjoyable watching this tufa mound growing! In Duncan Lowe's book on 'Raised Beds, Troughs and Tufa' there is a super drawing of a large free standing tufa block in his inimitable style. I've never seen anything like it in the flesh except in Alan Furness's amazing garden on the way home from the Edinburgh 2001 Conference. Silly to ask on the SRGC Forum but is anyone down in the South-East thinking of getting a truckload of tufa? If we can find a good source I would certainly be interested.

Count me in Tim!  At least its not the heaviest rock so onward distribution is less likely to ruin the cars suspension! 
(PS I'm coming to talk in Kent later this year.)

[tonyg]

I'm quite happy with how Eritrichium nanum has established itself in its vertical hole since it was planted.
Picture 1 was taken in early April, just after planting and Picture 2 on June 6th.
New growth is clearly visible - I keep my fingers crossed... 

That looks good so far ... never thought I'd do more than dream of growing E. nanum but I'll be following the progress of yours closely.  Our growing conditions cannot be so very different.  The tufa mound looks great, but glad I don't have the responsibility for watering it .... a few drops of rain here now but too little

[astragalus]

Luc, I can understand why you're pleased with the Eritrichium nanum.  Marvelous plant, incredibly furry.  All the plants are looking great.  Please keep photographing.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks Anne, Tony and Arthur !
Yes it's been hell watering it over the last two months, but I can say that so far I've lost just two plants that didn't "take".  One was an Asperula, the second one was Kelseya uniflora, which was a very tiny, young seedling, so that might have been the reason as well.  I lost some more plants to slugs and/or birds though ; Campanula's mainly.  I replaced them a couple of days ago and we'll see how things work out now.  On the whole I find I've been quite lucky so far (touching wood).

As to the Eritrichium nanum... well... that's kind of a test.  I've never grown it before, just read how ridiculously difficult it is..  and if other people can kill it, why couldn't I ??    I thought.
So far, so good - will have to see how I get it through the heat of Summer, if we get any.
I'll shade it somewhat if necessary.  As I wrote, I planted it in a hole in the vertical surface of a stone, even slightly protected by a small overhang...
Getting it through the Winter will be the following challenge then I guess...  Still, that's what keeps us going isn't it ??
I'll keep you posted ! 

[Lesley Cox]

It looks great Luc, so much happier in pic 2 than in pic 1 at planting time, with all its fluff sorted and lying nicely. I'm looking forward to the first flowers.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You bet I'm eagerly awaiting wether I will be able to flower it next Spring Lesley !!! 

In the mean time, here some pictures of early successes and some failures (very few, I'm happy to say !  )

1) Saxifraga "Rozny" is struggling, but hanging on... 
2) Centaurea pestalozza is (already) getting to big for its allocated space - I will have to find it another spot
3) Asperula daphneola didn't make it ! 

All Dianthus are well under way ! 
They look wonderful even when they're not flowering, don't they ?? 4) D. arpadianus
5) D. "La Bourboule"
6) D. simulans
7) D. webbiana

8 ) Primula x "Marjorie Wooster"
and
9) Townsendia hookeri
also both looking as if they like they're new surroundings !

10) Star of the show right now : Silene hookeri bolanderi that has been flowering ever more profusely for the last 6 weeks !

[ranunculus]

Excellent Luc.

[David Nicholson]

Looking good Luc.

Just back from a break in Malta where I saw mounds of tufa which looked as thoughit was going to be used for infill on new road making schemes. Doubt if Air Malta would have been pleased if I'd turned up at the airport with a couple of suitcases full!