John's Mini Garden

[ChrisB]

Was at the Cleveland Show last Saturday and had another chance to see John Dower's wonderful mini garden.  Here are a few pics of its various aspects.

[alpines]

Great job Mr. Dower !!!! We've really missed seeing you guys this year.....and your wonderful mini gardens.

[ranunculus]

Another opportunity to see this and other wonderful mini-gardens at the AGS East Cheshire show at Wilmslow on Saturday April 30th.
... And, after viewing the show benches you could join the Pudsey Pigs and their groupies at the pub to witness this annual cultural serendipity ...

Alan (a past winner of this prestigious trophy) had to emigrate to Kentucky to escape the fame and adulation!

[alpines]

.......and the cholesterol Cliff......

All our friends are most welcome to come to Kentucky and try out the Hazard Hog!!!
Any takers?

[Lesley Cox]

Chris, approximately how big (wide, tall) are these delightful little gardens?

[alpines]

Chris, approximately how big (wide, tall) are these delightful little gardens?

Lesley, if my memory serves me correctly, this garden is in a 12" (36cm) diameter clay pot. This is the maximum size allowed under AGS show regulations.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Chris. I think I might make a few as a subject for a talk to our local group. I don't think we've covered mini gardens as such before. Not even troughs for quite a long time. If I start very soon, maybe a talk next year.

[ChrisB]

Yes, I think John's garden is about 12 inches in diameter, but could be slightly larger from my memory.  The others at the same event were also wonderful, and not quite as wide.  One was in a broken clay pot and looked super, with a tall piece of tufa making it look like a very steep mountain side.  John showed me how to put the plants in, something like the demos that Cliff gave us in a thread in 2008 (you'll find it if you search).  Those were great 'how to' pics step by step.  Love these things.  Bought a few pieces of tufa recently and I'm hoping to do something with it soon, but I know it will take ages for it to age and look as well populated as those at shows at the moment.  But I'll try....

[vivienr]

Lesley, John produced a good 'How to' leaflet on mini-gardens for the AGS recently. Unfortunately it doesn't appear on their website among the other 'Easy Leaflets' to download.

I too have been gathering bits and pieces to try to make one of these but still need to get my act together and assemble it.

36cm is just over 14 inches so they are really very small.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks again Chris for the Cliff tip and also Vivien. I seem to remember that little booklet and will have it somewhere. I've been packing paperwork of all kinds into wine boxes recently, so it may take a little while. An awful lot of paper can fit in a wine box and then I find I can barely lift it.

[Lesley Cox]

A very quick search for mini gardens 2008 has so far given me numerous references to "reminisences" or "reminiscent" or "Administration" and close other words. I'll keep at it.

[ranunculus]

Yes, I think John's garden is about 12 inches in diameter, but could be slightly larger from my memory.  The others at the same event were also wonderful, and not quite as wide.  One was in a broken clay pot and looked super, with a tall piece of tufa making it look like a very steep mountain side.  John showed me how to put the plants in, something like the demos that Cliff gave us in a thread in 2008 (you'll find it if you search).  Those were great 'how to' pics step by step.  Love these things.  Bought a few pieces of tufa recently and I'm hoping to do something with it soon, but I know it will take ages for it to age and look as well populated as those at shows at the moment.  But I'll try....

I've been searching for the relevant posting myself, Lesley and Chris ... can't seem to locate it - I can remember posting quite a number of images!!!  Perhaps we need to call on Wonder Woman (you know who you are)!   

[Maggi Young]

I think this may be the thread you're looking for.... Miniature Gardens http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2591.0 

[ranunculus]

See ... you always produce the goods!  Many thanks Maggi.

[Lesley Cox]

Wonder woman indeed Cliff. Thank you Maggi, as always. Will PM you later today, probably in the boring bits of the WEDDING telecast.