dry trough ideas

[Lesley Cox]

I was just about to say they are easy enough from seed if you get good quality material, and to try American sources.

[alpines]

The things we do for love.....and charity!!!
I have been invited to give a practical hypertufa trough construction demonstration this evening in Lexington for the Gardening Angels (sic)...a group who do charitable work for one of the local hospitals. It is currently 35 Celsius (95 F) and rising. The demo is outside. Talk about "dry" troughs.

[Maggi Young]

The things we do for love.....and charity!!!
I have been invited to give a practical hypertufa trough construction demonstration this evening in Lexington for the Gardening Angels (sic)...a group who do charitable work for one of the local hospitals. It is currently 35 Celsius (95 F) and rising. The demo is outside. Talk about "dry" troughs.

All in a good cause, Alan.... just be sure to pack several flasks of cool lemonade in your kit of trough making accessories!

[David Nicholson]

....... or a couple of cold bottles of the stuff that passes for beer on that side of the pond

[alpines]

Oh I will Maggi !!!! Iced Tea, Water, Lemonade. I shouldn't need any water for the hypertufa mix....the sweat will be enough
I don't know about you but I get more pleasure out of doing things for causes like this than I do getting paid. Just hope I don't require their services before the talk is over !!!

David...there's nothing remotely passes for beer on this side of the pond 

[David Nicholson]

A nice drop of Thwaites at the end of your demo Alan?

[alpines]

.....and during please David

[David Nicholson]

 

[Paul Cumbleton]

Back to the Eriogonums....There is a new Eriogonum Society in the States that have a seed exchange for members. See http://www.eriogonum.org/
The eriogonums do really well in dry positions, especially if you cover them for winter to keep off winter wet. You could try some of the dryland castillejas - Castilleja applegatei and Castilleja integra have done well for us. (The latter at least is available from Southwestern Native Seeds http://www.southwesternnativeseeds.com/ ).

Cheers

Paul

[mark smyth]

thanks Paul

[kelaidis]

At Denver Botanic Gardens we have a rather expansive plaza with many dozens of hypertufa troughs (and a smattering of stone troughs--from India of all places! They were used originally as Mortars there, and somehow transported to Denver where we obtained them from a local pottery dealer!): since our climate is extremely sunny and dry, I suspect most anything we grow in this plaza would adapt to your conditions. I describe the contents with each image in its label, ending with a succulent (egads!): I am so offended that you do not approve of these chubby xerophytes! You better watch out, you do get stuck on them (especially cacti) if you don't watch out!

[kelaidis]

I mistakenly posted this twice (not realize the first time it had been printed)

[Maggi Young]

I mistakenly posted this twice (not realize the first time it had been printed)

Not to worry, PK, it's probably the effects of that dry heat!   Happens to me all the time, though in my case it's caused by  too much cold water. 

[fermi de Sousa]

At Denver Botanic Gardens we have a rather expansive plaza with many dozens of hypertufa troughs (and a smattering of stone troughs--from India of all places! They were used originally as Mortars there, and somehow transported to Denver where we obtained them from a local pottery dealer!):

note to self: Contact administrator of "Stolen Antiquities Department" at the Indian High Commission when next in Canberra.
 
Actually we saw a few ourselves on a visit to Goa but couldn't fit them in our baggage allowance!
cheers
fermi

[mark smyth]

what are the yellow composites below the cacti?