Garden Photo of the Day
READER PHOTO! A happy accident in hypertufa
comments (11) July 27th, 2010 in blogs
Michelle Gervais, Senior Editor
43 users recommend
Click here to enlarge this photo.
Photo: Mike Larkin
Today's photo is from Michael Larkin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He says, "This container was handmade using hypertufa. I have made lots of hypertufa containers, but this is by far one of the nicest, and the best part is that its final shape resulted because of an “oops.” During the unmolding, while the tufa was still a little fragile, part of the side wall broke. Disappointed at first, I took out my trowel and started to carve up the remaining tufa to the shape it is in now. I remind myself each time I look at this container that gardening is not always perfect, that we need to work with what have, and who knows--it may just turn out to be really great." Thanks, Michael, for sharing this with us!
The plants in this container include:
'Elfin' thyme (Thymus serphyllum 'Elfin', USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9)
Sedum (Sedum dasyphyllum, Zones 3-7)
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp. and cvs., Zones 4-11)
Dwarf hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana', Zones 4-8)
For an article on how to make your own simple hypertufa container, click here!
For instructions on how to make a larger hypertufa trough, click here!
Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog! Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.
Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.
If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images to mgervais@taunton.com with GPOD in the subject line. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.
posted in: succulents, pennsylvania
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Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog!
Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.
Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.
If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images to mgervais@taunton.com with GPOD in the subject line. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.
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Comments (11)
The use of rocks in the design is my attempt at creating a scene. In this very small space there is an outcropping of rocks with the sempervirums bursting out. Maybe how it might look if you would see them naturally. I like to use rocks in my garden designs it was fun to use them here too.
Grizmom3 - if go to my blog- ( click on my name) or click on Michelle's link ( how to make you will see how to make hypertufa. Simply put hypertufa is a mixture of portland cement, peatmoss and perlite -water- to create a container that looks somewhat like stone. It is one more way adults can have fun in the garden! Posted: 8:43 am on August 1st
grizmom3 Posted: 7:20 pm on July 30th
This planter is about 15" wide and about 5-6" deep. Just recently I made a similar shapped container only 24"wide. I am in the process of posting pictures of it on my blog (click on my name above) Also have made several rectangular shapped troughs - using an extra large and deep kitty litter pan as the mold.
All of these containers are able to make it through the winter without cracking. If you pick the right plants, most will weather the winter with little damage.
Mike Posted: 12:14 pm on July 28th
The success to this planting is the soil. I do not use bagged soil. I mix my own, using coarse particles, allows the water to drain well. I enjoy planting conifers. The reason I started making hypertufa containers was to have a place to plant small, mini conifers. Hypertufa works great. You are only limited by your imagination.
The hinoki in this container will eventually get too large but it has done nicely for the last few years and with a little root pruning maybe another year or two. I appreciate you recommendations for the cover photo- I would be glad to provide FG the details on how I made this hypertufa container and how to keep plants growing well with the right soil.
Have a great day and enjoy your garden. Mike
Posted: 9:05 pm on July 27th
this is just so exquisite. i am guessing you are a bonzai person? Looking at this photo transports me to the world of miniature landscapes, where i see a Chinese mountaintop with a tree, flowering rhododendrons,and a waterfall which pours down the rocky cliff face.
This is truly amazing. Once cropped/edited, it just MUST go onto a Fine Gardening cover, or a calendar, so everyone can see it...
thank you so much, mike. You just made my MONTH!
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/
a teaching website Posted: 3:50 pm on July 27th