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Rock Garden Like Planting in Indiana
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Posted by marcindy z5b (My Page) on Sat, Nov 17, 07 at 22:06
I am not sure if this is the right forum, so please forgive me if it isn't. I am trying to find information/inspiration/guidance on growing elements of a rock garden, a heather/heath bed and small ornamental perennials and shrubs in a raised bed in my backyard. The bed is about one foot above ground level and bordered by a wall of man-made concrete wall stones. It is backed by three Alberta Spruces. The bed is only three to four feet wide and curves around the three trees (they are about 6' tall at this point). It is about 16' long and is in full sun. The soil is almost ideal growing soil, it drains well, but doesn't dry out quickly in the summer. I realize for a true alpine/rock garden it would probably be considered too rich and not free draining enough, hence my idea of using alpine/rock garden look alike plants that would well in this situation. I tried growing regular perennials and grasses, but the bed is not wide enough to grow much for long-term interest. Plus, regular sized perennials shade the evergreens to an extend that killed the lowest branches and makes them unsightly during the winter. That's when I started thinking about a combination of rock garden, alpine garden and heath/heather garden, but with plants that would grow well in Indiana. I don't even know what to search for online, or where to look for more information. My plan is to include some good sized rocks, and plant a combination of small grasses, miniature iris, things like miniature Japanese maple, but also plants that form mats (alpine like but adapted to the Midwest). Does that make sense? Please let me know if you can recommend books, sites, nurseries or any other information or inspiration/pictures you may have. Any and all feedback is very welcome. Maybe this is all just a daydream... :-) Thanks in advance.
Marc |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Rock Garden Like Planting in Indiana
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What you want, I think, is just dwarf regular perennials. 3-4ft wide gives plenty of room. Like:
Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower
Festuca ovina
Festuca valeriaca
most Festuca spp.
Melica ciliata
Sedums
Sempervivums
Dwarf diantus like Tiny Rubies
Dwarf and miniature iris, bearded
Dwarf and miniature iris, beardless like dwarf siberian, Iris tectorum, Iris gracilipes,Blue-eyed grass
Golden Elf spirea
Dwarf and miniature conifers: Picea'Little Gem', P.'Kellerman's Blue Cameo', Tsuga canadensis'Jeddeloh', Chamaecyparis pisifera'Snow', there are sooo many
Miniature daylilies
Thymes
Corydalis species
Fernleaf bleeding hearts
Smaller and creeping veronicas Heaths and heathers are comparitively hard. In my experience, Erica carnea types (a heath) are the easiest. |
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