Builders sand is more coarse than say - play sand or beach sand that is more 'polished', thus builders sand is better and is supposed to bond better with the portland. I hope I said that right! Absolutely - yes use it! Marcia

I'm all in favor of organic material. However, actual soil is mostly inorganic material, right?-sand, clay, or loam. If you do a soil test and get back 5-10% organic, you're doing okay. That still means that 90% is inorganic mineral. If I don't add some of that to these places, when the organic matter that I have added decays I will end up with a low spot. At least that is my concern. The soil test results showed a sandy loam. I dug down about 6 inches for the test. I do realize that when you buy topsoil you can get any old garbage. However, I think the nursery I use is reputable and sells good stuff. I just bought about 15 yards of compost from them and spread it on the lawn. I believe they sell mushroom compost, left over from raising mushrooms. I think he said that the topsoil they sell is about 50% mushroom compost anyway. BTW, thanks for the discussion, guys. Liz

Almost all plants in an Alpine garden needs a slope. Usually rocks are used to support the slope. Drainage is paramount, no matter how you achieve it. Adding sand to good loam or clay and you get stucco if you have no slope and it retains water. Free draining is the key. Build your berm as high as you are able. Some alpine plants prefer limestone based soil and some prefer acid. Some don't care what the ph is. I smear mud on rocks, plop some sedums on it, and walk away. You can arrange the rocks as in a rock outcropping, dump gravel between them , squeeze a few plant in, and watch things grow. An alpine garden does not need plants wall to wall. Mike This next picture isn't meant to look good, but to show how sedums and succulents can be grown in even the most adverse conditions. Here they are growing on wood and rocks with just a minimum amount of soil. Friends come by and add or subtract stuff all the time. I'm not in charge. lol Ignore the telephone booth. It's a joke. I'm still trying to find an appropriate place for it. Mike Here's another part of the garden that looks a little alpine. It needs a major makeover as I haven't touched it in about two years. Time constraints, you know. I have done nothing to the soil except give it a slope. It's good loam on the acid side. Mike...on vacation

Hi Ladybug I can fix you up with a few different types of brugs. I looked at your trade list and get the feeling I already have some of those grape tomato seeds coming my way :-). I don't mind throwing in a couple extra things in with your seed. randy