Alpines. Piccies of

Hypertufa is equal parts of cement, fine-grade moss peat and sharp sand mixed with water until the consistency of pastry, according to Will Ingwersen. Not sure what you could use instead of the peat.

 

That might be what I'm thinking of @katecat58 . I think you can use any fine soil or something similar. Maybe an experiment is needed...

 

Androsace himalaica.

 

How to make an alpine trough with hypertufa - Alpine Garden Society
the AGS recommend using composted bark.
Hope the link works!

 

Alpines on limestone boulders. Boulder gardening!

 

Lovely pix @kindredspirit . One of the things I love when I'm out on hills, is the plants that are tucked into bits of rock or scree, and the ones which grow on tops of large rocks and boulders.
We get rowans managing happily on them, due to the consistent rainfall, as well as the little alpines in all the cracks.

I grow cotton grass in a little cleft among some rocks beside my pond, to remind me of my outings.

 

@kindredspirit I love your boulders! Although your formal (lead?) trough looks good too - I hadn't thought of using a formal one for alpines, but it works! What is the grey/blue carpeting plant on left of second boulder pic please? Is it raoulia?

 

It's a dianthus. Can't think of the name off the top of my head.

 

Ah logical on limestone I guess because they're calcifuge. I have just acquired an enormous and heavy Belfast sink that I'm going to hypertufa. Woohoo!

 

Edraianthus from the Balkans.


Freesia "Joan Evans" from South Africa.


Dodecatheon from North America.

 

Pulsatilla from the Tian Shan.

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Is that the usual timing for it flowering @kindredspirit ? Very pretty. Not seen that one before.

I grow the usual spring ones, although I lost one of the dark ones I had last year, and they didn't do very well this year - presumably because of the warm spring. Over very quickly.

It [pulsatilla] doesn't seem to be a very popular plant, which is a pity. They provide a good link between early spring bulbs and later ones too, and the seedheads give extra interest that most spring bulbs don't have. Great addition to the spring garden IMO.

 

No, this flower came out the other day out of the blue. It had already flowered in the Spring so this was a surprise.

 

I wondered, as they all seem to be generally spring flowering.
A nice bonus for you though!

I had a look around and they seem to be quite easy from seed, so I may be tempted...

 

Mutisia oligodon from stony places high up in the Andes.




Just planted another couple of Rhodohypoxis: should come out nice next year.




Diminutive Dianthus "Arctic Fire".






Papaver "Pacino".






Crepis incana, a pink dandelion from Southern Greece.



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