Rock garden journal entry 4

New rock brought in, placed at the bottom of the photo waiting for it's new home

True to his word, David Spain with Moss and Stone Gardens brought me more rock for my rock garden. Five nice sized ones. He said if I wanted a 2-man rock, all I need to do is ask. Yes, I’m a lucky rock gardener.

The building of my rock garden has been an awakening.  Never before have I been so patient in building a garden. It requires discipline.  Or at least, that is what it’s teaching me.

From time to time, I’ve invested a couple minutes in wondering why this garden is getting so much of my time.  I don’t have an answer, other than it deserves it.

Most people know me as a big, bold, bodacious flower  gardener; the bigger the better.  And I still am. But now, I like the tiny life too.  Separate specimens, in small statue, surrounded by stone.  Mind you, there is no way my whole garden could be this tiny.  Well, never say never, but several factors brought me here.  The space itself presented itself first. Sloped and dry, facing west, it was first an herb garden.  But then came the interest in the tiny plants.  I figured I could put herbs anywhere; they didn’t have to be segregated in their own garden but rock garden plants did.  Without this segregation, the plants would be lost and the ability to view them would be diminished.  I also like the look of the gravel.

Over the years, I actually wanted to add the gravel as a mulch but never found the time to do it.  I actually worried I wouldn’t like the look.  I even worried about this when the space became a rock garden, as well.  Looking back, that was just silly.  I love the rock and can’t imagine it being any other way.

As I brought the rock garden to the level described in Rock garden journal entry 3, Rock garden journal entry 2, If veggie gardening is the gateway drug to ornamental gardening, then…, I needed a few pieces of larger rock.  Granted, I still need more

Area that needed a rock

gravel and plants, but the larger rock needed to go in first.  So, you can imagine how happy I was to get local, matching rock for the rock garden.

David Spain even moved it into the back area for me, so all I needed to do was place it.  One piece was challenging, but I managed to roll it end on end to position it in place.  I was pretty tickled with myself that I didn’t need to use up one of my Christmas chits I get each year as a gift from my husband.  These chits are worth a lot to me; I don’t get his help often, so I use them wisely.

With the larger rock in place, I now need another load of gravel, probably two.  I only get so much at a time.  The size is based on what I can fit in the back of my mini van.  I have to consider the weight and the cavity size to hold the rock.

Big rock in place

On this beautiful, sunny 77 ºF day in March, I added more to the design.  More needs to be done, but I’m in n0 hurry.  This week or next, I’ll get another load of rock.  Add it. Wait for the next step.  I’m making a list of  plants I want and I’m still accepting ideas of plants from you, if you have any suggestions.  To see my other choices, head on over to Gardening With Confidence™ Facebook DISCUSSION page.  While you are there, please offer me your suggestions.

In May, I’m heading with 15 other girlfriends – other volunteers –  from the JC Raulston Arboretum on a garden tour in South Carolina.  While I’m there, I’ll search for the next great plant to add to the rock garden.

I like the discipline rock gardening has taught me.  It forces me to think carefully before I charge ahead. All I can say is, in  many ways, it’s about time.

Helen  Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.