Wall Gardens
THE TUFA WALL GARDEN
Tufa is a naturally occurring, precipitated rock comprised of nearly pure calcium carbonate. It is light weight, porous and is easily colonized by the roots of lime-loving plants. In a traditional rock garden, the plants are grown between the rocks. In a tufa garden, the plants can be grown in holes bored into the rock. Alpine plants established in tufa grow very slowly and are as thrifty and compact as they would be in a natural limestone outcropping. The feeling of the tufa garden is at once sparse and charming. Our tufa wall faces north, exposed to the direct sun only in the early morning but open to the bright open sky throughout the day. The stones are nested in fine sand which is kept moist by drip irrigation from June to October.
Salix reticulata, dwarf form from Newfoundland
Sagifraga ‘Your Success’
Saxifraga oppisitifolia has begun to seed into the tufa
This simple retaining wall was built in 1986 with the idea of growing rock-loving plants in the sharply-drained crevices. The stones were laid up and shimmed in the traditional manner but the spaces between the stones were carefully filled with sifted, sandy loam. The purpose of this arrangement was to afford sharp drainage to the crowns of the plants while allowing the roots to colonize the moist earth behind the wall. The north-facing vertical aspect is a haven for plants that require bright light but would suffer from direct sun. A surprising number of plants thrive under these conditions.
After twenty five years, many of the original Saxifraga, Campanula and Androsace that were teased into the crevices have continued to thrive and many other plants have seeded and spored in as well. These include a few delightful surprises such as Dicentra eximia, Asarum europeum, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Polystichum braunii, Asplenium tricomanes and Adiantum pedatum. As the result of selective weeding, the wall has become primarily a fern garden.
THE NORTH-FACING
WALL GARDEN
WALL GARDEN
Asplenium tricomanes sporing around
in the north-facing wall
Androsace primuloides ‘Chumbyi’
The wall garden, with Campanula garantica blooming in early July
Cady’s Falls Nursery
Don & Lela Avery
637 Duhamel Rd. Morrisville, Vt. 05661
802-888-5559 [email protected]
The wall garden in November.
Saxifraga ‘Jan Neruda’
Saxifraga ‘Dana’
Primula allionii ‘Wharfedale Ling’
Saxifraga ‘Gloriana’
Saxifraga irvingii ‘Jenkinsi’
January
Woodsi ilvensis volunteer in the wall
Polystichum braunii volunteers
THE SEMP EDIFICE
Several years ago, grandson Emmett and grandfather Don decided to pile up a bunch of rocks and plant some hens and chicks. They packed the spaces between the rocks with sandy soil and tucked in small rosettes of semps. The boy grew into a tall young man and showed far more interest in snowboards and sailboats. Grandfather now tends the semp edifice.
WALL GARDENS
2008
2012
Campanuls garganica in bloom early July
Maidenhair fern volunteer in June
