When you visit a natural site for inspiration, do you study the geology of the rocks - history, type, formation and deformation, structure, foliation - fault lines, fractures, erosion and weathering, oxidation, fragmentation and exfoliation, rock fall, etc., to get a sense how one might create a rock garden that has a reproduced naturalized geology, that is, a story to tell, rather than just a pretty (or not so pretty) sculpted pile of rocks with plants stuck in them? Same for the plants - is their ecological alpine story at least a seemingly coherent one with the geology of the rock garden? In a particular rock garden setting, do the plant types and structures make sense in terms of light, wind, water, seed deposit, microclimate, soil accumulation, leaf litter, mutualisms, and even herbivory? I think that the most beautiful, interesting, creative, and sophisticated rock gardens are those that have the most geological and ecological sensibility. Just saying. Hopefully, the current design fad of rather boring (to me) vertical slate crevice gardening is just another step in our continuing evolution of rock gardening.
I'm from the mountains of Upper East Tennessee and I thought the rock garden was absolutely beautiful.
Breathtaking gardens you create ❤🎉😊
Great video! Many thanks
Wow! More of the same, please!
So beautiful... Wow !
Great video Paul!
Brilliant! Where are my hiking boots?
Now this is gardening!!! No Martha Stewart style for me 💚
When you visit a natural site for inspiration, do you study the geology of the rocks - history, type, formation and deformation, structure, foliation - fault lines, fractures, erosion and weathering, oxidation, fragmentation and exfoliation, rock fall, etc., to get a sense how one might create a rock garden that has a reproduced naturalized geology, that is, a story to tell, rather than just a pretty (or not so pretty) sculpted pile of rocks with plants stuck in them? Same for the plants - is their ecological alpine story at least a seemingly coherent one with the geology of the rock garden? In a particular rock garden setting, do the plant types and structures make sense in terms of light, wind, water, seed deposit, microclimate, soil accumulation, leaf litter, mutualisms, and even herbivory? I think that the most beautiful, interesting, creative, and sophisticated rock gardens are those that have the most geological and ecological sensibility. Just saying. Hopefully, the current design fad of rather boring (to me) vertical slate crevice gardening is just another step in our continuing evolution of rock gardening.