Tiny Plants for Dry Places

Judy Wall with some of the rock garden plants and concrete garden decorations she brought to show and sell. 

Judy Wall of Rock Wall Gardens in Perth spoke about landscaping with alpines and unique rockery plants at the September meeting of the Tweed and District Horticultural Society. Through her power point presentation, Judy shared the many different types of hardy drought tolerant plants available for rock gardens.

Judy, a Master Gardener started Rock Wall Gardens in 2000. Her property located east of Perth off Highway #7 was an open farm field when she and her husband purchased the land. The soil was sandy and rocky and in a drought zone! With so many challenges to face, Judy certainly rose to the occasion as evident in the later photos of her outstanding gardens.

 When planning her gardens, Judy always looks for plants with interesting foliage…after the flowers die there is always foliage to create interest in the garden.

 The slide presentation also highlighted one of the newest trends in gardening… “Crevice Gardening” (turning flat stones, like flagstones, on edge in the garden to create more depth for roots) which is great for the alpine and rockery plants.  Hypertufa Container Gardening is also another way to showcase these interesting plants. Judy teaches a course in making Hypertufa containers from June-September.

 Judy provided members with a list of alpine and unique rockery plants that are available at her nursery. She displayed some of the interesting garden art that she has created and is for sale. She also teaches a stained glass workshop using old window frames….don’t throw out those window frames! For more information, please call 613-267-6684 or email….jpwall@ripnet.com. Her website is www.rockwallgardens.com

 Her store in Perth is open from May 1-mid-August on Tuesday-Sunday from 9am-5 pm.

 COMING UP….

 October 1… Pumpkin Carving and Sculpting ….Adam Haley from Stirling will share some of his techniques for pumpkin carving.

Members are asked to bring a pumpkin related food item to share at break.

 October 12 @10:30….A children’s workshop on pumpkin carving will be held at the Library. Adam Haley will be demonstrating his amazing techniques to the children. Volunteers are needed at 10:00 to set-up for the program and to help the children during the workshop.

 October 19 @ 9 am….Fall clean-up of Moira Garden, town beds and Cenotaph.

 October 26 ….District 3 Fall Meeting at the Library. Only the President and Secretary can attend. Volunteers are needed to help with the lunch.