Another Arid Bed
Another Arid Bed
Hi all
I've been collecting spikies for years now and have finally got around to planting the majority of them in a raised bed. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out but am not sure about the decorative gravel, I now think it looked better before we added it. It's not completely finished and I've left a few gaps in case I find anything else I want to add and I might also place some more rocks.
I couldn't have done any of this without the other half Si, he's worked so hard, I can't believe how much sand and gravel he's moved.
So, here are some pics, hope you like it.
I've been collecting spikies for years now and have finally got around to planting the majority of them in a raised bed. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out but am not sure about the decorative gravel, I now think it looked better before we added it. It's not completely finished and I've left a few gaps in case I find anything else I want to add and I might also place some more rocks.
I couldn't have done any of this without the other half Si, he's worked so hard, I can't believe how much sand and gravel he's moved.
So, here are some pics, hope you like it.
Re: Another Arid Bed
Wow, thanks for finally posting them, it's gorgeous!
Must have been back breaking work indeed with all that gravel but well worth it in the end! The decorative gravel works well I think. And nice to see your D. quadrangulatum as well as your other stunning specimens in situ
Must have been back breaking work indeed with all that gravel but well worth it in the end! The decorative gravel works well I think. And nice to see your D. quadrangulatum as well as your other stunning specimens in situ
Re: Another Arid Bed
Thats a great job Ali. Do you intend protecting any of those in winter?
The problem with these beds is that they are hard to navigate your way through to work in there, well mine is a pig but I suppose I make it more difficult for myself as I live in shorts and flip flops all summer.
Got some great scars
The problem with these beds is that they are hard to navigate your way through to work in there, well mine is a pig but I suppose I make it more difficult for myself as I live in shorts and flip flops all summer.
Got some great scars
Re: Another Arid Bed
Looks fantastic I think the gravel goes well with the rocks and walls
Re: Another Arid Bed
Yep, really amazing, it has the right feel about it.
Think its the white walls at the back.
Nice collection of plants.
Very impressive.
I like it.
Think its the white walls at the back.
Nice collection of plants.
Very impressive.
I like it.
Re: Another Arid Bed
That's a very impressive collection Ali, with some cracking plants.
I don't generally like gravel mulches myself, but arid beds are the exception. Perhaps you could break up the appearance, if that's what you're thinking about, with some smaller and different rocks set in?
My favourite is the beast with the black trunk - is that the D quadrangulatum that Mark was referring to?
I don't generally like gravel mulches myself, but arid beds are the exception. Perhaps you could break up the appearance, if that's what you're thinking about, with some smaller and different rocks set in?
My favourite is the beast with the black trunk - is that the D quadrangulatum that Mark was referring to?
Re: Another Arid Bed
Ali it looks bloody marvellous , you can tell Simon i'm truly impressed with his work (and of course your creative instruction )
Re: Another Arid Bed
Nice planting. You will leave all the plants in the garden during the long wet winter? Agaves are usely qieut tricky. I also used that kind of gravel overhere but then with winterhardy Opuntias, some Cylindropuntias and Yuccas.
Regards,
Alexander
Regards,
Alexander
Re: Another Arid Bed
All the hard works definately been worth it Ali it looks awesome
I keep being drawn to the aloe at the back,what is it?
I keep being drawn to the aloe at the back,what is it?
Re: Another Arid Bed
Thanks for your kind comments everyone.
When I was planning the bed I had a pretty exact idea of how I wanted it to look but was worried that I didn't have the know how to pull it off, I guess I shouldn't have worried as it's turned as I imagined.
Ade - we're trying to work out how to cover the bed for winter and the top idea at the moment is a half polytunnel, I know that a lot of plants will be fine without a cover but I'm worried about the agaves , they look so good at the mo and I'd like them to stay like it. I think a thick pair of trousers will be worn to weed the bed, it's going to be a real pain (literally) as everything grows, not looking forward to that part.
Mick - I agree about gravel mulches, I wouldn't use it elsewhere in the garden. The big beast pretty much in the middle is indeed D. quadrangulatum/longissimum, a fantastic plant and one of my favourites - it's lived outside in the pot that I bought it in for about 7 years now and still looks great.
Grub - Si will appreciate your comments, it'll make him laugh and it's probably quite close to the truth, he did move lots more gravel than me but I do have big girly muscles and the scars to prove I worked quite
hard also.
Alexander - We're thinking of putting half a polytunnel over it for the winter, mainly to protect the agaves.
Steve - If you mean the aloe at the back it's striatula, another plant that's suffered in a pot for years, hopefully it'll look better next year.
When I was planning the bed I had a pretty exact idea of how I wanted it to look but was worried that I didn't have the know how to pull it off, I guess I shouldn't have worried as it's turned as I imagined.
Ade - we're trying to work out how to cover the bed for winter and the top idea at the moment is a half polytunnel, I know that a lot of plants will be fine without a cover but I'm worried about the agaves , they look so good at the mo and I'd like them to stay like it. I think a thick pair of trousers will be worn to weed the bed, it's going to be a real pain (literally) as everything grows, not looking forward to that part.
Mick - I agree about gravel mulches, I wouldn't use it elsewhere in the garden. The big beast pretty much in the middle is indeed D. quadrangulatum/longissimum, a fantastic plant and one of my favourites - it's lived outside in the pot that I bought it in for about 7 years now and still looks great.
Grub - Si will appreciate your comments, it'll make him laugh and it's probably quite close to the truth, he did move lots more gravel than me but I do have big girly muscles and the scars to prove I worked quite
hard also.
Alexander - We're thinking of putting half a polytunnel over it for the winter, mainly to protect the agaves.
Steve - If you mean the aloe at the back it's striatula, another plant that's suffered in a pot for years, hopefully it'll look better next year.
Re: Another Arid Bed
Ali, all the hard work has paid off. great spikie bed a loads of lovely plants. It is definitely going to be fun weeding that next year.
Winter covers are a issue for everyone with dry beds, especially for the agaves and aloes. I had to think long and hard if I wanted some of my prized plants in a bed with no protection. I think if you can cover it I would, if for no other reason than avoiding black spots on agave leaves which take a while to grow out. You also greatly increase the number of plants you can put in the bed . Your half poly tunnel idea sounds like a top plan. Does anyone know of a company that will make poly tunnels to order, i.e. you tell them what you want, size shape etc and they make it up for you. If there isn't one the is scope for some one to fill that gap!
Winter covers are a issue for everyone with dry beds, especially for the agaves and aloes. I had to think long and hard if I wanted some of my prized plants in a bed with no protection. I think if you can cover it I would, if for no other reason than avoiding black spots on agave leaves which take a while to grow out. You also greatly increase the number of plants you can put in the bed . Your half poly tunnel idea sounds like a top plan. Does anyone know of a company that will make poly tunnels to order, i.e. you tell them what you want, size shape etc and they make it up for you. If there isn't one the is scope for some one to fill that gap!
Re: Another Arid Bed
Bet you are glad you bought the Nelsonii it looks like you had just the right spot for it
Do show us what you come up with for covering it all for Winter, then if it works we can nick the idea
It's all looking great, any more pic's of the rest of the garden, to see how it all fits in
Melissa
Do show us what you come up with for covering it all for Winter, then if it works we can nick the idea
It's all looking great, any more pic's of the rest of the garden, to see how it all fits in
Melissa
Re: Another Arid Bed
Try getting a pair of locking forceps, the longer the better. It's extremely handy for weeding around spikiesAli K wrote:it's going to be a real pain (literally) as everything grows, not looking forward to that part.