Here it is stored in our garage until I could paint it, the top side had already received a coat of blue paint sometime in it's past life.
My vision for this project was so strong that I found it hard to understand why Andrew wasn't 100% with me on what I had planned. Thank goodness I could point to George Schenk's book and convince him I hadn't completely lost my mind. See, other people do this too!...
My freebie table top measured 1" thick and I put two more coats of paint on it—my garden's signature orange (as used on the shade pavilion and the neighbors garage wall). Andrew secured the two halves together with cross-bracing so they would not work their way apart.
To fit the table top evenly over the stock tank I had to cut two leaves on the large Agave ovatifolia. I hated to do it, but they've callused over nicely so hopefully they won't be an issue when the cold and wet returns.
Okay, it was time to plant! I tackled this fun project way back in mid-June.
I'd been collecting branches and started by piling them (and soil) on the table.
I also saved the stump from the Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' we removed from the front garden. While these pieces were valuable for creating a planting framework I also really loved the symbolism of using branches and heavy woody pieces that had grown to size here on the property. It felt good to reuse them and keep them here rather than just chopping them up and sending them away in the yard waste collection.
Then I just started to place the plants. At first I left them in their containers, but soon I was pulling them free and piling up soil around the base as I went.
I was quickly "in the zone" and took zero photos as I worked. I can share that Little Prince of Oregon was instrumental in supplying plants for this project. I think 22 of the at least 33 in this planting came from LPO.
I am thrilled with how this project turned out! I'll share some plant close-ups, but first an overall shot from June 18th...
And one from August 4th. I didn't realize how much things had grown and filled in until I started editing my images from June and could see how different it looks now.
Athyrium niponicum ‘Silver Falls’ (the fern) with Saxifraga stolonifera, the twiggy stems of Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' on the left.
A bit of a wide shot. Three Tricyrtis formosana ‘Samurai’ are at the back, along with a Lepisorus bicolor from Secret Garden Growers. The short fern with the colorful frond is Blechnum brasiliense, it's not hardy—I tucked it in just for fun.
There's a trio of Pyrrosia lingua, because I love pyrrosia.
The view from the back looking out over the patio—it rained one day in June.
One last June shot...
And now it's July 2nd. I never would have dreamed it would take me so long to write about this project!
Here you can see an issue that's going to age the wood table top faster than I'd hoped. The space between the two halves, along with a couple of the glue-laminated strips that are separating, is allowing water to drip down to the stock tank below. I heard it one day after I watered. Duh!
Did I drill holes in the tank for drainage? No I did not. Only about 1/2 to 3/4" of water can accumulate in the tank, as there's a drainage hole on the side close to the bottom. Still, moisture on both the top of the table and beneath means the wood will rot quicker.
The branches included some I'd saved from the Fatsia japonica we removed in the front garden (post on that here) as well as a couple of big pieces from the annual Paulownia pollarding. I used them to build a framework at the backside of the table. That way the planting could tilt down towards the frontside. I shoved moss that I'd been collecting in the voids between the branches to help contain the soil.
Now some close-ups from back in June; Astelia nivicola 'Red Devil' and Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling'
The back "wall" of branches is holding up well. I wasn't following any direction when I did this, it just seemed like a good idea.
Blechnum spicant
The Astelia nivicola 'Red Devil' again. It's probably a bit shadier here than the astelia would prefer, but since I had three I couldn't resist tucking one in.
I hauled this bit of wood home from our June trip thru eastern Oregon/Washington. I had no idea at the time there was a praying mantis case on it.
The neighboring Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear' and Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' are in a sunnier spot out from underneath the overhanging branches of the Stachyurus salicifolius.
The Fuchsia procumbens at the front of the planting was a last minute purchase at a local nursery, Thicket on Alberta. I'm so glad I happened to see it as it's perfect in this spot.
And finally a few "now" photos taken on August 4th...
What will I do with this planting over the winter months? I am undecided. The large agave ovatifolia is covered then, to keep it dry. I might experiment with covering this off and on too. Our months and months of wet just might be a bit too much. Then again if plants in the ground (and my original fern table) can handle it then these should too. It all really is just a grand experiment!
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Fabulous project. I love that book and it’s inspiring to see those concept turned into reality. Now I need to check my debris pile and look for some shrubby roots/trunks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, hope you find some!
DeleteThis is insane, in the best way possible. I'm so in awe of your creativity. Me, I would have stood there scratching my head (I'd still be scratching it now).
ReplyDeleteAnother project worthy of inclusion in a book - YOUR book!
The last book, or the next one? (ha, trick question... there is no "next one" not at the moment at least) Thanks for the kind words, but I really do think you don't give yourself enough credit.
DeleteI wasn't expecting something so elaborate. I love it even if I can't imagine creating anything like this in my climate. However, you've inspired me to look for more Astelia now that I've almost forgotten what the rabbits did to my original plants.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The Pyrrosia in my lath house has done surprising well despite considerable neglect so it may earn a spot (or two) elsewhere in my garden.
That's great news about your pyrrosia! I want to create something like this with dry sun-lovers. Something that would work in your climate. The only issue is finding a good spot...
DeleteWow! Very cool! Talk about bang for the buck. That tank is like a cat with 9 lives. I bet you could find something uniquely beautiful by flipping it on its side.
ReplyDeleteJim N. Tabor
You make a great point, and I've seen a few interesting things done with stock tanks on their side, I think I'd try it with a slightly smaller one though.
DeleteI can just imagine you when you are 'in the zone' on a project. Magic is the end result. Great find too. It will be interesting to see how the 'grand experiment' works out but for now it's something beautiful to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it's not a forever planting, but I will enjoy it while I can.
DeleteI love it! You have a way of creating beauty with plants and someone else's throw-aways.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for that compliment!
DeleteThis is SO good! I love everything about it.
ReplyDeleteI participated in a fern table class and used a 1 foot square slab: I was totally in the zone, so I bet you were "gone" for a while!
I really like how the orange border defines the planter in the space, make it stand out and also connects it to the other orange elements.
33 plants?! OMG, that's a cramscaping example if I ever saw one, yet it does't feel crowded, at least not yet. And the connection to the "veteran" wood is lovely.
I expect Andrew feels better about this now.
Chavli
Yes, Andrew has definitely come around. I too really love that orange border. It's such a small detail but it makes the planting pop!
DeleteOh, my goodness, your creativity is endless! I figured the table was going to be for putting potted plants on! I could never do what you did, Loree! Of course, it is a good thing I couldn't because here in Phoenix, even planted with cactus, etc., it would never survive with our hot, dry, windy climate! That is why I love your blog! I get a nice dose of green and adore it!
ReplyDeleteThat's what Andrew thought too when I first started talking about it (potted plants). My brother in Phoenix has sent me a few photos of his sad decimated agaves, I also heard from friends with a house in Scottsdale with photos of theirs. You guys are dealing with so much, I am sorry.
DeleteFantastic project as usual! I have the opposite issue - tabletop without the stock tank. I currently use the round table top that belonged to my parents as a place to put the tender succulents outdoors in the summer. I was just looking at it yesterday thinking, "this needs to look better." Now, I have an idea (and I own the George Schenk book!) I think next summer's project will be to combine hardy plants with the tender plants into a summer display where I can remove the tender plants when it is time for them to come back inside. Will try to remember to take photos.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I look forward to seeing what you come up with, photos would be appreciated—but maybe (just maybe!) I will finally make it to see your garden next summer...
DeleteTable is fabulous! It's so great to see other folk with the Schenk book and doing great things with it. I was blown away by it when it came out but it seems like it flew under the radar for a long time. I am so happy to find others excited by it now. I've got a cement slab that was pulled up that will become a fern table once I relocate it- but it'll be a one and done, it's too heavy to shift once planted. It will have to find the perfect home first- and that's the tricky bit!
ReplyDeleteAh... sounds like s fun project! And yes, that book is a good one!
DeleteLove this! If you turned the open end of the tank toward the ground, would the lip still retain water and hasten the wood rotting? This fern table business is very close to roof planting in terms of shallow soil depth and a very worthwhile experiment.
ReplyDeleteThe lip would definitely retain water, but if we went to the trouble of flipping it, I would just plant directly on the metal.
DeleteWow to image 1, no wonder you found that inspiring! The only thing that scene needed was more plants and a giant cat to play with the giant ball of yarn. Love what you did with the table and adds a contrasting splash of orange next to the A. ovatifolia.
ReplyDeleteYes image 1 was definitely in need of plants, it's so very beige!
DeleteMost excellent (and successful) experiment! Brava! (And Bravo to Andrew for the construction contribution.)
ReplyDeleteThank you Hoov!
Delete