This whole project deserves some sort of spotlight on the garden website.
It is such a wonderful place to visit everyday.
I envy you Texas gardeners. This is what we are dealing with now. Only Hens and Chicks survive.

beckygardener said:That is fabulous!!! What a craftsman you are, Shape!!! I love it!

Thank you Becky! It needs time to settle in..I think in a month it will really be pretty...

ge1836 said:This whole project deserves some sort of spotlight on the garden website.
It is such a wonderful place to visit everyday.
I envy you Texas gardeners. This is what we are dealing with now. Only Hens and Chicks survive.

Just beautiful...I do understand..I lived in Alaska 4 years and Montana for 2...I do understand!

Really great, Shape, and I can't believe how quickly you work once you get your ideas flowing. Could you grow some moss on parts of the walls?

plantmanager said:Really great, Shape, and I can't believe how quickly you work once you get your ideas flowing. Could you grow some moss on parts of the walls?

Thank you!..I was on this project for about one week...My wife just fell in love with the ruins..She was so happy today and asked would I please make her another one ...So Im now planning a larger project same scale as this one but much larger structure..And If you have any experience with moss please do tell..Its hard finding moss around here..

Fantastic that you're planning a bigger one!

In Arizona, we have a low spot in our yard. Our soil is mostly clay, so it holds water a long time. We don't get much rain, but when we do, it stays wet for so long that moss forms on top. Ask around. Maybe some of your friends know where to find it! Some nurseries do carry it or can order it. If you get a little bit, you can grow more easily.

I've read that you can take moss and mix it up with buttermilk and "paint" it on surfaces you would like to have mossy. Apparently the buttermilk makes the moss happy and it grows where you paint it. Here is a link telling more about moss and propagating it.
http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Mo...

PS, where did the piano go? Will it go in the larger ruins?

I forgot to say that your area is probably low humidity and very dry, just like we normally are in AZ. If you did the moss thing, you could mix in water holding crystals into the soil that went into the walls that were mossy. Your wife could also keep a spray bottle handy and mist it when she thinks of it. Keeping it damper than normal should keep it growing. I once brought some moss home from a trip to a northern AZ forest, and I put it into a terrarium. I kept that moss going for years by keeping it damp.

plantmanager said:Fantastic that you're planning a bigger one!

In Arizona, we have a low spot in our yard. Our soil is mostly clay, so it holds water a long time. We don't get much rain, but when we do, it stays wet for so long that moss forms on top. Ask around. Maybe some of your friends know where to find it! Some nurseries do carry it or can order it. If you get a little bit, you can grow more easily.

I've read that you can take moss and mix it up with buttermilk and "paint" it on surfaces you would like to have mossy. Apparently the buttermilk makes the moss happy and it grows where you paint it. Here is a link telling more about moss and propagating it.
http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Mo...

PS, where did the piano go? Will it go in the larger ruins?

Thank you! I do know about the buttermilk but just need the moss..I will keep looking...And im glad you asked about the piano..In fact I was going to get it out tomorrow and finish weathering it.Im going to use portland dust and finish it with a dull coat I think it will look so realistic that way...And yes it is going in my 1/6 scale ruins project...

plantmanager said:I forgot to say that your area is probably low humidity and very dry, just like we normally are in AZ. If you did the moss thing, you could mix in water holding crystals into the soil that went into the walls that were mossy. Your wife could also keep a spray bottle handy and mist it when she thinks of it. Keeping it damper than normal should keep it growing. I once brought some moss home from a trip to a northern AZ forest, and I put it into a terrarium. I kept that moss going for years by keeping it damp.

Thank you! I think moss is a must have for my projects..So I will need to learn as much as I can and I will have to become a moss gardener for sure...

Shape,
Thanks for the info on the rigid insulation boards! I'm loving the progress of the ruins!!

Here's all you need to know about moss from the ultimate authorities: http://www.mossandstonegardens...
It's a lengthy page, but worth reading if you are serious about growing moss. Good luck!

Sundownr said:Shape,
Thanks for the info on the rigid insulation boards! I'm loving the progress of the ruins!!

Here's all you need to know about moss from the ultimate authorities: http://www.mossandstonegardens...
It's a lengthy page, but worth reading if you are serious about growing moss. Good luck!

Thanks for the info!

Hope all is going well, Shape!

Me too
I miss your creative gardens.

Shape said:

I think the blue is not as strong...You can hit the pink with a hammer and chances are it will just make a dent...Im not kidding that pink board is some tough stuff....Here is my finished miniature ruins..I can promise the ruins will out last the planter box...My wife helped with all planting in this project..

This is such an exciting idea! Would you mind if I share this on FB?

As I have been going through older threads found this one and I have to comment on what a beautiful project! Totally awesome!! And as a beginner I appreciate the info and photos you posted as your work progressed.

I think that Shape is not on this forum anymore. Does anyone know how he is?

AWWWWWW !!! No , hope he is O K .