Download this free nine-page PDF to learn how to control the growth of miniature trees, and prune, shape, and trim a variety of different plants. […]
Shape and Prune Mini Trees
Layout Size: Large Displays / Backyards
Water and backdrops on the Verdi Railroad
Visitors along the back of the garden have this view of Copper Gorge, the waterless water feature encased in recycled auto glass. The battery-powered Union Pacific MOW uses AirWire 900 and Soundtraxx Electronics. Both engines are powered (all 16 wheels drive) to pull full name train car sets. Nancy Norris The Southern Pacific ‘Red Car’ […]
Watch chain stonecrop
Nancy Norris Common name: Watch chain stonecrop Latin name: Sedum sexangulare Plant type: groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: full sun, average to dry soil with good drainage Plant size: 6-10″ Often used on green roofs for a quick covering, watch chain stonecrop is both dainty and rugged. Like most stonecrops of the genus, […]
Create inspired spaces
In the Spring 2019 issue, Nancy Norris shares photographs of nine public spaces designed to inspire you. We’ve assembled all of the related links here for you to access quickly. Gabis Arboretum at Purdue University: tinyurl.com/gabisarboretum A “The sedum spectrum,” June 2013. B “Using red in the railway,” June 2014. C “Massing plants to frame […]
Winter running on the CPR Joy Division
Name: Kent Johnson Railroad Name: Canadian Pacific Joy Division Location: Milwaukee, Wisc. Scale: 1:29 Theme: Modern-era branch line in Western Canada Description: The sun was making a weak effort to shine over the CPR Joy Division garden railroad on a cold January afternoon. Even so, I still wanted to capture the inaugural run of my […]
Christmas in the backwoods
Name: Shawn Viggiano Railroad Name: Kittatinny Mountain Railroad Location: Wantage, NJ Scale: 1:20.3 Theme: Logging Description: Accucraft live steam Shay pulling scratchbuilt log bogies […]
The Bellflower Cricket on a cold day
Name: Shawn Viggiano Railroad Name: Kittatinny Mountain Railroad Location: Wantage, NJ Scale: 1:20.2 Theme: Logging Description: Bellflower live steam Cricket on a cold day […]
Model the desert
The skeleton of a desert in progress at Scott Kennedy’s East Bay Union Railroad at one end of his dogbone trackplan. A flagstone plateau supports the track and retains soil while a dry creek provides drainage and a footpath. Nancy Norris In the fleshed-out desert, a dwarf, blue-green olive tree (Olea ‘Little Ollie’) flanks the […]
Building an outdoor garden caboose
Photo 1 Sun has set but modeling continues in paradise—a building for building railway gear, rain or shine. In this caboose, the author keeps kits under construction, trains ready to run, parts drawers, a tiny fridge, and an electric kettle. A train runs through it. Garden tools hang just inside the end door. Rungs lead […]
Japanese spurge
Nancy Norris Common name: Japanese spurge, Pachysandra Latin name: Pachysandra terminalis Plant type: Groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained soil; full shade to full sun Plant size: 6-8″ high, spreading aggressively Close up of leaves Nancy Norris Sometimes we need a groundcover to simply cover the ground in hardy greenness to prevent […]
The Portage Railway An Illustrated History of the Huntsville & Lake of Bays Railway
The Portage Railway: An Illustrated History of the Huntsville & Lake of Bays Railway by Jeff Young and Peter Foley Available from: Credit Valley Railway Company 2900 Argentia Road, Unit 24 Mississauga ON L5N 7X9 Canada www.cvrco.ca 12 1/4″ x 9 1/4″; 204 pages, including 10 9″ x 18 1/2″ foldout drawings; hardbound The Huntsville […]
MRVP Layout Visit: Ray and Renee Grosser’s Nostalgia Trip Outdoor Railway
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page You won’t find the Grosser’s railway in a basement. Instead, they’ve built a 7½” gauge ride-on railroad empire on their rolling property in Southern Kentucky. In this MRVP Exclusive Layout Visit, you’ll get to explore a battery-powered locomotive, 200-pound freight cars equipped with […]
