Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors, Episode 2

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The fun in the sun continues in this second episode of Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors! This time, Kent welcomes Drew, Cody, David, and special guest Rene Schweitzer from Garden Railways magazine to his 22 x 30-foot garden railway (1:29 scale). The Crew tackles […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors, Episode 2

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The fun in the sun continues in this second episode of Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors! This time, Kent welcomes Drew, Cody, David, and special guest Rene Schweitzer from Garden Railways magazine to his 22 x 30-foot garden railway (1:29 scale). The Crew tackles […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors, Episode 1

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In the debut of this special summertime series, the Rehab My Railroad crew escapes the basement to help MRVP’s Kent Johnson restore his 22 x 30-foot garden railway (1:29 scale). Watch as host Drew Halverson, along with expert model railroaders David Popp and […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Outdoors, Episode 1

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In the debut of this special summertime series, the Rehab My Railroad crew escapes the basement to help MRVP’s Kent Johnson restore his 22 x 30-foot garden railway (1:29 scale). Watch as host Drew Halverson, along with expert model railroaders David Popp and […]

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Coastal white cedar or Andy’s cedar

white_cedar

Nancy Norris Common name: Coastal white cedar, Andy’s cedar Latin name: Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Andelyensis Conica’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 3′ x 1’6″ in ten years, without pruning Jack Verducci The heritage of Andy’s cedar goes back to […]

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Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce

sanders_blue_spruce

Nancy Norris Common name: Sanders Blue dwarf Alberta spruce Latin name: Picea glauca ‘Sanders Blue’ aka P.g. ‘Sanderi’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (winter protection in Zones 3-5) Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 4-6′ high by 2-3′ wide in 10 years, if not pruned […]

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Thyme leaf rockspray

thymeleaf_rockspray

Nancy Norris Common name: Thyme-leaf rockspray, small-leaf rockspray Latin name: Cotoneaster microphyllus var. thymifolius Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-11 (marginally in Zone 4, with snow cover) Cultural needs: Average, well-drained soil; sun for fruit Plant size: Less than 12″ and spreading, unless trained Nancy Norris Although the common name of […]

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Using succulents on your garden railway

sedum1

1. Hardy African iceplant makes a great groundcover, here blooming in late May. On the right is Angelina stonecrop, with yellow-green leaves, rising to 4-5″ tall. (All photos were taken on the author’s Hoot ’n’ Holler Railroad unless noted.) Photos by the author Don Parker 2. This small, yellow-flowering stonecrop (probably Sedum acer ‘Aureum’) is […]

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Variety in groundcovers

variety1

1. The hillside around the Skunk Holler Mine on the author’s Hoot ’n’ Holler Railroad is covered with Turkish veronica, which bursts into bloom every spring. Don Parker 2. The lighter-blue flowers in the foreground are produced by miniature speedwell (Veronica oltensis), growing shorter than Turkish veronica. Don Parker 3. Three different groundcovers flank this […]

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False bleeding heart

false_bleeding_heart

Nancy Norris Common names: False bleeding heart, Yellow corydalis, Yellow fumitory Latin name: Corydalis lutea Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, mildly acid or mildly alkaline soil; shade to part shade Plant size: 6-12″ Native to the southern Alps of Europe, yellow corydalis (kor-ID-ah-liss) sports tubular, spurred flowers on […]

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Black-leaved clover

clover

Nancy Norris Common name: Black-leaved clover Latin name: Trifolium repens ‘Atropurpureum’ Plant type: Groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10 Cultural needs: Well drained, moist soil; sun to shade Plant size: 3-6″ high by 12″ wide White clover is native to every US State and almost all Canadian provinces. This portrait shows a selection of the common […]

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Access into your ground-level garden railway

scene on garden railway with house in front

To elevate or not to elevate? That is the question we address while deciding on a style for our garden railway. Proponents of the “box” style like to raise the trains closer to view and say they don’t have to bend over so much, but it may surprise you to know that plenty of folks […]

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