Tricolor stonecrop

pink and green plant next to track and model speeder

Common name: Tricolor stonecrop Latin name: Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’ Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: 1-6″ high by 12″ wide and spreading USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11 Cultural needs: Poor, moderate to dry, well-drained soil; sun (for pink color) to light shade With parents native to Iran, Tricolor stonecrop is the type of rugged plant that laughs […]

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A beginner’s guide to rock-garden plants

flowers in a rock garden

Do you need a beginner’s guide to rock-garden plants? Plants that are typically suited to rocky places are tough characters. Understanding their characteristics will help you select plants for the railroad garden that will work well in the crevices of rocks, creeping along cliffs, or draped down rock faces. They often come from mountainous origins […]

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Water plants for the garden railway

Dwarf cattail with black model steam engine on track

Water plants for the garden railway Ah, summer! It’s hot enough for iced tea and watermelon. You’re sitting by your little pond, enjoying the rhythmic chimes of rushing water from your railway’s beautiful falls. Through the haze your eyes rest on a serene lake; you’re imagining that anticipated fishing trip. Mountains reflected in cool, clear […]

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Axilflower or Magic Carpet Yellow

model steam locomotive approaches clump of yellow flowers

Common name: Axilflower, Magic Carpet Yellow, Baby Jump Up Latin name: Mecardonia x ‘Magic Carpet Yellow’, M. x ‘Gold Dust’, and M. x ‘Gold Flake’ Plant type: Annual USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11, or grown as an annual Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 4″ high x 6-12″ […]

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Dahlberg daisy

rocky landscape with flowers on garden railway

Common name: Dahlberg daisy, golden fleece Latin name: Thymophylla tenuiloba var. tenuiloba, syn. Dyssodia tenuiloba Plant type: Annual USDA Hardiness Zones: n/a Plant size: 6-12″ high and wide Cultural needs: Sunny, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic poor soil Delicate little annuals with lacy foliage and small yellow daisies soften the toughest rocks. Dahlberg daisy […]

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Industries in northern Ohio

a model train on track on garden railway

Industries in northern Ohio: The track and buildings are relatively level, but the walking area follows the contour of the ground. The entrance at the east is the highest, with the track and buildings being about one foot higher than the path. As you proceed to the west end, the path descends a little, so […]

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Coral bark Japanese maple

miniature tree with yellow leaves on garden railroad

Common name: Coral bark Japanese maple Latin name: Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’ (syn. A.p. ‘Senkaki’) Plant size: 15-20′ high by 15-20′ wide, unpruned USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 Plant type: shrubs and small trees Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun to part shade One of the most popular, semi-dwarf Japanese […]

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Bearberry

small bear figure sitting in evergreen patch of plants

Common name: Bearberry, kinnikinnick Latin name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: 6″ high spreading to 3′ or more USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, acidic soil; part shade or full sun Common bearberry is native to the US and Canada (as well as other continents) and is found in damp, […]

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White Pygmy cypress

small evergreen tree on garden railroad

White Pygmy cypress Latin name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘White Pygmy’ Common name: White Pygmy cypress Plant type: Dwarf conifer Growth rate: 12″ x 14″ wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8 Cultural needs: Sun to part shade, rich soil, moderate water White Pygmy is one of the smallest dwarf conifers available, usually growing only to a foot tall […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Garden Variety Railroad Show | Snow Week Special

One of the most appealing aspects of garden railroading is the fact it can be enjoyed year-round in the great outdoors! And with the proper equipment at hand, large scale trains can even run in a moderate accumulation of fresh, crystalize precipitation. In this video, you’ll see the efforts a few resilient railway owners made […]

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Trailing ice plant or Cooper’s ice plant

Trailing ice plant next to model locomotive

Trailing ice plant Common name:
 Trailing ice plant, Cooper’s ice plant Latin name: 
Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Cultural needs: Well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 3-inches high by 3-feet wide Sometimes called hardy ice plant or purple ice plant, this low succulent is not to be confused with the […]

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