Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants: Edibles & Ornamentals For Small-Space Gardening

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Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants: Edibles & Ornamentals For Small-Space Gardening By Jessica Walliser Published by Cool Springs Press Available in the US from: The Quarto Group 100 Cummins Center, Suite 265D Beverly, MA 01915 7″ x 9″ 296 pages Hardcover Price: $24.99 Researching choices for the “garden” half of garden railways means organization. Lists […]

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The Garden Variety Railroad Show: Trees, train, and an expansion plan, Episode 2

Even with winter closing in fast, Kent still hopes to make progress on his garden railway. Rene is a bit less optimistic, so she shows how to prepare dwarf trees for the frozen months ahead. Meanwhile, Kent visits a neighbor’s bonsai tree collection, Cody starts a USA Trains GP38-2 locomotive repainting project, and David helps […]

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The Garden Variety Railroad Show: Trees, train, and an expansion plan, Episode 2

Several trees in bonsai styles in pots on elevated benches.

Even with winter closing in fast, Kent still hopes to make progress on his garden railway. Rene is a bit less optimistic, so she shows how to prepare dwarf trees for the frozen months ahead. Meanwhile, Kent visits a neighbor’s bonsai tree collection, Cody starts a USA Trains GP38-2 locomotive repainting project, and David helps […]

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Dwarf prickly pear cactus

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Nancy Norris Common name: Dwarf prickly pear cactus, devil’s tongue Latin name: Opuntia sp. USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10, depending on species Cultural needs: Gravelly or sandy well-drained, neutral soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 4-6″ pads, clumping Nancy Norris To feature “devil’s tongue” cactus in a family hobby may be controversial—just check out all […]

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The Bonsai Beginner’s Bible book

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Bill Zuback The Bonsai Beginner’s Bible By Peter Chan Published by Octopus Books USA 1290 Avenue of the Americas 4th and 5th Floors New York NY 10104 Octopusbooksusa.com 320 pages 5½” x 61½” Softcover Price: $14.99 Bill Zuback Bill Zuback The Chinese first practiced the art of bonsai more than 2,000 years ago. Growing miniature […]

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Anatomy of a water feature

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Nancy Norris/Rick Johnson Water goes down to ‘seek its own level’. Hygroscopic tension forces water sideways when moisture follows the underside of a spill rock or fallen branch. Soil wicks water in all directions by osmosis. Splashing bounces up. Water evaporates into thin air and we wonder if the reservoir is leaking. Water needs to […]

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Waterscape your garden railway

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Waterscape your garden railway: Swirling water stirs the imagination. Splashing shuts out city sounds, and viewers remember seeing famous falls at national parks or smaller watercourses near home. Bridges over brooks urge us to see connections to the land and how plantings create the habitat for a popular scenic attraction. There are countless reasons why […]

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Waterscape your railroad regional reports

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The Mynderups keep their plants potted, which they grow on shelf-like terraces within their Redwood Creek and Tallulah Ridge garden railroad. Richard Mynderup Lighting under the Japanese maple illuminates the waterfall and is a beautiful and relaxing scene in the evenings. Richard Mynderup What tricks can you share about integrating water into your railway? Richard […]

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Dwarf parrot’s feather

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Nancy Norris Common name: Dwarf parrot’s feather Latin name: Myriophyllum aquaticum minima Plant type: Water plant USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 (overwinter indoors in colder zones) Cultural needs: Full or partial sun in water Plant size: 2″ high and spreading Dwarf parrot’s feather is one of my favorite aquatics for its lacy, fluffy look and its […]

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