A Small Exquisite New Green Spring Garden
by Sunny Greene, FROGS Board Member
Cactus in Crevice GardenAs you approach the Horticulture Center from the parking lot, there used to be what is called in landscaping a “hell spot” on your right, between the sidewalk and the rock garden circle. Because of the intense heat reflected from the pavement as well as the poor soil the strip contained, this area was particularly challenging for gardeners and was barren except for some struggling grass.
Mixture of Cacti and Black-Eyed Susan
in the Crevice GardenAbout three years ago, Green Spring horticulturalist Parker Jennings began designing a unique crevice garden to fill this entire space. A crevice garden has pockets between the slanting stones in which to use plants that can survive winter’s harsh conditions. And it must have perfect drainage to avoid root rot. Parker’s vision was for a three-dimensional crevice garden having a different identity than the circle Rock Garden’s crevice area or the Gravel Garden below the Horticulture Center.
Black-Eyed Susans among the CactiParker did a great deal of research, then he removed six inches of the original soil, replacing it with two tons of stone and sand and filling it with an enormous variety of plants. This crevice garden is low to the ground, so many of the plants are small. Included are numerous cacti, especially those that bloom and add bold colors to the landscape. All the plants thrive beautifully, as their variety changes with the seasons.
The next time you visit Green Spring, be sure to take a few minutes to enjoy this small but glorious addition to the Green Spring Gardens family.
Crevice Garden Photos by John Richards
