PHASE TWO

FALL, 2001 - FALL, 2003

This phase of development was focused upon the central garden of the project.

During the spring, 2001, pit run was used to create berms according to Kato's design. The pit run was used to provide the proper drainage and nutrient levels for an alpine environment. Then approximately six inches of topsoil was spread over all of the berms. (Interestingly, most of the topsoil gradually filtered down through the pit run during the following four years and has become integrated with it.)

The North American Rock Garden Society generously supported this expense by awarding a generous Singer Endowment. Also, the Northwest Chapter of NARGS gave a generous donation toward the purchase of alpine plants for the garden.

During the spring, 2002, the rocks were placed throughout the berms and the first major planting of conifers and alpines took place. Rick Lupp, owner of Mt. Tahoma Alpine Nursery gave a matching donation of alpine plants and since then has been generously donating his time and plants to this project. We donated 300 dwarf conifers to go with the 100 alpines that were planted at this time.

Rick also designed a scree garden to be built by the students as part of the spring projects. This scree consisted of an underlayment of plastic weed barrier to keep out worms and moles, overlain with six inches of washed sand and a surface covering of crushed granite.

Spring, 2003 saw additional conifer and alpine plantings as the main focus of the students were on other parts of the arboretum. The rock garden plants were establishing themselves and the few losses could be replaced during this interval.

 The plants have been growing for a year and are getting established in their new home. The bare field in the foreground is the next area to be landscaped.

 Notice how the border plants are nicely developing.

 Pit run soil has been brought in to create an undulating landscape of well drained soil for the main rock garden. Pit run soil has a high amount of sand and gravel with little organic material.

 This excavated area is the future site of the pond for our water feature.

 Planning was extensively practiced for every stage of the garden.

 This close up is of the pit run soil.

 The border planting transitions nicely into the rock garden itself.

 Rocks have been positioned throughout the garden. They are black and white granite from a quarry easy of Seattle.

 The landscape fabric marks our scree area.

 This scree area will made out of clean sand spread to a depth of 4-8 inches over the fabric.

 The fabric keeps worms and moles from bringing soil into the scree area.

 The wall makes a nice transition zone and provides cracks and crevasses for small plants.

 The highest part of the garden has an elevation of about 4 feet above grade.

 The students eagerly anticipate the load of plants we donated for this phase of the garden.

 Dianne was busily sorting plants as they were taken off of the truck.

 The scree has been constructed with the layer of sand overlain with crushed granite.

The granite pieces are smaller toward the base of the scree and effectively hide the sand from view.

 The conifers were positioned for planting. We also hd a widerange of alpines, with more to be added in the fall.

 Only after all of the plants were positioned would the planting begin.

 Additional rock and gravel features added to the alpine effect and feeling of the garden.

 Some of the large rock had surface depressions that retained water in small pools.

 The street is not yet hidden from view.