Gorgeous, and look at all that planting space. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of it in years to come.

Great job, Jon. I always love looking at other gardeners' projects. I hope you don't mind my making a suggestion. It looks like you've used five clumps of hachonechloa, four at the top of your dry gulch, top right and one at the bottom right. I would move the third clump down at the top right to mid-way on the left side, so that the eye is being led down the gulch. Looking forward to seeing it all fill in.

I appreciate your suggestion irawon. There are four Hakonechloa clumps on the right side looking up the gulch as you suspected. I planted the Vinca on the opposite side as this bank is in even deeper shade and I didn't know if the Hakonechloa would work even on the sunnier side it is on. It has perked up since planting it and now I feel confident it could survive on the shady bank.

It does look unbalanced and I think I will follow your suggestion and yank the Vinca (plenty of places to put it, and it seems to thrive anywhere) and put 2 more Hakonachloa clumps on the left side looking up the gulch. The vinca may just move up on the bank or outboard of the new Hakonechloa clumps.

It may not look like it from the pictures, but, pulling one out and putting it on the opposite side would leave a gap and just not look very good; even if the concept is rustic.

Thanks,

Jon

What fun you are having - thank you for sharing it with us. Next spring is going to be really exciting at your house. And moving all that rock - way more fun than going to the gym eh?
Jan

MadPlanter, thanks.

I do have a lot of area, but my property ends short of what is in the picture. It is property that was dug out for cranberry bogs and never finished as the bottom fell out of the cranberry market. It is now wetlands and it is doubtful that it will ever be developed, except perhaps as bogs. That would'nt be a problem and not much change for me.

I think the cranberry industry has moved to Michigan although it is still a big industry for existing bogs here in MA.

Jon

Jan.ON, Some of those big boulders are a challenge. If close by the huge ones require my trusty digging pole. I have a good hand truck for the large stuff and, of course a wheelbarrow for rocks.

I don't know how good the exercise is when I count the time spent nursing my sore back.

Thanks for the kind words,

Jon

Looking absolutely fabulous. I can't wait to see the 'after' pix in a few years.

Thanks ci_lantro,

It should start to show some progress in the Spring. I'm going to have to save some surprises until then.

Jon

Jon

Great planting area. I like it a lot. I hope you have Hosta Cascades. It fits.

Steve

I like Irawon's suggestion and I love the way the form and color of the grasses work with your rocks.

Really, really nice job Jonny!

Hit 'submit' too soon.

I think the Blue Angel will work really well picking up the blue of the rocks and playing off the grasses - great choice!

Don't have Cascades...yet Steve; but it would certainly fit.

Thanks Lavender. Irawon definitely had a good suggestion. It does need balance along each side. I will transplant the Blue Angel soon. I think I have the basic bones started; or at least thought out. I'm sure I will find things to tweek as it goes along. Then there's the bench and the focal point at the bottom and more rocks here and there.....well, who knows where it will end up.

Jon

I certainly look forward to seeing a few years of progression on your project.

My back and shoulders hurt looking at all those rocks and boulders moved up and down that slope.

We have a similar grade slope area I've been dreaming about a 'dell' or fast running stream running through, so I would have buried some high quality pond liner under that 'rock fun' to allow for that possibility later. Too late now, teehee!

Remember, now, keep a foto record, eh? Please?

hh

hh,

Don't forget the pool at the bottom filled with Koi.
This location is set way in the back. It is about 150 feet from the house...and water...and electricity...and it is hidden from view without a walk back there. If I were to put in a true water feature it would not be in this location. To be honest, a real water feature is not on the want list.

I will be sure to keep the photo record up and share.

Jon

PS- I apologize for the blurry pictures. I accidentally spun the exposure control on my camera. It did show up some funny indications, so I should have realized something was wrong.

I have added a couple of new Hakonechloa to the right side of the rock gully.

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They are Hakonechloa, Fubuki which is Japanese for Blizzard (Hakon is a Japanese Prefecture). They are a little smaller, brighter and they get pink highlites in the Fall

I transplanted a Blue Angel into it's reserved hole the base.

I'm very happy with how it looks.

The rest of the plantings on top all seem to be doing very well and the dousing we anticipate from the remnants of Isacc and cooler temps coming will keep them healthy.

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I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Jon

Your project is looking fabulous. Love the natural setting.

Your Blue Angel is lovely. They grow really big. I'm not sure of the width of your rock stream, but BA might be close enough that it covers it up in a few years. My BA at 4 years measures 58" wide.

Hostahosta, the bed varies; it is 6 feet at the top, necks down to 5 1/2 fet and is about 8 feet at the base where the Blue Angel is.

That Blue Angel is 2 years old and measures 4 feet wide by 44 inches deep. I will probably divide it, remove one half of it and shift one half over when it starts to block of too much of the "cascade". I think I have couple of years as it will probably be set back some by the move and who knows if it will do as well in this spot.

I really didn't think it would fill the hole, but it sure did.

Jon