The plants in the Alpine section at garden centers always look so small and delicate that we tend to think of them as rather specialized and tricky to grow. In fact many of these alpines are just miniature versions of larger plants that we already grow without any problems. To learn more about rock gardening read this interview by Margaret Roach of Joseph Tychonievich the author of a new book on rock gardening. I found this on her A Way to Garden website.
Q. How did you get the rock-garden bug? Did you catch it in your time working at Arrowhead Alpine Nursery or how?
A. Yes, mostly through Arrowhead Alpines, which is a rare-plants nursery near me in Michigan. I started going there just because they had cool plants, but they specialize in alpines, and once I was looking around and seeing them, that?s where I got the bug.
It started there just when I was a customer, and then when I was working there and propagating the plants and growing them, that when I got more deeply interested and excited about rock gardening.
Q. Are you a member or NARGS, the North American Rock Garden Society? Tell the truth. I mean, it?s a pretty serious bunch of plant people, traditionally?I?ve seen notices for lectures at meetings on topics like ?Alpine Flora of Greece? and ?Chinese and Himalayan Plants for the Garden? and such [laughter].
A. I am a member?it?s actually the only plant society I?m a member of, because they have an amazing seed list. You can get incredible seeds from them. And they have a quarterly magazine really?the quarterly newsletter for members is great, with great articles.
Go to the next to read more of this interview with Joseph Tychonievich.
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