Feather rock

I'm wondering if anyone else is using feather rock in their landscape. I just discovered it at the Pt Defiance show last spring. then I saw a pallet of it at my local Ace Hardware. well, you know how one thing leads to another. I bought several different sizes and have been carving pockets in it for plant material. miniature landscapes on the large ones. and the small ones. I'm planting sedums. Jim

Sounds interesting, what's feather rock?

Zhinu ~ Feather rock is lava rock. Very light weight and can be fairly easily carved with the right tools. Killer on the hands if you don't wear gloves, though. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_featherrock.php

Sheri, interesting, makes me want to get a salt water aquarium. I have been using a concrete bit. I scoop out the size hole I want and then drill a hole for drainage. it is so easy. the hard part is viualizing what I want the mini landscape to look like, when I plant it up. I think the person helping me pick out the sizes and shapes of the rock, thought I was a little daffy ( I am ). I would put them on the ground and eye them up. then change my mind and find another and so on. I'm laughing at myself now. Jim

I think it's a great idea, Jim. You're just an artist in action . . .

pretty cool!

Oh, I love that eyeing up process - I do that if I am buying a plant. Get them all out, stand them move them around, reduce the number....... husband is tolerant as can be. (I hate to say this, sometimes I just walk away from the lot - leave them to the helpers to put back).

Jim I have had a feather rock for probably 10 years. It is great I have it planted with plants but there is no hole in the bottom. Very nice. Heidi

I have to laugh at Jim's description of 'eyeing' the rock. Don't feel alone, Jim. I'm a bit of a rock nut myself and like to hang around those places where they sell big pallets of different landscaping rocks. I'm known to take each individual rock off the pallet, sometimes asking young burly men to help me, then put them on the ground and stand back from them, then sort them into piles before making final decisions.
I've learned that there are two types of burly young men: The kind that look upon me kindly as they would a dottering auntie and ask which one I wish to see next, and the kind that think I'm just a bit crazy and roll their eyes. I prefer the former.

Melissa, that's funny, hey, that's a good hosta name, I'll write it down. Dottering Auntie. I've been told hybridizers are wierd. maybe so. when you have a 100 plants to name, you have to be creative. I have my book of names around so I can write a name in before I forget. Heidi, the rock is easy to carve out with a drill and concrete bit. it's like carving butter, it's so easy. I'm having a feather rock carving workshop in August with a few members of the Long Lake Garden club. the purpose is to carve pockets for plant material, with drain holes. i will plant these with miniature trees and moss. small ferns. etc. maybe do a grouping of 1 large rock and 2 small. I'll post when I'm finished. Jim

Oh - Dottering Auntie sounds delightful, both as a rock purchaser and as a plant name. Really looking forward to seeing the named plants - I think I would like it to have a bit of a ruffled edging, or deep quilting on the leaf. something comfy in its appearance.

Jim, way to cool.
I have a request for a name to put in your book.

We all love her, and wish to meet her.
"Eng La1" Englands Laurie1

Just my 2 cents
Hugs
Tille

Definitely ruffled edges, preferably a purple flower with scent. Something on the 'fussy' side.
Good one, tills.

BTW, Jim, the baby you gave me is doing great!

Mary, that's funny, I just e-mailed her some pictures, I'll enter it, Jim

Melissa, I'm glad the plant is doing well for you. if it flowers try selfing it, put pollen from the flower, onto the stigma when it opens, if it makes a seed pod, you could germinate the seeds, and maybe get different looking seedlings from it. some of those reccessive genes might kick in. Hosta are ones you can self pollinate, Jim

I don't think it flowered yet. I'll keep an eye on it, though. That sounds like a fun experiment. Talked to Gordon today when I met up with him to get my umbrella and a couple of plants from him. We talked about your cool hostas. Hope you can come up with a blue version of something like Hacksaw. That would be a killer hosta! I think I'd name something like that 'blue steel' or 'blade'. Sort of a knife reference, you know. Variegated with blue and cream would be awesome.

I'm so happy you both approve.
Thank You

Feather Rock has a very unusual name: Pumice.

Yes, not all is 1/4" or less. Some are boulder size, and there is alot of it from good old MSH.

LOL! Don't you just love a good marketing name?? I've seen that at some of the local nurseries and rock parlors, but it's pretty pricey down here.

Melissa, a blue Hacksaw would be great!!!! with serrated edges maybe? I did some crosses with HSW but don't know if I crossed it with a blue. it will bloom again in late August so I'll see if there's a good blue to work with.

Ohmigawd! I'm not sure about naming a plant, especially something as sophisticated looking as a hosta! after me. But I am flattered at the thought - thank you Tills and Jim. I do like the idea of blue steel hacksaw - and after seeing some of Jims wonderful plants - the beautiful thin wavery edged ones could easily be well on their way to being the 'Knife Series'. Definately names for selling at NWGordon's Man nursery - Killer Plants with Drop Dead Grogeous Names - The Knife Series bred by that King of Plantsmen......... we can come up with some really good marketing copy for this Jim!

Many thanks for sending those to me - I knew they came in various shades from white, through lime, to blues and variegated, but had no idea that they varied so much in shape - I clearly have not been paying attention - nor did I know they could be scented! This is good.

How about 'lavendar blue Tilly Tilly' for a hosta name. ^_^

Excellent!!

I am totally jazzed about the 'knife' series. I think we are on to something here. Just one thought, Jim.... be sure to name the first one in the series 'Mac'....... You can call it ... Mac the Knife. (sorry, I know it dates me).
Definitely yes on the serrated edges, or at least ruffled edges.
You can bet that manly men would love the 'knife' series, so Gordon would be able to carry these exclusively at his nursery. You could really get into a series like that. One could be called 'Jack', a nicely variegated one could be 'Damascus' (after Damascus steel). If you could get a pale, powder blue one, it could be 'Stainless Steel'.

Jim, I think you better get busy!!

Love the idea of the "knife" series
But willow I think thats a little much ( but I love it ) but more like ' Tillsaw'

LOL the name game....

'Willo sharp'
'Pic Ruffle'
'J slade'

Jim, we could come up with a book of names for ya, LOL

Buck
Fillet
Pocket (that one would need to be a miniature hosta)
Razor's edge


Oh, how about this one for a pale yellow hosta of the knife series: Butter.

Okay, I'm going to bed now. Enough silliness. Jim, get busy with those crosses will ya??

See Jim? People love series! A Hacksaw series would be awesome! But I still think that if you do a blue hacksaw it would be the biggest selling hosta that year, if you put it in the right hands. You would make a fortune if this was in a large catalog!! But the hosta I want to see is the one you should name Jim's Pride. One of the Wu crosses, maybe with stained glass as the pod parent. Those leaves on that size hosta would be to die for!!

Oh yes, series are a marketer's dream! It's all about collectibility, you know. People will want to have the entire series.

Okay maybe Tilly Dilly?

Funny, But that dosn't fit for a Hacksaw series More like 'Tilsaw' (skilsaw) Ha Ha I made a funny.

Very funny, Tills, but funniest is that you make yourself laugh! Cute.

Thank you, If you don't laugh at yourself, something is wrong....
Mostly when you are typing cus you can change it LOL

lots of good names here, I'm writing them down, thanks, Jim