garden art with stone

while making a trip to my local gravel and rock supplier, to meet my gardener who goes through the rock piles hand picking stone for walkways, I chanced on an idea. now your local nurseries that sell stone, won't tell you where they buy some of their rock wholesale locally. but back to my story. I saw some long narrow rock and thought, I wonder what they would look like upright and placed in groups of 3. now these are heavy and you would need someone with a truck and be able to lift them. but I bought several and they only cost a few $ dollars each. they charge by weight. when you come into the yard they weight your car or truck and then when you load up they weight you out. I've used these in several areas and am really liking how they look. of course, it's all in what looks good to you. and what you can afford. I know I'll never pay another nursery again for my rock, when I can get it and hand pick my own wholesale. Jim

Jim I'd love to see a picture. We're still working on yard art (everything else too actually) and that sounds very interesting. I'd also love it if you'd share your wholesale location.

LBF, the local gravel and rock yard that I went to was Morrison Gravel, in Port Orchard, Wa. you can google your local yards. the retailers all have this but you're going to pay for their time and labor and markup. Jim

So I don't need a wholesale license to go there?

Where at in PO ? I just might go over and check it out. I am looking for river rock, about 1 man size. and a few 2 man.

I've gone to the local gravel pit here on Vashon to get sand from the free pile they keep outside the gate. That's what is under my patio. I have never been inside to check out if they offer rocks. The free pile is to keep people who want small amounts out of their way, so I think i better call ahead to find out.

MHF, they should carry rock. I did the same as far as not looking around, my gardener was there hand picking stone for a private garden in Bremerton, Garden Vista, owned by Drs, John Albers and Santica Marcovina. and I went to check it out. since them he has brought a lot of stone to my neighbors, we're sharing a garden area. and then stone for my garden. I plan on making another trip this winter. I have to have help with them too heavy, but I like to pick out what I'm going to use. I want to look through other threads or articles to maybe get other ideas. I don't want to copy anything just consider possibilities. I also have used 3/4 minus gravel on the garden trails. and on the choice Hosta paths, the blue sand. and blue flat stepping stones. Jim

My contractor shops at Morrison's gravel. Since I'm a rock nut,, he recommended that place to me because he says they carry things no one else carries, like gravel in different colors. I have to check it out sometime. Love the idea of tall narrow stones standing upright. I can spend all day in a rock yard. I'm the gardener who goes through stone by stone, leaving 'no stone unturned'. LOL!

Pix, that's great!!! I didn't know they were unusual since that was the only one I've been to. but yes it is fun to go through the rocks and find those special ones. maybe some more of the colored sand maybe a miniature 'Stone Hedge' would be fun. now I'm getting silly. I'm signing off, Jim

I so love rock as hardscape. Especially in Montana. The snow on it in the winter makes it look just like mountains, the trees over it give it life with their branches covered in snow, and the groupings of rocks make it look forever a garden of design.
My wife does the same thing when we are rock hounding. She has a color of the day and we collect from everywhere we go. Our car that we are trading in needs to be detailed before we take it to them for all the dirt and rock pieces in the back. We hauled back over 900 lbs of pudding stone from Michigan last summer.

Soferdig, that really sounds exciting!!!!! I don't know if we have any rock like that around here. it's all imported from somewhere else. I'd love to see you garden. your imagination must run wild with all the possibilities. thanks for sharing that, Jim

I remember that pudding stone! And I remember being so envious, too!

I had my garden posted in the journal area and Dave deleted it a year or so ago with the new program. I guess I'll have to post it again when I get home in garden tours with Tillys forum. Lots of rocks in all sizes from 6;X4' to pea gravel.

Soferdig, I'll look for it, thanks, Jim