An older trough I redid last summer.
Left to right, top to bottom
Sisyrinchium macrocarpa (didn't survive the winter)
Hypericum pallens
Allium sikkimense
Gentiana acuaulis
Primula algida - from wild collected seed in Georgia (Asia)
Primula wulfeniana
Veronica fruticans - from wild collected seed in Norway
Iberis saxitilis 'Pygmaea' - 3/4 inch high!



This is what it looked like on April 14th


The black calyces of the primula are really cool...

Lovely group of plants

Nice Rick, love that little primula!

Our Minnesota Chapter NARGS trough display at the State Fair.

Very nice display, well done. It looks like there is a ribbon on the table...

Pretty! Really a nice finish you have on the styrofoam!

The ribbon says "Special Award", whatever that means. It's not a state fair competition, and I think the Minnesota Horticultural Society just gives them out to reinforce their gratitude for participating. Plant societies are invited to display under their name.

The two smaller troughs on the left are hypertufa, not styrofoam.

Some alpine troughs from Kew Gardens London.

Love that giant trough in the 2nd to last picture!

Those are simply beautiful

I have this really cool trough over the hill in the woods, and would love to make a garden , but no way to move it

Oh wow--I would so totally find a way! or ruin it and plenty of other things trying (can't begin to tell you how many bullet-proof jackets I've ruined sliding rocks up and down hills that I couldn't pick up). I'd give it a go with a sled and a bit of snow--make mad plans for next winter, get it propped so it wouldn't freeze to the ground and poised to fall into the sled, and drag it with the four wheeler...or something like that--but it looks like it is making a secret sapling garden for you anyway

Thanks Paddy! Those are really neat

If you're strong enough to tip the trough on end, Cinda, I can show you how to get it onto a kid's wagon.

There is a lot of nice variation in those troughs, Paddy. Back in the 1980's when I visited Kew, I was very disappointed with the mundane structure of their rock garden. I've heard they have done a lot of renovating in the last decade, though.

Cinda you could beg steal or borrow a sack truck to move that trough . Or you could move it on rollers made from 2 inch tubing . A bit time consuming but that's how they did it in the old days .

Leftwood said:If you're strong enough to tip the trough on end, Cinda, I can show you how to get it onto a kid's wagon.

There is a lot of nice variation in those troughs, Paddy. Back in the 1980's when I visited Kew, I was very disappointed with the mundane structure of their rock garden. I've heard they have done a lot of renovating in the last decade, though.

Heres how it looked last week . It must be 20 years since I was there too and I wasn't even interested in rock gardening then !

Well I have lived here 15 years now and found no feasible way to move it
It is over a steep hill among many trees , so no equipment can get to it , and the 4 of us tried to just move it a little and not a budge. MY guys are 6' and 6'5'' and very stout.
Thought about a cable and com-along or wench but it would break and the cable was not long enough.
about the only way might be breaking the trough in half and then I do not know IF I could put it back together.

so I just visit and dream
thanks for all the ideas and thoughts on the matter

Nice photos
Those boulders are impressive , bet it took a lot of power to move and place them.

I feel for you Cinda!
Sounds formidable...
...big draft horse? Sorry, okay, I'll knock it off.
Maybe you could plant it up where it is with some shade loving cuties and visit it to weed and enjoy
with a picnic

Could you just plant it where it is? Then you could visit it occasionally .

Could an old brick planter be used as a trough?
Instead of potting soil-fill it with more gravel like material?