I might have posted photos of the hypertufas I bought in Feb, on the Container forum.
It could go on this forum just because it was me breaking my hard and fast rule of " see it for real,then buy - or not "
I have started many containers with sempervivums and wanted to add a section to the back steps of the deck.
Thedy need to stay out all winter so I bought several rezin types and looked all over Google for some out-door hypertufas.
It wasnt easy to find what I wanted but got lucky and noticed a website of a woman who lives in this town.
I called her - after an hour of telling me how many local biggies she knows and she designs for the Rock Garden Society at the Philadelphia Flower show, we got to what I called about.
I asked the sizes and prices. She quoted me 12 inch wide by 5 inch deep.$50.00 for each of the three different ones. I didnt think that was too bad so I ordered.
Long story short : I dont care how eccentric and famous you are ,I feel I was short changed with these that have an inside measure of 9 inches.
I never buy anything without seeing it first so broke my rule and have to eat it with a promice to go to the local big garden center that carries her tufas and check prices.

According to her,these are a special formula she invented and the cement is guaranteed to be winter safe.

Its probably the last hypertufas I will invest in.

That is too bad.
I try not to buy with out seeing also.
But sometimes it is easier to order on line or from a catalogue.

And mine are so beautiful down here. its unfortunate they can't work for you up there.

I went to the garden center where she sells her hypertufas.
They have similar ones in a bit larger size and less than what I paid for the three I ordered from her.
She is a scatterbrain and I knew it going in. I sware she said she would give me a deal but I dont think she did.
There were other tufas there not made by her.
I bought 2 small ones for $8.00 and $10.00. I will plant these and either give them to my daughters or put them with the arrangement on the back deck steps.

We've all done similar Jo Ann. Don't beat yourself up too much.

Its been a few weeks and the tufas are planted. I feel better.
Thanks everyone.

There are also instructions on pinterest to make your own and they may be able to tell you how to winterize them.

Thanks Tamideel: I forgot about this thread.
I have stored the tufas for the winter in a corner of my deck.I started the thread because I was sure I paid a huge sum for the first three tufas. I doubt I will do that again.
The season went on with good development for the alpines and semps.
July









AUGUST

















Here the tufas are for the winter.
This corner will fill with leaves and snow.

...so the curious have to ask
How did they winter?

Cinda, I lost Delosperma and all the sedums. Semps were down by 1/3 but the Alpines are blooming and looklike they might make it.