POC Progress Report Part 3 - Jul 2008 - 12 photos

Joel,
Just tell the wife you're building her planters to make it easier for her to tend the miniature plants for her elevated rock garden. Incidently wouldn't that be a neat place for a "small" bit of trackage? Dave has started a wonderful raised layout mostly along his fenceline. Check it out and maybe he can advise you on obtaining right of way priviledges.

Steve,
You have got to be one of the most perceptive people I've ever come across. You read me like a book. hehe! Maybe that's why you're so good at putting them together. The slough and the hillside along with the back-curve are of course scenic blocks separating the Coos Bay area from the next town, Bandon, and serve to give an illusion of distance just like you said.

The shed in the "Buildings Forum" was needed not only for interest at that location but its size was dictated by the available space and a small structure tends to exagerate the height of the background hills. Too, I wanted something of modest size for the track to run behind instead of in front of without making it inaccessible. You will note that except in the Coos Bay yard I have kept the track away from the edge a few inches to better integrate the track "into" the scenery instead of merely going by it. I would also like to angle the track more in relation to the edge of the benchwork but this has proved difficult due to the limited depth. Track is of little use if you can't reach it.

Thanks for the comments.

Thanks much Steve for bringing us up to date.

Matt,
I had originally given thought to including some dwarf plants on the RR until I discovered they weren't needed due to the narrow benchwork and the natural background here. I do have several varieties of moss on the layout.

As to larger plants you can leave them in pots as Jerry has suggested. You won't need excessively deep soil on the RR that way. Merely provide holes through the top with brackets or shelves hung beneath the normal benchwork top to rest the pots on. Then you can extend fabric into the sides of the pots and run dirt right up to them to hide the tops. Due to the drainage afforded by elevated benchwork they probably will have to be watered more often than if they were on the ground. The benchwork itself would provide easy installation for drip irrigation as the lines could be run beneath or through the joists and just popped up to nozzles or sprayers where needed.

Another way for potted background trees would be to place them behind a fence(model) or other scenic block to hide the pots thus making them easily removeable for tending or winter storage inside if needed. If you follow the suggested methods for deck construction in your area for the framework it should be plenty strong to support many plants. I've gone to 16" centers on joists and leg support every 4 feet and it's solid as a rock.