Another rockery

From being a "non rockery" person, I've have completely changed my mind about them. (I'm allowed,I'm a woman!)
My first rockery was such a success that I've decided to make a new one on the other side of the steps, so that it will stretch the full length of our barn.(About 65 feet.)
This is what it's like currently:

I'm hoping to cover up most of the rather ugly retaining wall.

The area in front of this rockery will be graveled. The earth there is dire, so nothing much will grow in it.
On the positive side, we have lots of large stone / granite on the land. On the negative side we have to dig it up.

There's quite a bit in the sheep field. I don't think they'll miss them.

It was very hot work today, 28 deg. I'll leave the actual moving to my OH or my son at the weekend. Some of these are too big for me to tackle.
Whilst snooping around the land looking for likely candidates for my rockery, I came across this old granite bowl.

I might try an incorporate it in the rockery. It would make a nice place for birds to bath.

 

What a lovely looking place and yes I can see that the rockery being extended right across the front (or back?) of the house would look very handsome. Green with envy but not of the breaking of rocks, ooh me back! Keep us posted on progress please.

 

Rockeries look great when they are done right. Using the stones that are right there will make it fit in with the surroundings. That stone bowl is super kewl too and will make a fab feature!! I'm envious!! Only thing I've discovered recently while digging is a marble.

 

There's been some progress, although be it slow. Collectively, my OH, son and I have managed to dig out all the large stone I unearthed from all over our land and drag it uphill to the rockery site. It took a lot longer than I first thought.



And some of the stones turned out to be rather larger than I thought.



Over the last week I've dug up and wheelbarrowed countless loads of soil from the field and deposited it on the rockery, so it's now a better height to start.

The granite bowl was a right headache to move. In the end we had to winch it up the hill. I was beginning to feel guilty for having the silly idea that it would make a good bird bath.

Still, it's in place now. (there's no way I'm going to be able to move it now anyway. )



Now to start placing some of the stone................er.........with help.

 

Hang on this isn't fair! You have sunshine!!

As for the rockery. Building a decent rockery is something that I have never managed to get right.

 

True. Also the odd shower. (see the "bird bath" is full. :WINK1
It's a good job or else There's no way I'd be able to dig all that soil out. (clay)

 

Keep the pics coming

 

Hi N.Ark!
it will look really good when all plants have grown...
have much fun digging and sweating!!

 

Finally all the digging and stone moving is finished.
Now the fun part of planting can start.
Here is what it looks like currently, though the photos look quite boring.





View from the top.

 

Hi Mandy.

Always enjoy looking at your threads Only one problem, it makes me so envious. I mean, all that space! Anyway, keep up the good work...and keep posting

 

Making steady progress there, looking good. Can't wait to see it all planted up.

 

Some planting going in. Most taken from other parts of the garden. It's a bit too hot really. I'm doing a lot of watering and hoping for the best.
I'm not sure if the mill stone is going to stay there.
we've put the first lot of gravel down too.

 

I reckon when you come out of that door you will go base-over-apex, cartwheel, and bang your head on the millstone! Mind you ... if you can perfect it you'll get Gold in either Gymnastics or Diving in Rio!

 

There are some shrubs and more planting yet to go on top of the wall. So I reckon they will protect me from the millstone scenario.

 

It's been almost a year since my last photos, so here's an update.

It's filling out nicely with some gaps for growth.
The mill stone got knocked down by one of the cats but looks better in it's unplanned position.
I've still to plant something on the wall above, to hang down and cover the wall.