Olbrich: Gardening in the paving

A few years ago a friend and I went to a talk on reducing maintenance in the garden. It was given by Jeff Epping who is the director of horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. That evening Jeff showed images of a garden in England where a lovely paved patio had bricks removed to allow plants to be plunked directly into the dirt rather than in containers. 

It enlivened the space but kept everything in check. Nothing could spread rampantly and it was easy to pull any seedling out between the paving stones. Examples of that very idea can be seen in two locations in the gardens surrounding the Rose Tower here at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The planting below, adjacent to a long water feature, keeps the paving and geometry from feeling too austere.

This planting takes advantage of the reflected heat and dryness that keeps these plants happy and flowering. Note how the pavers are removed in an asymmetrical pattern. The pale pavers in the background acknowledge garden donors. In a home garden, you could adapt that idea by using patterned paver or tiles to visually break up the space. 

This type of planting pocket need not be restricted to a particular type of plant as these photos show. These openings in the pavings are also an easy way to add tropical or tender plants to the broader garden without resorting to containers. 

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

A clever alternative to using thirsty pots.

[Sarah]

Indeed, a cool idea.

[Kris P]

I like this idea a lot. I wonder what my husband would say if I started prying up the paving stones in our driveway?

[Linda Brazill]

He probably would not mind, if you did not mind when he drives over your plants!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Some pretty color combinations. Interesting concept. Sometimes I feel like busting out some of our concrete patio. It has been added to over the years and then cracked. It would make some good areas to plant.

[Nell]

That is so cool! When I was enjoying Mark Dwyer's photos of Olbrich at the Rotary Bot. Gardens site, I wondered if the plants around the water feature were in the ground or just so lush that they perfectly obscured their containers. This makes a lot more sense than pots for thirsty tropicals.

What happens after frost? Do they set pots or other items there to mask the empty spots? I'm visualizing artistically piled-up gourds...

[Nell]

Go for it, Kris! I bet the center line is rarely to never run over...

[Linda Brazill]

I realize I never go that far into the garden once cold weather arrives. I will have to try to remember to go check it out.

[Linda Brazill]

Ian Young who operates the Scottish Rock Garden Society's bulb log plants his center driveway strip. And not long ago it seems I remember reading something where there is actually a name for the strip. Just click on a date on the bulb log and you can see what is blooming in his garden and driveway.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Good question from Nell. I don't remember seeing those spots in the winter, either, although I have in the fall. I'm thinking they might leave the dried plant material in place until spring? But not sure. In any case, I've always enjoyed these displays. Thanks for the background on their creation.

[Kristin.]

We are in Ireland right now, and I am constantly taking pictures of mosses, ferns, butterfly bushes, and other plants growing on tops of walls, in cracks in stone walls and sheets of rock, etc. They always enchant me. These pavement gardens are lovely!

[Linda Brazill]

Are you posting your photos anywhere? They sound great.