Large Scale Central

So it begins, new Garden Railroad 2013

Gardening
#261

Is this Blue Star Creeper?

It looks like to me. If it is, you might be forewarned that it will take over and spread like crazy! My mom planted just a few patches of blue star creeper by her front fountain, an area of 10’x10’ and planted maybe 10 different sections of blue star creeper. The whole area is now covered (I’d say 1-2 years), and looks really nice, but it’s bordered by a concrete walkway, and the house so that blue star creeper won’t take over the whole yard. My mom is using it as a cheap alternative to bark, and doesn’t mind.

Meanwhile, I planted a few other types of “Stepables” (I think that is the brand name) a fern, irish moss, and one other type and they did the same thing to my layout just not as fast. I’ll see if I can pull up some pictures. If you want it to spread, go for it. I’d even suggest digging up and splitting the growth that you have now and you’ll get fast coverage. If you don’t want it to take over than you need to keep in mind that it will spread aggressively!

#262

Craig Townsend said:

Is this Blue Star Creeper?

Yes it is!
I am not to afraid of it spreading like crazy where we have it planted.
We are going to wait until next spring and see how far it progresses and then decide if we want to let it continue or move some of it.
But for now I am happy with it spreading like crazy, I need ground cover.

#263

Ya no brownness!!! :wink:

#264

We have had some amazing growth with some of our ground cover in just 5-months!
Here it is back in May 2014 when we planted:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC02283_zps8d25fd2f.jpg)

And here it is now!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC03522_zpsaa11f9e5.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC03523_zpsc6d34d34.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC03525_zpseccd8459.jpg)

That’s probably going to be it for this season as we will soon be shutting down the pond so the fish can sleep peacefully through the winter.
We also will be taking in the bridge to do some modifications and we have a few more buildings to assemble that will be out on the layout next spring!

#265

Yes, that’s why they call it ground “cover”. You are really coming along there. soon you will be cutting back and ripping out some of that cover so you can run trains. Its a vicious cycle sometimes.

#266

We shall be making our way out to our railway this weekend to start doing some clean up, track leveling, weeding, weeding, and more weeding…

Hopefully should have a train running and some pic’s of some plant growth and demise soon!

#267

Cant wait to see how much the plants spread. I bet a big difference from last year.

#268

So we did as much as we could, already the sun is baking us to a crisp outside but luckily we got enough done to run a test train and find some trouble spots that will need to be addressed.

Most of the plants survived, all of the trees survived and I spent most of my time yesterday trimming and shaping them to look…well, like trees.

Not sure if the blue star creeper we planted is going to come back, it had spread so nicely by the end of last summer then just died. It may come back around the farmhouse area but it doesn’t look hopeful by the pond area (I think the run off from the pond may have killed it as my pond water does contain salt)

Lots of nice color for spring / early summer, so now we will wait until late July to add more pants so we can buy stuff that will be in bloom for the later part of the summer.

Glad I converted at least (1) loco to battery power so I could run something, didn’t have the energy left to clean the tracks today!

#269

#270

Railroad is looking wonderful…

#271

Vinny,

Where did Penny put the 30 inch troll? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#272

Looks great Vincent!

#273

Yup, it’s startin to grow on ya…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#274

Ah, the Roving Gnomes are keeping a watchful eye

#275

Layout looks great with its spring colors. I tried blue star creeper as well and did not have any luck. Same with creeping thyme. I think the Phlox is one of the best ground covers and any of the sedums.

#276

Joe Zullo said:

Vinny,

Where did Penny put the 30 inch troll? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

He is still sitting in our living room staring at us when we sit on the sofa, not sure where he will end up yet.

#277

Great pics Vinny, Nice color, Love the phlox.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#278

Looks much better that brown! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#279

Just a quick recap from where we started at early on in May 2013 to now June 2015:

2013:

2015:

Slowly turning into our Garden railway!

The original firepit fell apart so that was replaced by a stone one (should last a little longer) added two more benches along the way, added a sitting deck on the side of the railway. Still need more plants and buildings, should be adding a few more things end of this summer season.

#280

Fire pit and benches look right at home.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)