Landscape Rocks as Light as Feathers

When you hold history in hands it's kind of hard not wonder... All of a sudden an eerie feeling comes over you, the sky darkens and the earth begins to shake!  What's going on? I'm sure that's what they thought 40,000 years ago in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when volcanic eruptions of the Mono Craters manifested.

In return, we get these beautiful lightweight pumice Featherocks formed by a molten lava explosion which released gasses to create the distinctive spongy texture these rocks are known for.

To honor this experience I say we make a Jurassic planter. I'm talking historic rock, Jurassic plants and of course, dinosaurs.  If you're good at carving you can etch into this stone a place to plant just like the Cro Magnum man might have done.  -

Jurassic Plants

Pre Drilled Holes

To make this as Jurassic as possible we'll lean on plants we know were from that area like ginkgos, ferns, cycads, and diones. And, our soil must be rich and well draining. Let's plant!
Put your larger plants in the larger spot.

Drainage hole - no need to cover this time around.

This would make for a great science project with the kids.
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Add dino's and you have a period correct Jurassic planter with Featherock that was formed over 40,000 years ago. ​​​​

Video: Planting a Featherock

Landscaping
​With Featherock

​On any given day this is a nice landscaped planter. The soil is fertile, these plants are properly spaced and they have water saving capabilities. But, we can make this so much better by incorporating boulders and rocks for accents -  and weed control.

The first thing we're going to do here is clear the area of unwanted vegetation.

Now, I've chosen this Featherock which is a lightweight pumice stone that's easy to muscle around. When landscaping with rock it's about using your head, not your brawn.  This rock below on the left is a fraction of the weight of the one on the right.  And they're the exact same size!

Landscaping with rocks has unlimited design possibilities, but, you have to keep in mind guidelines the pro's use.  For instance, don't overwhelm your planter with rocks that are too large, overpowering or too many of them. And, keep in mind the rules of odd numbers like 3-5-7-9.  Odd numbers are easier to look at with our mind telling us this is a natural appearance.  Check this out...here we have two rocks and one plant.  This falls under the rules of odd numbers.

ODD

EVEN

Even numbers on the other hand - like 2, 4, and 6 subconsciously bolsters images of something that's formal. Here we have an example of even numbers which the mind separates into halves giving the impression it's manmade. And Featherock is the furthest thing from being manmade as it's over 40,000 years old.  This is pumice rock which originated from volcanic eruptions of the Mono Craters in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

Look at the amazing relationship between rock and plants. There's color variations, texture, shapes and sizes. Unlike plants, Featherock is light and can be moved around to create different effects even if you don't pull any plants. If you want, you can have an ever changing landscape. There's no limit what you can do. In fact, you can even bury parts of the rock to create even more dynamic designs.

Once the larger rock is in place let's do a little weed control by putting down a layer of weed fabric then topping it all off with 1/4″ gravel.  And, on a side note since this is pumice you can use it as a soil amendment. Add 10-30%  to the soil for succulents, cacti, or bonsai mix. It helps break up the soil for better drainage and its glassy pores retain nutrients.  It's pH neutral, won't decompose or blow away.
And that's how we make an ordinary planter into an extraordinary planter with Featherock.