"ant" wrote in message
...
Farm1 wrote:
"ant" wrote in message
Farm1 wrote:

Have you thought of putting in some Stipa grasses? They are
quite
elegant and there are soem wild hereabouts.

Never heard of it. Is it fine like Snowgrass, or more whippy?

I don't know Snowgrass.

Snowgrass is the poa that grows up in the alpine areas, the
snowfields. Very
dense clumpy low poa. Very soft, too.

Stipa is all the range in UK gardening
magazines but it grows wild and naturally around this region and
is a
lovely clumping grass which isn't invasive but gets really nice
seed
heads on it.

Looks like Pampas Grass!!!!!

Nah, it's way too small!


Stips Gigantea is the one I keep seeing referred to int he UK
mags.

Micheal McCoy (the Aus dry garden bloke) uses it to great effect.

Here's some info on all sorts of grasses including Stipa
http://www.acsgarden.com/article_item.aspx?id=46
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s787872.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1063711.htm

Those are useful sites, thanks.

I was reading Beth Chattos "Gravel Garden" book last night and it has
some of the grasses but lots of other good ideas for a dry and foully,
gravelly soil with only a 24 inch rainfall with lots of wind - the
photo of the "soil" she planted into is amazing - more rocks of up to
fist size than soil but then she ends up with a stunning garden as
only Poms seem to be able to achieve (sigh). If you are a keen
gardener then I'd recommend buying it but if you are only looking for
ideas then I would recommend borrowing it through al library even if
you ahve to shel out the $3.50 for the interlibrary loan fee.