Re: SG: Mosses and Websites and Winter Garden

Hello harry,
    Thank you for all the tips on growing moss... but now I am thoroughly
confused. (usually I am simply befuddled or mildly confused)
    This is limestone territory. All about are outcroppings of limestone. My
sculpture was chosen for it was carved from Bedford limestone. Moss grows all over
the place in shade here. Pollution is not so strong in this area (yet) that all is
acid pickled from fall out or acid rain. What am I missing here? Duh?
    Also thanks for letting me know about the freeform carvings you do. Will
definitely check them out later today.
    Help me out here, Harry.
    Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Harry Abel <Shishi@AOL.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [SG] SG: Mosses and Websites and Winter Garden


> gene, limerock is the antithesis of moss loving environments.  aside from
> some varieties i understand grow on the limestone of the niagra escarpment.
> (anyonewho can send a few samples, would get lotsa moss info back)
> being a dealer in concrete japanese style lanters, full of lime, i found
> these things helpful:
> bathe or spray your lime rock with a mild acidic solution.
> vinegar is acceptable, tho weak, and requires repeating.  makes the whole
> hood smell like a vinagrette.  this is known as "acid pickling".
> muriatic acid is stronger, but increasingly dangerous, cuz of splashback, and
> overspraying., also fumes can burn eyes and lungs.
> once free lime is removed, the moss will do better on the "rock"
> also, some mosses are rock moss, some are wood moss, etc etc.  find mosses
> growing on rock to begin with.
> along with the stale beer, use a tiny bit of finely mashed potato(e) (sorry
> dan), and a smidge of "rottenstone".  (found rarely in paint supply stores)
> i add a few drops of superthrive also, to promote healthy microfloral
> colonies.
>
> another alternative is , after the "acid pickling", bury the rock in horse
> manure (sheep would be ok, too).
> this is an old technique used by a long famous nursery woman here in the
> sayouth.
> she buried hers in fall, and would have (the help) unearth them in spring.
> after misting, the mosses would appear soon.
> and mist, mist, mist.
> hope this helps everybody.
> btw, i teach classes in moss gardening here at the Ichiyo art center, as part
> of my Japanese horticulture stuff.
> feel free to ask anything on or off list.
>
> y'all be good
>
> harry abel
> 7a
> nawuth jawuhhhhhjuh
> http://members.aol.com/Shishi/shink.index.html
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