Frequently Asked Questions
What is that groundcover?
Sweet woodruff – galium odoratum.
Where did you get those stones?We made them using a kit “Poetry Stones”.
What kind of trains are they?The locomotives running during the garden tour are all made by LGB. The remaining cars are from several manufacturers but mostly LGB and Bachmann. The controls are all digital (LGB MTS)
Do you leave it out all the time?The track and buildings are out year round. The track is made from stainless steel and floats on a bed of rock (ballast) just like real trains. This allows for expansion and contraction as the temperature changes and makes it easier to redesign later. The trains themselves are carried inside when we’re not around.
Boys and their toys....Oh, you mean ‘Garden Accessories”. One favorite comment I’ve heard regarding the issue is something like – If he’s in the yard playing with the trains, he’s not out doing who knows what…
What is that long plant in the sunroom?Hoya carnosa – Hindu Rope plant. Don’t prune it or your probably not going to see flowers
How long did it take to do all this?The section in back with the trains and water feature was started in mid-August 2005 with the trains and water running by October. Landscaping is ongoing. The rest of the yard has been done in stages starting with just major cleaning / pruning in 1993.