Sand Bed #3
The newest of our three dry sand beds this was built in 1994-95 and planted in the spring of 1995. It is down the driveway from the 2nd sand bed and it is also in full sun. I have planted many plants raised from seed in this bed. This allows me to plant 3 - 5 plants of a kind in order to try to get good seed set. This picture was taken when the bed had been planted for 1 year. It is still somewhat at the stage where the labels are bigger than some of the plants. Acantholimons, Ephedras, Townsendias, Drabas, and Penstemons are some of the highlights of this bed. Please see the Sand bed list for all of the kinds that have done well for us.
We have had some trouble with cats
using this bed as a litter box. Last year we ended up covering the whole
thing with chicken wire because they had already marked their territory
so well chemical repellents and lesser barriers didn't stop them. Look
closely at the Eriogonum brevicaule v. laxifolium
and
in the big version of this picture and you will see it over everything.
fortunately it isn't awfully conspicuous.