What’s not to like about moss? It’s green, soft, fuzzy, grows well in shade, and is as resilient as they come! While gathering rocks over the weekend I stumbled upon (not literally) loads of mossy cover rocks. This little ground covering plant attaches itself and needs no soil. It gathers its nutrients from the air and requires good moisture to survive. As I’ve noticed in our own yard they will dry out through the summer and come back with a vengeance when wet weather returns. Perhaps vengeance isn’t the right word here. Moss has a subtle calmness that surrounds it lending it a very important role as a ground cover in Japanese gardens.
I wrote last year about moss in the yard and garden but it’s a subject worth revisiting. Too many people view it as a weed and don’t appreciate its potential value in the landscape. This weekend we brought home a small round rock completely covered in moss to add to the shade garden. I’m considering cultivating more to place at the base of a Japanese maple I bought in the fall as we have a large crop of moss in the backyard just waiting for cultivation.
For more mossy information take a look at Frances’ post Moss Magic.
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Dave,
The mossy rock beneath your Japanese Maple will be perfect! Such a great idea. Moss covered rocks are beautiful. A friend brings the smaller ones inside and somehow manages to keep the moss alive with regular spritzings of water. I would love to have more moss in the garden…Gail
Hi Dave I love moss a well, I think it is beautiful, especially when you look really close, it is magnificiant. But…if there is too much moss it is (at least here) it’s a sign that the air is polluted and the soil is too acid.
Love your beautiful pictures Dave.
Take care/ Tyra
Hi Dave, thanks so much for that link love! A moss garden under your maple sounds perfect. With those new rocks you just got, you can make a real zen garden!
Frances
Moos garden is gaining popularity and yea it’d look great with the Japanese Maple. I remember one of our garden blogger friends posting about it recently and also attached a link of gorgeous photos of Moss Gardens.
I had to laugh, my father in law says moss makes the perfect lawn because he never has to mow it. I used to think he was silly, but anymore I see the wisdom in it. If I had less grass and more moss I would have to spend less time mowing and get to spend more time on gardening and relaxing! Enjoy your mossy rock. -Lee
Ah, I am working on a moss posting with a question for commenter’s. I will have to link you! Stay tuned…
Glad to see another moss lover among us. As I remarked to Frances when she did her post, I sometimes roll my eyes when readers/people at my talks ask me how to get rid of moss in their lawns. I always ask why. Moss doesn’t need mowing, weeding, fertilizing…
Gail,
That would be a neat idea for a terrarium. Just put some mossy rocks inside and let the moss grow with the moisture. Hmm…now where can I find a good bowl.
Tyra,
Much of the moss in our area is on poor soil. It grows on our rocks and under trees where grass won’t grow. I don’t think it’s a sign of pollution here just a sign of poor growing conditions for other plants.
Frances,
The peace and tranquility will be welcome! Next I’ll need a water feature and a sand garden. The girls might think it’s a sandbox. Oh well!
Chandra,
Japanese gardens are so beautiful to view. Just a little bit of that concept would be fun to add to any garden.
Skeeter,
Sounds good!
Jodi,
I’ve always liked it. Back when I was a kid moss covered the ground underneath my grandfather’s maple trees. They were my favorite trees for climbing. It was a fun place for a kid to play.
Love those mossy rocks. Wish they would survive here. Too hot, too dry. I did manage to have some while in N.C. I miss them.
Hey Dave, sounds like a wonderful idea! I saw an episode of Gardener’s Diary called “Mad about Moss”. The gardener’s entire backlawn was moss! Here’s the link: http://www.hgtv.com/gardeners-diary/mad-about-moss/index.html
Hi Dave,
This morning I read Frances’ post and commented that I’ve always had a magical relationship, so to speak, with moss–because I have special memories of going through the woods with my grandparents, as a child, and gathering moss, small ferns and tiny berries, etc., to make a terrarium. My Nana had several at her home all the time…just her way of connecting with nature, I guess. Now I just read your comment to Frances here on your blog!! Great minds think alike, right?!
I just love moss in the garden. Good thing since I have a spot of what is supposed to be grass that has turned into moss. The rocks are quite attractive with it.
I love moss. I have tried to cultivate it in a few deep shade spots in my garden but it tends to get so hot & dry here that so far I haven't found just the right spot yet. How lucky you are to get going on your rocks.
Debbie
There is a real magic to moss, and it reminds me of strolling in the woods near home. But we have rainy weather 6 months out of the year, and so those strolls aren’t possible for long stretches, so I keep a small jar with a sealed lid on my kitchen windowsill filled with it to remind me of the days yet to come, and it always makes me smile. My daughter thinks its a bit odd, but so be it!
Ann,
I’ve thought of doing the same thing!
Moss may seem like a boring plant at first glance, at least to those who have never taken the time to look closely at it, but it can make for a surprisingly rewarding (and ultra-low-maintenance!) terrarium.