Submitted by gsparrow on
Chris Dixon

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, became home 13 years ago, after a misspent youth of backpacking around the world, when the horticulture program at Camosun College called my name. During this time, I was fortunate to be introduced to Paul Spriggs, rock gardening, and alpine plants. I was particularly drawn to the potential of having a huge variety of plants in a small space, having all the diversity and interest of a large perennial border in a postage stamp-sized garden, which I just so happened to have. 

A postage-stamp sized garden, packed with plants.
A postage-stamp sized garden, packed with plants.
The process of building a crevice garden in a container.
The process of building a crevice garden in a conatiner.
The process of building a crevice garden in a container.
Completed container in bloom.
Sempervivum and Japanese maple in fall
A waterfall of Campanula cochleariifolia in bloom
A diverse collection of saxifrages.
Hepatica nobilis
Saxifraga  oppositifolia
Dramatic crevices in a shallow bonsai container.
Different pot sizes and shapes each bring a different look to the composition.
A top dressing of slate shards looks natural and secures plants in place.
Dense plantings of sempervivum quickly create a mature look.
Dense plantings of sempervivum quickly create a mature look.
Portable rock gardens are a wonderful addition to any garden.
Taller pots and a Japanse maple provide shade for heat-sensitive plantings.
A minimalist container with a single piece of petrified wood.