I attended the NGR convention here in AZ and then went up to Pinetop for two weeks while my “chief-of-staff” was on a business trip to Amsterdam. This gave me time to rake up the pine needles and rebalast the track from the winter snows plus continue adding to the layout. The list was long so I’ll throw in a few pictures rather than bore you with my writing.
The gold mine got its tressel finished and its back slope dry stacked in basalt.
The helix only needed minor repairs and some rebalasting.
The logging operation got a new forest planted and a rail spur. That meant adding drip irrigation for the 53 trees I was able to get from Lowes and Home Depot. Yep I bought all they had and still need about a hundred more. I planted them in their pots so as to slow their growth. I haven’t trimmed them yet. I’ll do that after I set up the high line rigging.
A stream was added between the town and the residential area. It has a pond liner and several tons of river rock and pea gravel. It also provides water for the grist mill via a flume.
The south stream was dug in, lined with week block and filled with river rock and pea gravel until I ran out of rock and steam for moving it.
As you might imagine I had a lot of visitors this being a front yard layout. Visitors includes the local police
Rex, Looking great! As for crossing the walkways, I just trenched across and laid the track even with or just a little below the walkway. Haven’t had any problems with people walking on it, just an easy step across even the couple places that because of the grade came out a little higher than the walkway. The track is plenty strong enough to take an ocassional step or even a wheelbarrow. Jack
The trees I planted are Dwarf Alberta Spruce @ $5.97 each. Does anyone have any experience with how long they will last in their pots?
The concrete idea sounds good to keep people from tripping over the track. I used motar mix on the viewing path edges next to the stream to keep the viewing path 1/4- from mixing in with the pea gravel and river rock. The balsa masking was the piece I was missing. I’ll give it a try.
I did give the throttle to a couple of the cops and you’re right those guys gave it up right away to the kids.
The cops are taking a real interest in the hobby. For that I’m very thankful as they will keep an eye on its security. It’s very comforting to have them stop by and visit a few minutes on their patrols. I think it helps the kids too (as well as their parents) to have the cops pay attention to an attraction in the neighborhood. The kids get to talk to the cops in a fun environment.
Nice layout. It is coming along nice. I bought all my Alberta Spruces from Lowes and Walmart for the same price. Cant beat that. I took them out of the pots. I would image after a few years you would have to put them in bigger pots. If you dont they will get root bound. It might be better for them to take them out of the pots and just trim them to keep them from getting to big. If you have too many a good project for the kids to help out.
Is Pine top a summer place? If so do you have a RR at your winter place. Looks like a nice area.
How long do you think I can keep them in the existing pots before having to do something? What does root bound do to them?
Pinetop is our summer place after the “chief-of-staff” retires in December. Today it’s suppose to get to 110 F here at our desert home in Gold Canyon while it will only get to 80 F in Pinetop.
No I don’t have a GRR here yet but I’m thinking about it.
Im not sure how long they will last in the pots but usually by the time you buy plants from places like Lowes etc… they are usually already root bound. 110 thats too hot for me. Although I wish it was warmer here today we had about 48 degrees with some sleet/rain and 30 mph winds.
Love the layout. I have always worried about a layout facing an open area, but it is nice that you have free security.
I have found that small trees, kept in pots buried at ground level will send roots through the drain holes in the bottom of the pot. This gives them access to extra water and nutrients. They should last a long time, provided they get sufficient water. Being pot bound alone will not kill them, remember that is how bonsai works. My Alberta Spruces planted low, or close to ground level have survived well, while those planted high in the rockery have died, mostly from lack of water.
Don’t know if the pictures show it real well but the trees each have a dripper in their individual pots. I’m giving them a liter of water a day while we’re in the dry season. The ground is very hard. I had to dig the holes with a pick and at that altitude it was a major strain on this old body of mine. I was really sucking wind at the end of the planting. Thinking about adding the next 100 trees makes my body ache just from the thought.
Good security in the form of interested cops is great but the real security comes from the neighborhood kids who want to keep coming and playing with the trains.
Rex
Here are a couple pictures showing some of the irrigation.
Looks like you too have been having loads of fun. If you have a few minutes to spare, drop by, I’ve got 6 buildings in the “supply cabinet” that need to be painted and built.
I’m not finding the word “Osmocate” in my unabridged Webster’s dictionary. An online search also came up blank. Is this some sort of Texas word? Let us know what you mean.
its Osmocote Professional Fertilizer for the rest of the united states
He means to use a slow release fertilizer as the nutrients in the pots will be used up, it needs to be replaced, using a slow release fertilizer will help replenish the nutrients no longer in the pot
