Robber barons of the 19th and 20th centuries impressed their peers with stately homes, elaborate greenery -- and ornamental statuary carved from tufa, a calcium carbonate rock. Even if you don't have ...

The name comes from “tufa,” a porous, lightweight, soft rock. It’s easy to gouge out a planting pocket that can be filled with potting soil and hens-and-chicks or other sedums. Let time put a patina ...

Have you seen those thick, sturdy plant containers that look like they're made of ancient limestone? Although real weathered limestone in the shape of a plant container is available in nature, what ...

My experience playing with Hypertufa extends over many years. I say playing because the creative opportunities are endless. I have made everything from water features to Buddha heads out of Hypertufa.

Question: I recently was reading an old garden magazine at the doctor’s office about making your own concrete planter. I was going to ask about copying it, but I forgot. Now the magazine is not there.

In October, I made my first hypertufa troughs from a mix of peat moss, perlite, Portland cement, and water. Extremely durable once they set up, the resulting containers look similar to carved stone.