Natural

by Marvina Randle

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 30, 2009

Natural rock is better than man-made stone for several reasons. First, if you have access to rock and an imagination the possibilities are endless. Natural rock is usually less uniform but different kinds of rocks can be used for different projects. Second, if you are only gathering a few rocks here and there as you find them they are free for the taking. Unless you live in the middle of a big city you probably have access to this "free" rock and if you have ever priced rock, either natural or man-made, you will find that both will be spendy. And finally, the best reason of all is that by searching for "free rock" you become a rock hound.

By collecting a few rocks that catch your attention wherever you travel you will be able to turn your landscaping projects into a series of smaller projects that are easier to complete, add instant beauty, and leave a feeling of accomplishment. For access to free rock go for drives on rural, farm or mountain roads where traffic is minimal. Always carry a bucket in your vehicle for the rocks you find. Have your passenger's watch the road ditches for rocks that have rolled down the hillsides. Always be a "safety first," responsible rock hunter. That means making sure there is a place to pull over safely when you spot some "possibilities."

Exam ine the area carefully for safety hazards and be aware of such dangers as other falling rocks, holes and uneven ground. Know the area and whether any poisonous snake or insect may be waiting under that rock that caught your attention. It may be wise to wear a hard hat, good gloves, and carry a walking stick that helps with balance on uneven trails and can be used to turn over rocks from a distance. Watch for rocks that "talk to you" with regards to the project you want to do. Use common sense and follow any posted rules or notices.

In other words, in National Parks where it says do not remove any natural material that means rocks as well as plant life. If a ditch is lined with rock for runoff purposes leave it alone but if the rock rolled into the ditch and is waiting for a county crew to remove it then no one will care if you take it. Many times farmers will let you on their property to pick up rocks, if you get permission first. You can also get permits to remove natural rock product from state and public lands in larger quantities but usually you can collect a few here and a few there without requiring a permit. If in doubt, ask? Nothing ruins a good rock hunting day like finding a great spot and then finding out you can't bring the one's you found home. Once you start by watching those ditches, you'll find other places, as rock is everywhere. Every hike you take will bring at least one more rock home for your collection and if you show enthusiasm to your friends, they will begin bringing you rocks from places they visit. Now that you have started collecting natural rock, what do you do? As varied as the rocks you can find out there is what you can do with them. I think a good place to start is with a small rock garden.

Remove the sod and put down some heavy black plastic so that weeds don't grow in your garden. Look for flat sided or shale rock to make an edge, then just clean and place your new treasures and watch your rock garden grow with every adventure. Once you have collected a sufficient number you can begin by edging one flowerbed. Again the flatter ones work better for edges and the ability to weed eat up to the edge. Use the round rock to make patterns or circles around trees and large shrubs. Large flat rocks can be buried and make great pathways. After you complete one project you will think of other places where natural rock can increase the beauty and value of your home. I live in an area that has beautiful white, amber, and red agates.

These are bright and shiny and when you hold them up to the sun you can see through them. These are always "keeper's" and never "leaverites" (leave it right where you found it) no matter how small. I usually put my agates in a different container than my other rock "finds of the day." I take these home and fill my glass vases with them and put them in my window to catch the sun; I polish some of them and use them to border picture frames and other crafts; I put the bigger ones on top of other rocks in my rock gardens; and have even put an agate trim around a couple of windows inside my house and in between the railings on my stairs. It looks really cool too!

I have completed a few other projects with natural rock that I am very proud of. First, with some help from a good friend, we dug a big hole in the ground about two feet deep in the middle and slanting up to the outside edges. We then placed an old black metal mesh satellite dish in the ground and poured concrete over it. We then placed different colors of river rock into the concrete. Once that was cured we built forms and poured two-foot walls in a hexagon shape around the circle. When that was done I attached flat pieces of shale around the outside walls and ceramic tile and solar lights around the top. Then we bought a fountainhead and a pump and now we have really cool fountain that is so nice to relax next to on warm summer days.

This idea worked so well we used the same theory with an old bathtub at the other end of our home, only this is a smaller version, has a waterfall instead of a spray fountain, and is surrounded by flower beds, yes, edged with rock. My main rock garden is six feet wide and forty-five feet long and is filled with natural rock in all shapes, sizes, colors, and from numerous states. I have done all of these natural rock projects for a couple hundred dollars (water pumps, black plastic, and mortar) and in the process had hundreds of hours of adventure looking for those perfect "natural rocks."

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