Barb Horovitz Railroad track in the garden lays smooth and flat when set on a solid base. Thoughtful attention to roadbed preparation pays off in the long haul with less track movement and smoother operations. When things run smoothly, we all have more time to enjoy running trains and the good com-panionship of friends and family. In other words, we have fewer headaches and more fun. Garden plants have many harsh elements to deal with.
Weather is probably the most influential factor on plant growth.
Sun, rain, snow, hail, cold, heat, and humidity all play a role in helping you determine which plants to choose and how well they'll do in your garden railroad. Unfortunately, there's little we can do to actually effect any significant change in local weather patterns, so the best we can do is learn to live with what we've got and try to select adaptable plants. These challenges, which often appear without any warning at all, are just slightly within our control. Again, there's not much we can do about them except respond as needed, take a deep breath, and carry on. Preparing an area for plants is an activity that we do have control over.