At the annual CRAGS plant sale I scored more of my favorites and some new plants for the trough collections. Spotted first was Salix serpyllifolia, a ground-hugging little willow, which will grow 2.5 cm (1 inch) high by 20 cm (8 inches) wide. The catkins are small, not showy and develop after the foliage emerges. But it’s supposed to be hardy to Zone 2, so well worth a try.

Leptodermis oblonga is a fragrant, dwarf shrub that will set purple-pink flowers and should bloom throughout the summer. I don’t think it will survive the winter in a trough, so this one will winter over in the apartment or get a trip to the office.

I also bought a dwarf Hosta – white edged bright green foliage and too cute. It will grow to be 7.5 cm (3 inches) high by 10 cm (4 inches) wide. The same local grower had two pots of Cystopteris fragiis (a small, elegant fern) and I bought them both. I’ve had great success with these ferns in the troughs – they always seem to winter over and they have spread and filled up the trough nicely.

A visit to Rundle Wood provided more plants to find homes for in the balcony garden. A little Primula marginata, with lavender flowers, ended up in the corner of the rectangular trough. Alchemilla alpinea, which I’ve grown before (it is tricky to winter-over in the troughs), comes back to the balcony this year and is planted in the square cement trough. The plant is hard to ignore because its foliage is a soft gray-green with a fine silver edge.

Polemonium chartaceum, which has a deep blue flower and Allium albidum ssp. caucasicum, a mat- forming onion, sized just right for a trough, are also both settling into their new homes.

Trough planting is almost done.

When we were wandering around the local nurseries last weekend the gardener’s helper scored this three piece set of nesting stainless steel scoops. They are made by Joshua Roth, a supplier of bonsai tools and containers. I’ve bought other products by this supplier. They are good quality and purpose-built for smaller container planting and maintenance. And these scoops are perfect for working in the alpine troughs on the balcony.

I’ve been using the larger one to move a reasonable amount of soil and compost from bag to trough. I’m using the middle size one to hold the forestry grit I use for mulch. The smallest one has a bit of a pointed end to the scoop, so it’s perfect for placing small bits of soil or mulch in difficult to reach spaces. They are light, so I’m making sure I tuck them into an empty container at the end of the day – I could see them rolling off of the balcony on a breezy day. And of course, they’ll be easy to clean up and look after.

So if you find a set, pick them up – you won’t be disappointed.

What can you do except meet a good friend for lunch and wear the new wellies. And wait for a warmer day. Which will be soon. I hope.

Saxifraga Ferdinandi Coburgi is blooming on the balcony this week.

We’ve also got new folding deck chairs to test drive this summer. I think they are going to be a great addition – comfy seating and easy storage.

I’ve potted up three tumbler tomatoes. They’ll be protected under my plastic cloches for the next few weeks and most likely will be moved in and out of the apartment every night until it gets a little warmer. But it was time to get them into big containers and let their well-established root balls spread out.

It’s a start. Next weekend, I’ll tackle the east side of the balcony.