Signal Mountain Nursery offers hypertufa workshop

Barbie Baldwin, perennial grower for Signal Mountain Nursery, is leading a workshop at the nursery in which she'll teach participants to craft their own containers from hypertufa, a man-made rock with the durability of cement but which is much lighter. (Contributed photos)
Barbie Baldwin, perennial grower for Signal Mountain Nursery, is leading a workshop at the nursery in which she'll teach participants to craft their own containers from hypertufa, a man-made rock with the durability of cement but which is much lighter. (Contributed photos)

Signal Mountain Nursery is offering a workshop to teach people how to make a pot from hypertufa, a man-made rock composed of various aggregates that is much lighter than cement but just as durable.

"It really does look a lot like stone," said instructor Barbie Baldwin, who grows the nursery's perennials. "They're generally really expensive to buy - but not that hard to make."

The class will be held at the nursery Saturday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.

The material used attracts lichen and moss, and only gets more beautiful with age, she said. Hypertufa pots are also good insulators for plants that people want to leave outdoors for winter, Baldwin added.

photo Barbie Baldwin, perennial grower for Signal Mountain Nursery, is leading a workshop at the nursery in which she'll teach participants to craft their own containers from hypertufa, a man-made rock with the durability of cement but which is much lighter. (Contributed photos)
photo Barbie Baldwin, perennial grower for Signal Mountain Nursery, is leading a workshop at the nursery in which she'll teach participants to craft their own containers from hypertufa, a man-made rock with the durability of cement but which is much lighter. (Contributed photos)

During the approximately two-hour class, participants will create a round container with a 10-inch exterior and 8-inch interior. The pots will be rinsed with vinegar to leach out the lime and make them plant-friendly, she said.

Since the material takes several weeks to cure, participants will need to return to the nursery to pick up their pots on or after Sept. 16. Those who choose to pick up that day can also participate in a 10 a.m. container garden workshop to fill their pots.

Hypertufa workshop participants will be given the recipe for the material so they can continue to make more pots at home.

The cost of the hypertufa workshop is $50, which includes the container. The container gardening class is free aside from the cost of plants. Baldwin suggested people wear old clothing for the hypertufa class, as the process is messy and participants will get dirty.

Signal Mountain Nursery is at 1100 Hubbard Road and can be reached at 886-3174.

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