I wanted the rock ley line drainage system to look substantial, but not dominate the living roof. I determined that height was the key, especially so that the plantings did not swallow it.
I measured out a simple grid on the roof, and cut 3/16-inch (5mm) strips of mat board. After gluing these to the roof, I colored them in with a black “Industrial Super Permanent” Sharpie (fine point). Because I am serious.
Then I cut 3/16-inch (5mm)-wide strips of my favorite solid black paper, Canford Raven, made by Daler-Rowney. I put these on the parchment-covered half-sheet tray I use for messy (and/or abstract art).
Ran a stout bead of quick-grab tacky glue.
Then sprinkled them with beach gravel.
After the strips had dried, I excavated them from the gravel.
You might be thinking this is a lot of pictures of tiny rocks, and you’re probably right. It’s because I love them. No, really. I take high-resolution photos, and like to zoom in and look at the individual tiny rocks. Because each one is beautiful.
I glued the rocky strips to the grid frame.
And I’m satisfied with the relative proportions of drainage to (eventual) plantings. I can always trim the mosses as they get closer to the grid if they insist on being too lively.
As for below, I’m almost done with the bracketry. I’ve made like half a million of them.
Also making progress on gluing the gravel ground in, weathering the old brick foundations, and planting California poppies where the wind might have blown them.
nancyland.com 
Such attention to detail does you credit. I just showed the last photo to a friend who could not quite believe that it was a building in miniature. Looking at your tray, I’m wondering if there will be any miniature abstract paintings on display in the warming hut…
Thank you, generous Barbara! Actually, one of the things I’m working on for display is a map of the entire Sea House Pleasure Pier complex… there will be a lot of forgiveness in 1:12 scale. I just learned that those black and white bars found on the edges of maps are called “neatlines”. I want to apply them to many things.
Well that fits – I was wondering about your title page for this month.
I just had a look at some of the maps hanging in our entrance – some have those black and white bars. Some of the others have very ornate borders (and sea serpents!) instead, but then they are considerably older than I am (which makes them very old indeed).
Perceptive! The July title page is actually from a family group watercolor session, where we “added” to one another’s paintings. My two-year-old granddaughter had very active input. When I looked at it later, it totally looked like a map base, and I started sketching in the lines.
I love sea serpents to populate the oceans and am thinking some kind of scaly dolphin/leviathan. With teeth.
I really love your attention to detail and I really enjoy your sense of humour, well done.
Thanks, Jenny! Humor is in the details :)
wonderful idea! looks super realistic..
Marion, thank you! The beach gravel is such a versatile resource!
Man, you are serious about drainage and half a million brackets is literally, a lot of brackets ;0P
It’s all looking so good and very natural. I love all the texture you’re getting in there =0)
Well, who wants a soggy roof when one is trying to warm up?
I *tried* counting the brackets, but kept getting distracted around 49, so rounded off to half a million.
Thanks for the feedback and high praise.
I get it. I love rocks too.
The drainage lines break up the space beautifully and who doesn’t want more rocks?
Yay! Of course, I have the California Academy of Sciences (http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/living-roof) to thank for the inspiration. They “get” rocks, too.
It’s all lovely, but I’m especially drawn to the bright colored poppies. Beautiful. :D
Thanks, Brae! California poppies are such a celebration of delicate, adaptable and rugged beauty. And it helps that they’re not that difficult to make in miniature :)
Beautiful beach gravel… so different than my beach gravel. The drainage system is fab.
Keli, thanks. There is one black sand beach in my town; the rest are the golden variety. I learned continental black sand contains “magnetite and a dark amphibole mineral known as hornblende.”
Then I looked up “amphibole” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibole
which led to several more words I needed to look up, and that’s how entire mornings are lost.
Thanks, black sand :)