I posted a photo on 12th September 2015 showing this box planted up. Here it is now.

I remember this when you first planted it up, Scotsgran. It's looking good. My alpine trough needs a good thinning out, then I think I might treat myself to a couple of new plants!

Ohmelchised I am planning a box full of Androsace next. I have the plants but I need to repaint some of the fish boxes. I am hoping this one will fill out and be suitable to enter in a class at a show next year. Have you decided on your choices to update your trough?

Not yet, Scotsgran. I shall clear away the unwanted stuff (mostly campanula!) and split some of the other things and then see how much space there is. I like to see gravel and a couple of large stones, but it doesn't stay like that for long!

Did you make the trough?

No Bowl you it was a gift from Bjs. He did make it though. It is a polystyrene meat box which is slightly bigger and deeper than a fish box. He trimmed the sides and front to make it different depths from back to front. He used a heat stripper gun to make the surface look more like stone texture then he gave it several coats of masonry paint. He did a blog on how to do it on this website.

Looking good like the contrasting colour of the stone you have used,and the planting

Bowl you
If you can obtain a meat one they are considerably stronger than fish boxes
just spotted you are not in the UK know idea if they are used in Canada

I used offcuts of sandstone left over from the cutting of the new stone when the mason repaired the chimney breast. The men laughed at me when I asked them not to take the waste to the tip as I would use it in the garden.

A very good idea, Scotsgran. When we had some storage heaters replaced, I kept the bricks to use in the garden. They are very heavy and completely frostproof. One ancient heater actually contained metal boxes filled with gravel (!) so if course I kept that as well.

Ohmelchised I think recyclying is a wonderful way to keep us being innovative.

It certainly is. I've just hung a very rusty old cast iron frying pan on the outside wall. I think it looks good. (Mind you, I may be a little mad...)

You could always paint it and add the name of the house

? I could! Although I think it's too rusty. I've hung it by the back door. I could paint "Wipe your feet" on it!

lol. Take salt and a scouring pad to remove the rust or soak in half and half white vinegar and water. the rust will float off when it is ready. an take up to eight hours.

It's so far gone it might disintegrate altogether! It's a very pretty colour, though! ?

sounds lovely