TREES , CHAPARRAL AND LOW GROUND COVER FOR SANDSTONE CANYON A new section of scenery was created with my new "tough skin" method.It consist of two layers of paper bags with foam in between. This is made tough by a coat of Rock Powder Pigment and diluted glue. For this scene, #1200 Cajon powder was used for representing my Sandstone Canyon. Knowing that trees were to planted in this scenery, I wanted to have a scenery base with foam to make planting trees and chaparral easy. The areas adjacent to this use the foam method.    The area around this Campbell Scale Models "Tall Curved Trestle" (two kits end to end) was done with a single layer of paper bag scenery. Planting the pine trees worked out ok, but if foam were underneath, it would have been better.   Step 1. The tallest features for this scenery are the pine trees and should be planted last. I decided that it would work out best if their locations are established first, then remove them for installing the low ground cover and underbrush.  The tall pine trunks were temporally planted for knowing were the dead needle litter (#16) should be placed. Some grass flock was glued in place and then a few Tufts of stand up grass. More of this is yet to be installed as it looks to barren for now. You can see a tree at left with the Air Fern branches that is half finished.   Step 2. Adding a small pond There was a flat area at the base of the canyon so I placed a small pond there. Micro Engineering ties are in place for the track leading to the Saw Mill.        More ground cover and trees #1375 Wood Debris, #2 Dead & Alive Ground Cover, #4 Yellow Grass, #5 Green Grass and a few rocks (#1205 and 1207 Cajon Sandstone).   Clumps of Sage Brush are at the far right and just right of center are some Utah Junipers made with real Sage armatures.   Rails are laying loose on the sceniced roadbed with the Mauve ballasted mainline in the foreground.    Every tree has been done by different techniques to see what looks best. My focus will be on what materials will have the best longevity over the years. Natural foliage materials will fade and become brittle with time. To avoid this, I'll use Hemp Twine for the branches instead of the Asparagus Fern. You can see a tree with only the Asparagus Fern at far right. To the left of that tree is one done with Hemp branches. Pine needles are short snips of jute twine I satained dark green.