AN ALPINE GARDEN 



Some of the Alpine plants which also occur in the Arctic 

 regions have not even been able to survive by the seaside in 

 Great Britain. Their nearest allies are in the Norwegian 

 mountains. 



It would be impossible even for shrubs to stand the violent 

 winds and snowstorms of these summits. Alpine plants are 

 generally low-growing mats. They are also often clothed all 

 over in cottonwool, such as the Edelweiss. This probably 

 keeps them from losing too much water during the dry 

 season, when the rocks on which they grow are strongly 

 heated by the sunlight. 



Yet, like the Arctic plants, they have rich, deep, and 

 brilliant colours. 



A queer point is that they have got so accustomed to this 

 stormy and perilous existence that it is extremely difficult to 

 grow them in a garden. Like mountaineers, they dwindle 

 and pine away in the richer soil and softer air of the low 

 grounds. 



To make an Alpine garden, rocks and stones must be 

 arranged with pockets and hollows, like natural crevices and 

 basins, between them. Rich leaf-mould must be placed in 

 these hollows. There must be good drainage, and as much 

 sunlight as one can possibly get. 



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