CHAPTER XI 



THE ROCK-GARDEN GENERAL ARRANGEMENT 



AFTER the marsh pools and still on the homeward 

 journey, and between this region and the shrubbery 

 portion of the garden proper, will be the rock-garden 

 (see plan, p. 89), approached on the marsh side by 

 some of the plants of rather large size. Nothing is 

 more strikingly beautiful than a large patch of Equi- 

 setum Telmateia, a native plant ; mysterious, graceful, 

 and almost tropical-looking. Near it there are two 

 large-leaved plants, Saxifraga peltata, in moist rich 

 soil carrying its great leaves three feet high, and 

 Rodgersia podophylla, with palmate leaves as large as 

 those of the Horse Chestnut, but the divisions hand- 

 somely jagged at the ends, and the whole leaf of 

 a fine reddish-bronze colouring. It is sometimes 

 crippled by late frosts, and well deserves the protec- 

 tion of a few Fir boughs. 



If there is space enough here would also be a place 

 for the giant Gunneras (besides their other water-side 

 sites), and for another spreading patch of Heracleum 

 mantegazzianum, for Arundo Donax, and for the Bam- 

 boos. These giant Reeds and Grasses should in such 

 a good garden as this have a large space, of which 

 they would be the chief occupants. They should be 



