SCOTTISH GARDENS 



lake, has been created an alpine garden of the most 

 delightful description. 



In alpine gardens and rockeries the effort of 

 make-believe is almost always distressingly obvious. 

 Individual plants may be beautiful and interesting, 

 but the whole effect is unsatisfactory and out of 

 keeping with the environment. But it is otherwise 

 at Corrour. No need to pile rocks in laborious imita- 

 tion of a ravine ; they lie here naturally in profusion 

 as they were thrown down ages ago by the retreating 

 glacier ; and as for environment, let the broad flanks 

 and towering crests of Carn Dearg, Beinn Bhreich 

 and Beinn Eibhinn suffice for that, with the fair 

 expanse of Loch Ossian at their feet. To turn this 

 into an alpine garden little more has been necessary 

 than to root out the heather and wild grasses from 

 certain pockets and hollows, fill them with good soil 

 and plant choice bell-flowers, globe flowers, primulas, 

 saxifrages, speedwells, dianthus, and a rich variety 

 of other flowering herbs. It is remarkable to see 

 Incarvillea Delavayi, not usually considered patient of 

 excessive wet and cold, flourishing here as luxuriantly 

 as anywhere, spreading into large patches and bearing 

 quantities of its large, gloxinia-like blossoms. 



Along the lake margin of yellow sand, iris, spiraea, 

 and other water-loving plants make a charming 

 fringe ; while shelter is provided by masses of Pinus 

 montana, planted on exposed ridges among the 

 heather. This hardy mountaineer, of dwarf stature 

 but luxuriant foliage, thrives vigorously under 



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