CHAPTER IX] 

 Shrubs for the Rock Garden 



THE careful disposition of a few shrubs in the rock 

 garden much enhances its attractiveness, giving the 

 effect of height in a remarkable manner, and helping 

 generally to add distinction. Only a few are necessary, 

 but they should be in a prominent position so that 

 their outline shows well above the rocks and other plants. 

 A rock border or quite low rockery may be much im- 

 proved by the use of a few suitable shrubs, and raised 

 from the level of a bed of alpine flowers to the dignity 

 of a real rock garden. If evergreens are chosen and 

 it is those that are in mind at the moment they add some 

 measure of cheerfulness to the rock garden in winter, 

 and stand out in strong relief when the mountain plants 

 are void of flowers. It is wise to plant evergreen shrubs, 

 and especially conifers, only while they are quite 

 small, as the risk of failure with mature specimens is 

 much greater. Moreover, the former may be put in 

 a rock crevice, or in spaces between stones where it 

 would be impossible to introduce a full-grown plant, 

 or, if possible, it would be unlikely to thrive. Little 

 shrubs, on the other hand, soon establish themselves 

 in such a position. 



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