CHAPTER X 

 Bulbs in the Rock Garden 



SOME of the most delightful of all the flowers of 

 spring are found amongst the bulbs, and no rock 

 garden can afford to dispense with the chief of the 

 low-growing sorts. It is true that, as the leaves fade, 

 they are to some extent unsightly ; but, so far as the 

 dwarf kinds are concerned, this is really not a very serious 

 drawback, and in any case the unsightliness is not of 

 long duration. It is quite certain that if, for this reason, 

 bulbs are taboo, the rock garden will lose many most 

 charming flowers that generally open before the alpines 

 have come to full beauty. There is no need to make 

 special provision for the commoner sorts, as the gritty 

 soil of the rockery is all they need. A fair depth of soil, 

 however, is essential, for one has, as a rule, to plant 

 the bulbs several inches below the surface. There are 

 always plenty of odd corners in which one may group a 

 little colony of bulbs, and it is possible, with their help, 

 to form some delightful colour associations in early 

 spring. Squills, Chionodoxa, or Daffodils may be inter- 

 planted among the rose-coloured winter Heather 

 (Erica carnea), while the Apennine Windflower among 

 this Heath produces a most exquisite scheme of colour. 



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