'W?- 



-^ 



lowing the manner in which they were removed from the 

 stream bed. The trench and rocks were left exposed for 

 most of the summer while we watched for regeneration of 

 the equisetum 



A bed of deciduous azaleas planted in the 1930s has 

 fared poorly for years. This past summer, they were lifted 

 and divided and their roots cleaned of grasses and other 

 weeds. The original plant or a division from it was then 

 replanted in new soil in its former location. The new soil 

 had a generous amount of peat moss, compost, and leaf 

 mold added. Within a month of replanting, the buds had 

 swelled and new roots were probing into the fresh soil. 



In established beds we do not wish to disturb, we 

 amend the soil with compost and fertilizer. Plants such 

 as Phlox subulata respond well to this technique. We use a 

 bulb planter to remove soil at intervals around the main 

 root and fill in with compost and fertilizer. Surprisingly, 

 initial soil tests have demonstrated that soil pH and nu- 

 trient levels throughout the garden are not as low as an- 

 ticipated. A next step will be to test for soil structure 

 and organic content in some of the areas we do not wish 

 to drastically disturb. Some sections will have plants en- 

 tirely removed, rocks lifted and reset in new soil and 

 completely replanted. The new soil will probably re- 

 semble Hay's mixture of one-third loam, one-third sand 

 and gravel, and one-third leafmold or compost. 



Many pleasing combinations resulted from Hay's plant- 

 ing. Original combinations such as the "sea blue of 

 Centiana hascombensis, the nankeen yellow of Mimulus primu- 



loides and the silvery white of Parnassia caroliniana montana" are 

 now long forgotten. The more casual attitude Hay later 

 adopted let unobtrusive weeds he loved such as the 

 maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides) , the ubiquitous harebell 

 {Campanula rotundifolia), and the native \ster linariifolius carry 

 the garden. One of Hay's tactics was to encourage the 

 hardiest and easiest plants in the larger beds while sav- 

 ing room for the choicest plants along the walkways. 

 Large drifts of Phlox subulata, lowbush blueberries, and 

 ferns provided substance with relatively little mainte- 

 nance. Surprisingly, a few of the more choice plants have 

 also endured. A large patch of shortia is overshadowed 

 by maidenhair fern along the stream bed and galax ap- 

 pears happy in full sun at the top of the stream. Native 

 pussytoes has carpeted a large island to good effect and 

 is highlighted with a few encrusted saxifrages. 



There is a great deal more to be said about the rock 

 garden at The Fells. I've tried to outline some of the 

 techniques we have used in renovating the existing 

 plantings. More could be said regarding how it will be 

 replanted and what purpose it will serve as a public gar- 

 den. We hope to hear from anyone with an interest in 

 this wonderful garden. 



The Hay Estate is operated as the Fells Estate Historic Site at 

 the ]ohn Hay National VJildlife Refuge in Newbury, NH, and is a 

 project of the Garden Conservancy. The gardens and grounds are 

 open daylight hours year-round. For information, please contact Bill 

 Noble, Director of Landscapes, The Garden Conservancy at the 

 Hay Estate. PO Box 276, Newbury, NH 03255; 603-763-4789. 



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