ii6 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



beauty, where artists love to set their stools and 

 paint. 



It ought not to be forgotten that some of the hardy 

 ferns attain to their noblest proportions by the water, 

 notably the magnificent Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), 

 and the Ostrich Fern (Struthiopteris Germanica). With 

 abundance of humidity they are totally different 

 things from those we see in dry soil. 



The great thing that flower-lovers should keep 

 before themselves is this : a piece of water, artificial 

 or natural, large or small, is a dehghtful addition to a 

 rock garden. It may be a lake of considerable extent, 

 it may be a cemented pool, it may be only a bit of 

 bog ; whatever it is it will permit of a type of plant 

 being grown quite different from, and in its way equally 

 as beautiful as, Alpines. If water exists, utilise it. 

 If it does not exist make provision for it. In the 

 heat of intense summer days, the sight of beautiful 

 blue, pink, yellow and white Nymphaeas nuzzling 

 the surface of the water amid an attendant bevy of 

 flat brown, rosy and green leaves, over which the 

 shadows of overhead plants sway slowly, is deliciously 

 cool and refreshing. The water-corner becomes a 

 much haunted spot. There the flower-lover drinks 

 in the joy of Nature. There he makes plans for the 

 coming year. There his mind is full of pleasant and 

 fruitful reflections. 



