SMALL ROCK-GARDENS 107 



The flowering plants on this small rockery only 

 extend as far as the hand can reach, for convenience 

 of weeding and all requirements of easy access. 

 Beyond this point is a permanent planting of small 

 shrubs, mostly of the Alpine Rhododendrons. These 

 were chosen as the main background for the little 

 flowering plants, because they seemed just to have 

 the desired qualities of a small, neat habit of growth, 

 on a scale not unsuitable to that of the Alpines, a 

 steady moderation of yearly increase, and a richness 

 of deep colouring, highly becoming to the small bright 

 things below them. Beyond them are Gaultherias 

 which will grow a little higher, and then Hollies, so 

 that the Avhole background of the dainty Alpine jewels 

 will show as a richly-dark and somewhat sombre 

 setting. But besides these dwarf Rhododendrons 

 and the sweet-leaved B. myrtifolium, only a little 

 larger in growth, there is also in the upper part of 

 the rock-work a planting of the smaller Andromedas, 

 with Gaultheria and Skimmia, and groups of Daphne 

 pontica, whose abundant yellow-green bloom fills the 

 garden with fragrance in the early days of May. 

 And planted with these, and running down among 

 the flowers, is the white Menziesia, taking an equal 

 place among flower and small shrub, and always 

 delightful with its large white blooms of long ball- 

 shape — just right for fairies' footballs — and its whole- 

 some-looking foliage of a deep rich green. 



