provide shelter for teuder jjlauts, and to accentuate the height of 

 some of the hills are low shrubs and tall growing pernnials. 



In one corner of the garden is a Lilac tree, at Avliose feet 

 grow the Irises that do not need moisture. 



In a few scattered places on the sloping bank, and near the 

 Sun-dial, are trailing Junipers and a mountain Pine, while over 

 the bird-bath hangs a Forsythia bush that holds man}' singing 

 birds in Summer time. Not living in a rocky country, it was 

 difficult to choose the stones; and learning that porous rock is 

 the most suitable for the tiny rootlets, I sent to a neighboring 

 state for Tufa rock. Holes can be drilled in Tufa and lllled with 

 soil, which make a happj' home for Alpines. 



I had to combine some native rock with the Tufa, and the 

 gTouping of the two varieties required much thought, but the 

 plants soon discovered pockets. Some of the rocks were placed 

 on end and firmed down with a view to forming pockets, while 

 others were laid flat or tilted, all with the idea of reproducing a 

 miniature mountain side. 



As the mounds and depressions were built, coarse sand and 

 pieces of stone were mixed with the soil for drainage. 



In a near-by town there is a nursery woman 'who makes a 

 specialty of Alpine plants. So Avhen ui}^ rock garden was nearing 

 completion I went to this woman for plants and advice. 



All at once there sprang up within me the greatest joy I 

 have almost ever known. To see in the greenhouse box after box 

 of tiny, cushiony plants, while outside, a large rockery was ablaze 

 with pink, blue, yellow and white blossoms — well, the height of 

 happiness I can wish for a flower lover is to urge on her the grow- 

 ing of rock plants. 



I realized that the great essential was not the building of the 

 rockery, but the study of the plants. Some Alpines like sun, 

 some prefer shade, some dislike moisture, others will not thrive 

 in dry soil. Some like lime, others sand, and still others rich 

 loam. 



So before putting the plants into their new home I had to 

 arrange so that each one had the food and shelter it needed- 



50 



