The Rockery Idea in Edgings ALICE £ A ™ B0NE 
A SUCCESSION OF FLOWERS AND ACTIVE INTEREST ALL THE YEAR ROUND— HOW ROCK AND ALPINE PLANTS 
MAY BE USED IN ANY GARDEN— BIG RETURNS FOR LITTLE LABOR 
A few appropriate plants nestling alongside rocks will give flower in earliest spring 
O N A gentle slope that 
meets the curve of the 
drive at its foot, lies 
the garden - of - the - 
many-edgings, its space divided 
into beds and borders by three 
long cross - walks and four 
shorter, intersecting walks. 
The plan gave opportunity 
for the use of stones to wall 
the slightly terraced beds, and 
the rockery - like edges thus 
gained were furnished, for the 
most part, by sowing seeds one 
spring for the next year’s bloom, 
and the planting of bulbs in the 
fall. Once established, they be- 
came the garden’s most attractive feature, 
take the season through. 
Low-growing things of the alpine class like 
so well to nestle themselves among stones, 
(and they do it so prettily with mats, and 
tufts, and cushions of various grays and 
greens) that the edges they help to make are 
not only interesting in themselves, but they 
are as becoming to the beds they frame as were 
old-fashioned strings — to the pretty face 
above them when — 
“Tying her bonnet under her chin, 
She tied the young man’s heart within.” 
And something of the fascinating effect of bon- 
net strings is repeated when the charm of the 
edgings goes straight to the gardener’s heart. 
The secret of the charm is found, of course, 
in the endearing character of those close-to- 
the-earth plants that belong among rocks. 
They are garden pets that, somehow or other, 
have an irresistibly appealing way with them. 
I he value of these edges as a garden adjunct 
is particularly evident in the spring, when 
gay o'r delicately tinted Tulips rise from 
white Arabis waves; when Forget-me-nots 
and the 1 ulip White Swan are set in the gold 
of hardy Alyssum; when Aubretia’s lilac- 
pinks, the yellows of the Primrose and the 
purple of Dwarf Iris join the colors, while 
English Violets prompt a child-neighbor to 
say, “Your garden makes the whole world 
sweet.” Then is come the most poetic mo- 
ment of the garden year. 
Beauty, indeed, at just this time is so elo- 
quent, that the garden easily evolves its 
poetry without the aid of words, thus out- 
doing in simplicity some of the modern vers 
libre methods. 
Although the early spring effect is hardly 
equalled by any subsequent display, another 
period of loveliness follows in late May and 
June. For then the broader, bolder edging 
skirting the drive, which allows more freedom 
The edging is permanent and the effects change as the sea- 
sons roll by giving a constant interest 
of planting than the others, is bedecked with 
Saponaria, Iberis, June Pinks, Cerastium, 
the rich green of Tunica sprinkled over with 
its tiny pink flowers, Sedum acre. Moneywort, 
and Lilies-of-the-valley in partial shade, and 
late Darwin Tulips — backed by a band of Iris. 
Delight in the bright, fresh coloring, un- 
touched as yet by midsummer gaudery, is 
enhanced by its contrast with the soft grays 
of Stachys lanata, Cerastium, and Sedum. 
To secure continuance of 
bloom in this broad edging, a 
few 1 uberoses are provided; 
seedlings of dwarf Marigolds, 
including the desirable Tagetes 
signata pumila, are set among 
Tulips; dwarf Zinnias, too, if 
one can be fairly sure of one’s 
colors; and annual Wallflowers 
that help to bring our newer gar- 
dens into pleasant touch with 
those of the old world, which 
Wallflowers suggest. These are 
the last flowers to leave our Gar- 
den. Even as late as this wait- 
ing. (December fourteenth) a 
bowlful of Wallflowers, cut when 
in bud, is still fresh and fragrant. 
With the aid of late blooming annuals, of 
autumnal Crocus, and those indispensable 
Sedums Sieboldi and spectabile, September 
makes a good showing until heavy frosts. 
Here, too, the various grays and greens of 
leafage take their part well in seeing the season 
through, and in this connection the fragrant 
green of Lemon Thyme is noticeable. With 
slight winter protection, this interesting little 
herb makes itself quite at home in a snug 
cranny among the rocks from which it tumbles 
cascade-like, to root on the drive. 
Setting the edges to rights for another year 
is simply good garden fun. 1 he pleasure 
comes in early fall when little touches are 
given here and there either to work out some 
happy thought of improvement, or to guard 
against frayed edges by repairs. 
A worn out hardy Alyssum or two may need 
replacing with seedlings from spring sowing; 
a bit of Tunica’s green fringes would trim that 
small boulder prettily, so a vigorous self-sown 
plant is set in place; those stylish rosettes 
that houseleeks have the knack of making 
are dotted around in crevices or pockets, 
wherever a finishing touch is needed, and once 
sewn fast to the garden’s costume wfith a 
trowel — there they are, with the look of having 
always belonged precisely where they are 
placed; lastly the planting of 1 ulip bulbs 
occurs, and then winter may come when it will. 
For even winter cannot rob these edgings 
along walks and drive of all interest. Small 
evergreens used at the corners of beds, to 
gether with ever-grav-greens and ever-blue- 
greens of alpines and June Pinks carry the 
edges through the trying cold, to the charm of 
the spring garden again. 
