Book of Gardens 
33 
only a small part of 
what is hidden by the 
soil. Place the addi¬ 
tional rocks so that 
the strata all run in 
the same direction, 
putting the largest 
rocks and boulders at 
the bottom and bury¬ 
ing them one-third in 
the ground. The size 
of the stones used 
should depend upon 
the size of your gar¬ 
den. Build the rocks 
and soil carefully to¬ 
gether, eliminating air 
spaces between the 
rocks. The stones 
should be placed in 
such a manner that 
the water will drain 
into the soil rather 
than run off. Finally, 
remember to leave 
plenty of pockets for 
the soil and plants 
between the rocks. 
It is advisable to 
use rocks that will 
give an old, weather- 
beaten appearance, 
such as moss-grown 
stones; but it is of the 
utmost importance to avoid anything which 
will crumble with exposure. Artificial rocks, 
bricks, old tree stumps or wood of any kind 
should never be used. Sandstone and moun¬ 
tain limestone are good to use because they are 
soft and porous and of a moisture-retaining 
character. 
Alpine plants, contrary to a quite wide¬ 
spread belief that they will grow in almost any 
Good drainage is 
essential to the success 
of this type of garden. 
The correct placing of 
the rocks and the 
presence of a tiny 
stream are great aids 
to proper drainage but 
are not sufficient in 
all cases. For dry 
stone wall gardens it 
is sometimes necessary 
to install a •sub-irri¬ 
gation system consist¬ 
ing of a perforated 
wrought iron pipe 
placed along the top 
and rear of the wall. 
In most cases it is not 
necessary, however, to 
irrigate if care is 
taken in the location 
and building of the 
garden. 
The planting calls 
for care and a fine 
sense of fitness. One’s 
aim should be to have 
the garden present the 
best possible appear¬ 
ance throughout the 
year; this can be ac¬ 
complished by pro¬ 
viding for a continu¬ 
ity of bloom. By using the early spring flower¬ 
ing bulbs such as snowdrops, scillas, crocuses, 
grape hyacinths, chionodoxa, colchicum and 
poet’s narcissus for early spring bloom, the 
Alpines and small, compact growing shrubs for 
spring and summer, and dwarf evergreens for 
winter when the flowering plants have died 
down, a pleasing year-round effect results 
which offers abundant variety. 
To one standing near the rock house shown in the photograph on page 31 , this view is presented. 
Lombardy and Bolles poplars mark the skyline above the golden elders which form a background 
for the smaller plants 
kind of earth, require a good rich soil. Porous 
soil mixed with leaf mold and well rotted 
manure, used to a depth of 2' or 3' with a light, 
sandy subsoil, will give the best results. Avoid 
a heavy clay soil. The garden must be con¬ 
stantly watched in summer and the ground kept 
from drying out. An annual top-dressing of 
soil every spring will prove beneficial to all 
the plants. 
Gentiana asclepiadea (gentian): 2', blue, blooms July. 
Gentiana bavarica: 1', blue, blooms July. 
Gentiana Favratii: l'-2', deep blue, blooms July. 
Gentiana Kurro.o: l'-18", blue, blooms September. 
Gentiana pneumonanthe: 6"-8", deep blue, blooms 
August. 
Gentiana verna: 1', blue, blooms May-June. 
Iris cristata (iris): 6", azure blue and lilac, blooms 
April-May. 
Iris sibirica: 1', lilac, blooms April-May. 
Linnaea borealis: 8"-12", pale pink, blooms June. 
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower): 2'-3', red, blooms 
August-September. 
Lobelia syphilitica: 2'-3', blue, blooms August-Sept. 
Muscari botryoides (grape hyacinth): 6", blue, blooms 
March-April. 
Oenothera Arendsii (evening primrose): l'-18", pink, 
blooms May. 
Oenothera cespitosa: 12", white changing to rose, 
blooms May. 
Oenothera fruticosa: 18", yellow, blooms May. 
Oenothera speciosa: 18", white changing to pink, 
blooms May. 
Orchis foliosa (Madeira orchid): 18", rosy purple, 
blooms May. 
Orchis latifolia: 12", purple, blooms June. 
Orchis maculata var. superba: 18"-2', lilac spotted 
purple, blooms June. 
Primula Bulleyana 1', orange scarlet, blooms June. 
Primula involucrata: 6", creamy white, blooms April- 
July. 
Primula japonica: 1', deep crimson to pure white, 
blooms May. 
Primula pulverulenta: 1', crimson, blooms April-May. 
Primula rosea: 6", rosy carmine, blooms April. 
Primula sikkimensis: 1', yellow, blooms May. 
Ranunculus aconitifolius (crowfoot) : 2', white, blooms 
May. 
Ranunculus alpestris: 4"-6", white, blooms June-July. 
Ranunculus parnassifolius 6", white, blooms June. 
Sanguinaria canadensis: 6", white, blooms April-May. 
Saxifraga cespitosa: 4", red, blooms April-May. 
Saxifraga sanguinea superba: 4", scarlet, blooms May- 
July. 
Saxifraga exarata: 4", white, blooms June. 
Saxifraga globulifera: 4", white, blooms May-June. 
Trillium erectum: 1', purple, blooms May. 
Trillium grandihorum: 1', white, blooms May. 
PLANT MATERIALS FOR POOLS AND PONDS 
(* Plants suitable for 1' or less of water, or on banks) 
Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush): 2'-3', rose, 
blooms summer. 
*Caltha palustris (marsh marigold): l'-2', bright yel¬ 
low, blooms April-June. 
Carex (sedge): l'-3'. 
Epilobium hirsutmn (willow-herb): 2'-4', purplish. 
Hippuris vulgaris (horse-tail): 2'. 
Hotonia palustris (feather-foil): light purple, blooms 
summer. 
*Iris laevigata (Japanese iris): 2'-3', various, except 
red, blooms June, July. 
*Iris pseudo-acorns: 2 '-3', yellow, blooms June. 
Iris versicolor (native blue flag): 2'-3', purple marked 
with yellow, blooms June. 
*Iris sibirica: 2'-3', lavender, blooms June. 
Lysimachia thyrsiflora (loose-strife): 4"-6", yellow. 
Myosotis palustris (forget-me-not): blue, blooms June. 
Nuphar luteum (European yellow pond lily): blooms 
June. 
Nyinphaea advena (yellow water lily): yellow, blooms 
June to August. 
*Nymphaea alba var. candidissima (white water lily) : 
white, blooms June to August. 
*Nymphaea Marliacea (Marliac’s hybrids): white, 
blooms June to August. 
N ymphaea odorata (native white pond lily): white, 
blooms June to August. 
Nymphaea odorata var. rosea (Cape Cod water lily): 
pink, blooms June to August. 
Polygonum amphibium: spreading, light rose. 
Pontederia cordata (pickerel weed): 2'-4', purple, 
blooms June to August. 
Ranunculus aquaticus var. lingua major. 
Sagittaria latifolia (arrowhead): 6"-4', clear white. 
*Typha latifolia (cat-tail rush): 4'-8', brown, July to 
August. 
PLANT MATERIAL FOR THE DRY WALL 
(Those which thrive best when planted flat against 
a perpendicular rock face are marked (*). The color, 
height and period of bloom of these plants may be 
found under the list of material for the rocky bank.) 
*Androsace alpina. 
*Androsace pyrenaica. 
Arabis albida. 
Ajuga repens. 
* Armenia cespitosa. 
Aubretias of all kinds. 
*Campanula Elantines. 
*Catnpanula fragilis. 
Campanula rotundifolia. 
Cheiranthus alpinus. 
Aquilegias of all kinds. 
Dianthus arvernensis. 
* Dianthus suavis. 
*Gentiana acaulis. 
Primula marginata. 
Primula viscosa. 
Saponaria cespitosa. 
Saxifrages. 
Sedurn acre. 
Silene alpestris. 
PLANT MATERIAL FOR CREVICES BETWEEN 
WALKS AND STONY STEPS 
Ajuga repens (bugle weed). 
Alyssum saxatile compactum (silver madwort) 
Aquilegias (columbine). 
Arabis albida (rock cress). 
Campanula cespitosa (bellflower). 
Campanula rotundifolia (harebell). 
Cerastium tomentosum (snow-in-summer). 
Cheiranthus alpinus (wallflower). 
Gentiana acaulis (gentianella). 
Geranium maculatum (crane’s bill). 
Gypsophila repens (baby’s breath). 
Phlox subulata (moss pink). 
Portulaca grandiftora (rose moss). 
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot). 
Saponaria ocymoides (soapwort). 
Sedum acre (wall pepper). 
Tunica saxifraga (saxifrage). 
Veronica rupestris (speedwell). 
