HILLSIDE GARDENS 
203 
(preferably with an eastern or northern exposure which afford 
most protection) by placing it in a corner with a vine-covered 
fence, or the greenery of massed shrubs as a background. The illu¬ 
sion of its being a portion of a true hillside may thus be cleverly 
simulated. Aesthetic beauty in gardens, as in every other phase 
of life, does not tolerate artificiality, therefore, frame and develop 
a little hillside with the greatest thought and care. 
In general, until one becomes what might be termed an experi¬ 
enced amateur, probably the greater number of gardeners will 
prefer to grow those tested groups of plants which will give the 
surer display of bloom. These may include dwarf bushes and those 
low or creeping plants that have been tested in our climate. It is 
seldom advisable to start Rock Garden plants from seed in the 
pockets. The idea that a Rock Garden or hillside should contain 
only Alpine (snow-level) plants which have developed immunity 
to all the extremes of weather conditions, is being superseded. Each 
locality is adapting the plan of planting slopes with those flowers 
acclimated and suited to its own peculiar requirements, emphasiz¬ 
ing the lowliness of the plants and their diversity of color in foli¬ 
age and blossom, rather than any specific group of varieties. 
Double or variegated flowers are not considered as artistic as large 
clumps of single tones. Simplicity is the keynote. And charm lies 
in the definite note of restraint—most essential in the smaller or 
miniature designs, in which one’s ingenuity is taxed to the fullest. 
One’s hillside may boast many of the smaller bulbs (see page 127) 
for early bloom—among the Alliums, Jonquils, and Dwarf Iris. 
Our native Bluebonnets—(Lupinus texensis), Primroses (Oeno¬ 
theras), Callirhoe (Wine Cups), Pansies, Dogtoothed (Erythroni- 
um) and Wild Violets, and varieties of Astilbe are lovely. Per- 
the most satisfactory plants are the Sedums and Semperviv- 
ums. Low-growing Phlox, Thyme for fragrance, clumps 
of Pinks (Dianthus), white Alyssum, purple 
Teucrium, orange Wallflowers, the dusty foliage 
and fluffy golden balls of Santolina, Tulipas, 
dwarf blue Plumbago, Candytuft, Draba 
(wild Alyssum or Candytuft), Sweet Wil- 
An Arti¬ 
ficial 
Hillside 
Hillside 
Plants to 
Each 
Locality 
Specific 
Hillside 
Plants 
Adapted 
to the 
Southwest 
