This is a view in one of the rock gardens at the nursery. It was taken in September, 1912, a few 
weeks after the garden was completed. There are about one hundred feet of irregular shore line 
around this pool. The garden can be viewed from any direction as a path leads entirely around 
the pool. This pool is fed by a winding stream flowing over waterfalls and through mossy banks 
from the pool of a smaller garden at a much higher elevation. 
ROCK GARDENING AS A 
PASTIME 
If you must have a hobby, try your 
hand at rock gardening. There is always 
something in nature that appeals to every¬ 
one. A rock garden built to represent 
nature is most fascinating. There is some¬ 
thing in a well-built rock garden to in¬ 
terest everyone, the plants and flowers, 
the rocks, the water, water plants and fish, 
or the effect of the entire arrangement of 
the pool and the garden. Hills and val¬ 
leys, streams and waterfalls representing 
in miniature what we have seen in nature 
make a grand display. 
One might travel for days, and not find 
a spot so interesting as a carefully built 
rock garden on his own home grounds. 
IT IS EASY TO MAKE A ROCK 
GARDEN 
A rock garden should be something 
besides just a load of rock dumped on the 
ground with a little dirt thrown in be¬ 
tween the rocks and a few plants added. 
To be fascinating a rock garden should 
represent something in nature. Who 
would care to see meadows and prairies 
covered with rock? But if we visit the 
mountains or steep banks of rivers or 
lakes and fail to find ledges of rocks and 
boulders of all kinds, we would be dis¬ 
appointed. 
It is on the mountain slopes and cliffs 
where we find the Alpine or rock plants 
growing, so let us make some mountains 
and valleys in miniature. If you wish a 
pool make it irregular to represent a lake 
with an island or peninsula, etc. Select a 
spot near the side or back of the lot line. 
Use some shrubs or evergreens for a back¬ 
ground. Dig the pool about 18 to 24 
inches deep, and cement the bottom and 
sides 4 to S inches thick. Use the dirt to 
shape the mountains and valleys around 
the pool. Leave enough open space in 
front for entrance to pool. 
If the dirt is clay, add some sand or 
gravel to it, then mix in about 3 or 4 
inches of our humus or peat soil. It sup¬ 
plies fertility and prevents the soil from 
washing. Dig pockets here and there and 
set your rock. Some prefer imported rock, 
but native rock is all right. Use the flat 
rock for cliff effect, boulders and odd 
shaped rocks on the slopes and foot hills. 
Then tamp the soil down between the 
rocks and set in the plants. Use some of 
the taller varieties near the pool. 
Before starting your rock garden prac¬ 
tice on a few tiny ones for models to get 
the shape you want. It will save time 
and produce some interesting results. 
