May, 1917 
31 
they bloom in miniature gardens among the 
glaciers. The period of blooming begins in 
late midsummer, the season of growth last¬ 
ing but six weeks in the highest altitudes, 
as opposed to a period of five months at 
comparatively moderate heights. Among 
the flowers which endure the coldest at¬ 
mosphere are Ranunculus glacialis, Andro- 
sace glacialis, the rough Saxifraga aspera, 
the blackened Achillea atrata, and the short¬ 
leaved Gentiana brachyphycta. These are 
primarily plants of the high altitudes. 
Making the Garden 
In making a garden of mountain plants, 
one should aim to reproduce the close mossy 
areas of growth, without attempting the 
impossible task of imitating the wild majes¬ 
tic environment from which the plants are 
taken. In structure the garden must be 
simple and unpretentious. Anything in the 
nature of formality must of course be 
avoided; naturalism is the keynote in work 
of this sort. 
The beds should, of course, be small and 
should rise to a terrace, if possible. Rocks 
and stones of various sizes should be 
utilized, but not stalactite. Too many 
rocks, indeed, will spoil the effect, which 
should be that of a profusion of flowers. 
Certain garden plants of short growth and 
plentiful bloom may be mingled with the 
The flowers of Tunica saxifraga are a pur¬ 
plish pink. An excellent sort for the rock 
garden, its masses of blossoms spreading 
like a cloud across the boulders 
mountain varieties, if care is shown in their 
selection and arrangement. 
A rock garden should not be placed in 
the sunshine, but rather in soft half shadow 
among trees and shrubs. If there is no 
terrace in the garden, an irregular little hill 
may be built of rubbish, rubble and stones, 
and then covei*ed over with earth. On this 
foundation the rock garden should be made, 
with provision for an informal path, and for 
steps made of flat stones. Large areas of 
the garden must be left free from rocks in 
order that bolster forming plants can grow 
successfully in their characteristic mats. 
Soil and Care 
After the structure is built, the question 
of soil arises. Since the plants cannot thrive 
in too much moisture, they must have por¬ 
ous earth through which the water can 
easily penetrate. This does not mean that 
the mountain flowers must be kept dry; on 
the contrary they should be well watered, 
but the water must penetrate into the soil 
quickly and not lie in pools on the top. For 
this reason the rock foundation should be 
loosely laid. The soil itself should consist 
of rotted leaf mold mixed with sand. The 
flowers that need rich soil do best in a mix¬ 
ture of top soil and manure, while those 
accustomed to calcareous earth require the 
introduction of some lime. 
The charm of the mountain garden lies not only in the oddity Though its name is ''rock” garden, rocks should not be the 
of its general scheme and planting. When due thought is most conspicuous feature. Rather should they form a setting 
given to the selection of varieties, a wide range of flower for the plants, suggesting the rugged surroundings in which 
color and form can be obtained the mountain sorts grow naturally 
