TREES, SHRUBS AND PLANTS FOR THE HOME 25 

Tritoma 
Pfitzeri. (Also called Flame Flower, Red Hot Poker, or Torch Lily). An unusual 
appearing plant. It is of tropical aspect, with rushlike, arching foliage; dense and 
beautiful. Smooth, thick flower stalks shoot up from the foliage in late July or 
August to a height of 2 to 3 feet or more, at the end of which is a single, fiery orange 
cone of flowers, sometimes 12 inches in length, a hundred or more blossoms on each 
cone. The blooming period sometimes extends to October. 
VALERIANA. See Heliotrope. 
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Veronica - Speedwell 
A very interesting family of plants that form excellent subjects for the hardy border 
and rockery. 
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Longifolia subsessilis. Bluebird Fiower, quite different. Sends stout, erect spikes 
2 to 3 feet, with very deep blue flowers. July and September. 
Spicata. One and one-half feet high; spikes of bright blue Mowers in June and July. 
Vinca - Periwinkle 
*Minor (Trailing Myrtle). An evergreen trailer, of much beauty and wonderful hardi- 
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Filamentosa. 
ness. Blue flowers. Fine for covering bare banks and for carpeting dark and shaded 
places in the garden; valuable also for the rock garden. Makes a mass of dark green 
about 4 inches high. 
*Viola 
Jersey Gem. Flowers pure violet, borne on stems 6 inches long. Blooms practicaily 
without a break from May to the end of the season. Succeeds in any good garden 
soil in a sunny position. 
Blue Perfection, Golden Yellow, and Mauve Queen. 
Yucca - Spanish Bayonet 
great erect branching stems bearing a showy display of pendent, creamy white bells. 
Indispensable for the rockery. 5 to 6 feet. June and July. 
LOCATION. The average city or suburban property 
readily provides ample space for the little rock garden. It 
may be located between the driveway and the lot lines near 
the garage—in the bare space next to the house between 
side or rear group foundation plantings, next to the side of 
the garage, or in any available space on the property not 
being used, such as on the terrace between two garden 
levels. 
DRAINAGE. To provide such drainage, it is best to 
place a 4- to 8-inch layer of small stones or cinders about 
10 inches under the rock garden level, before treating the 
soil and placing the rocks. 
MATERIALS. The charm of correctly built rock gar- 
dens lies in the contrast between the dull gray or brown 
stones and the bright hues of the flowering plants. Thus, it 
is not in good taste to use bright colored stones in the con- 
struction. Limestone and sandstone rocks are best, or if not 
obtainable, rocks quarried on the property may be used, if 
they are not brightly colored. They should be placed irregu- 














The broad, swordlike foliage is evergreen, while midsummer shows 
The Rock Garden 

Veronica Longijolia Subsessilis 


larly in a soil mixture consisting of 2 parts of loam, 1 part 
peat moss or decayed leaves, and 1 part coarse sand. 
CONSTRUCTION. Mark out the irregular outlines of 
the bed, and excavate to a depth of 18 or 24 inches. Fill in 
the bottom of the excavation with stone or gravel to 10 
inches below the ground level. Place on top of the stones a 
layer of overturned sod to prevent the dirt filler to be put 
over the stones from washing down into the stones. Then fill 
with earth from the excavation, raking the bed to the de- 
sired shape. Cover this with 12 inches of the special soil 
mixture described above under “‘Materials.” Allow this to 
settle for several days. 
PLACING THE ROCKS. The “grain,” or stratifica- 
tion of the rocks used should be horizontal and each should 
be buried deeply into the soil so that only a portion of it 
is visible. After the hole for each rock is dug, and it is 
placed, tamp the soil firmly about it to eliminate air pockets, 
and so that it will be placed solidly. 
PLANTING. In planting, 
dig a hole large enough to re- 
ceive the roots of the plant 
without crowding, and break 
up earth well at bottom of the 
hole. Partially fill with earth, 
and pack earth around roots 
firmly, repeating operation 2 
or 3 times, until hole is filled 
and the plant firmly imbedded 
in it. Water the bed thor- 
oughly after the planting is 
completed. 
For Special Selection of 
Rock Garden Plants 
Refer to Page 27. 


