SETTING ROCKS AND STONES
Rocks should normally be of the same kind when used together. Use Nature for your model even for a miniature rock
garden. It will make all the difference in the world to the
appearance of your work.
The two main natural forms for rocks are those where the
broken strata appears in a hillside and those which are falls of
broken rock on the mountain side. Try to reproduce the natural
forms in miniature.
Choose the rocks carefully. They must be bedded well down
and the soil rammed tight all round. Figs. 27 to 30 illustrate
some of the different forms of setting the rocks. Here they are
shown only in section, and must be envisaged in elevation and
plan. Note how a lower rock is used as a base for building upward
and how they are set at similar angles.
In the diagrams plants are shown growing. Some of these may
be in self-contained pockets but for others the "pocket" may take
the form of a cleft. These clefts and pockets should run in the
same directions, normally downward, like a slow-moving liquid
flowing from high ground.
WINDOW-BOX DESIGNS
The design for a window-box garden can be of any style, but
it is desirable for it to have an always interesting profile. Dwarf
evergreens are best, although unusual shaped (and sometimes
colourful) trees like Japanese maple are good. The garden level
can be varied with small rocks to form pockets for the plants,
which should include some edge-trailers. The profiles of trees
and plants are well worth considering as can be realized from
Figs. 31 and 32.
GARDEN ORNAMENTS AND FURNITURE
The alpine and rock gardens already described are complete
in themselves. In minigardens involving more of a planned
design various garden ornaments can be invaluable.
The broad title covers most features attributable to human
agency, decorative and utilitarian, including human figures,
animals, birds, sundials, birdbaths, summer-houses, courts, paths,
pergolas, pools, tea-houses, fountains, statuettes, terraces, archways, rustic work, seats, gates and gateways, lanterns, dovecotes,
windvanes, lighthouses, pagodas, temples, bridges, well-heads,
etc. The construction of these is described in Chapter XIV.
NATURAL OR INFORMAL GARDENS
Some suggestions for the progressive development of naturalistic or informal gardens include:
1.An alpine garden with a winding pathway made of silver
sand and tiny stones or concrete; perhaps a few steps; a bridge
over a miniature gorge.
2.Similar to the above but introducing water; perhaps a
boat and boathouse and island.
3.Introducing cascade, waterfall, and a bog garden for over-
flow.
4.A woodland glade. Groups of various dwarf trees, winding
pathways, tiny carpeting plants looking like sward and green
banks, perhaps a few dwarf daffodils or bulbous plants growing
in a green valley. A winding pebbly brook with soft, rounded
banks. Perhaps a woodman's hut, a shrine or a little rustic temple.
5.A wild natural style of garden or a rambling old-fashioned
style with hummocks of flowering plants, and perhaps a wellhead, rustic archways and dovecote.
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