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Rock Garden Quarterly

Bulletin of the North American Rock Garden Society

Volume 54 Number 2 - Spring 1996

If anyone has wondered why the term 'rock garden' is used instead of 'alpine garden,' this issue will clarify that point. If you are interested in rock gardening but are saddened by the fact that you don't garden near a mountain, this issue will give you new courage. This quarter the first five articles talk about what rock gardening can mean in five very different locales: Massachusetts, Barbados, Newfoundland, the Czech Republic and Berkeley, CA.

For those of use who love to learn of new genera or like to know the details of plant groups or botanic areas, five more feature articles will give you new insight: Idaho panhandle, Romulea, Lady Slippers, Castillejas and Campanulas.

Features

Uplands: Life Among the Alpines
by Catherine Hull

Ms. Hull tells us an inspiring story of how she started her rock garden overlooking Massachusetts Bay. At one time landscaped by Fletcher Steel in the 1930's, this story starts, as most of us do, with the simple rock garden. Not surprisingly she proceeds to more projects on the rest of the property: rock wall, bog garden, woodland paths, stream and tufa bed. The author is gracious enough to share both the highs and lows of a gardening story as it unfolded over the years.

 

Rock Gardening in the Caribbean
by Richard R. Iversen

For a new slant on what can constitute a rock garden, try this article about choosing plants for a Caribbean rock garden. Many of the plants Mr. Iversen selected for the Andromeda Botanic Gardens in Barbados are common house plants in North America. He tells of how he put Haworthia, Agave, Aloe, Sansevieria, Peperomia, Adiantum and many others in the rock garden. In this case, the setting for the garden is in porous coral limestone. Not only do these plants grow between the rocks in the meager soil provided but some even grow on the tops of the rocks.

 

Rock Garden Plants of Newfoundland
by Todd Boland

If ever there was a lowland environment that would cause plants to achieve our valued miniature state, Newfoundland is it. Mr. Boland tells why the climate and landscape of a low lying terrain attract plants that are found on mountain peaks. He also shares with us the many botanical treasures to be found there.
This articles includes photographs of Solidago hispida, Rubus acaulis, Salix cordifolia, Salix vestita, Cornus suecica, Loiseuria procumbens, Potentilla crantzii, Potentilla fruticosa, Cypripedium calceolus v. planipetalum, Gentianella propinqua and scenes from Newfoundland by Todd Boland.

 

A Rock Garden in the Czech Republic
by Josef Slegl

Although we think of Britain as the capital of alpine gardening, the Czech Republic is gaining acclaim in the same field. Mr. Slegl takes us on a tour of a master alpine gardener, Tony Liska. Mr. Liska specializes in porophyllum Saxifraga in tufa gardens but also delves into bonsai. He crams over 400 species of plants into a small 1400 sq. ft. garden.
The article includes photographs of the garden and Physoplexis comosa by Josef Slegl.

 

Tilden Botanic Garden: Midwinter Adventure for an Easterner
by Jim Jones.

The author describes Tilden as a microcosm of California flora. He gives a summary of the origins of the gardens in the depression era Civilian Conservation Corps in the 30's and then describes some of the features he counts as his favorites.
The article includes photographs of Zigadenus fremontii, Erythronium multiscapoideum 'Cliftonii', Allium cratericola, Dentaria californica, Ribes speciosum and Acrtostaphylos regis-montana by the author.

 

Unknown Idaho: Panhandle Gems of a Pacific Outpost
by Panayoti Kelaidis.

Always the one to introduce us to new plants, Kelaidis tells about another area little explored by rock garden enthusiasts. After describing the trees that forest the area he tells about the plants that inhabit the ground between the trees. Included is an interesting note about how Lilium columbianum deals with fire and logging.
The article includes photographs of Viola orbiculata, Coptis occidentalis, Lilium columbianum, Penstemon confertus, Chimaphila menziesii, Pyrola picta, Caltha biflora, Cornus canadensis, Clintonia uniflora, Clematis occidentalis & a double form, Calypso bulbosa and Linnaea borealis by Marilyn George.

 

South African Romuleas: New Bulbs for the Rock Garden
by Rod Saunders.

The author tells about the Romulea bulb: some history about the name, the environs of the South African species and their cultivation.
The article includes photographs of Romulea tortuosa ssp. aurea, R. luteoflora, R. hirsuta, R. monadelpha, R. atrandra, R. tetragona, R. tabularis, R. amoena and R. subfistulosa by Rod Saunders.

 

M'Lady's Slippers: Transplanting the "Impossible"
by Don Jacobs.

Lady's slippers have long been regarded as too sensitive to transplant. Primarily referring to Cypripedium acaule, the author tells how to rescue these plants from land development without killing them in the process.

 

Castillejas: Meeting the Challenge
by Ken Sherman.

Another "impossible," the Indian paintbrush has been avoided because it was thought too hard because of its parasitic nature. The author tells how he cultivates these plants in spite of this fact and shares his propagation techniques.

 

Campanulas: Further Musings
by Ken McGregor.

A diverse essay, the author talks of slugs, snails and campanulas. In addition he shares his experience with bells, photography and plant division.

 

Departments

Plant Portrait

Silene hookeri
by Rex Murfitt

 

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