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In most books on rock gardening, a large part
of the space is devoted to the description of
plants, and of individual varieties. This is as
it should be, and to those who are taking up seriously
this fascinating form of gardening, the acquisition
of at least one or two of these larger volumes
is by all means recommended. Anyone planning a
rock garden should conduct more research than
simply what this article contains.
Bulbs for a Rock Garden:
To one who thinks of bulbs in terms of Darwin
tulips with three-foot stems, and the modern Giant
Trumpet daffodils, in the spring garden, or of
gladiolus and dahlias throughout the summer months,
the rock garden would seem to offer no suitable
place of residence for this important group of
flowers. Many "complete" catalogs of rock garden
plants contain never a whisper concerning bulbs,
though often including shrubs, evergreens, and
garden fountains (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1071).
It may be argued that the bulbous flowers, even
when dwarf enough to merit a place in the rock
garden, are not sufficiently similar in habit
of growth to other rock plants to entitle them
to recognition. This, of course, is a matter of
taste and not to be dogmatically settled one way
or the other. The contention that bulbs are not
legitimate subjects for the rock garden has had
more weight abroad among the advocates of alpine
gardening, pure and undefiled than it has in the
states.
In most American rock gardens, bulbs have been
made welcome and are likely to be used more rather
than less in the future, as knowledge concerning
them becomes more widespread. For one thing, they
may be successfully grown over a much wider range
of climatic conditions than the true alpines.
But the fact that there are some bulbs which may
be welcomed into the rock garden, makes it no
less necessary to have them qualify as to size,
habit of growth, and character. The first point
is easily settled. The most extreme novice at
rock gardening would hardly think of including
Darwin tulips or gladiolus; in general, 12 or
15 inches will mark the limit in height. These
types of bulbs fit well with rock gardens with
classical garden features, such as those found
in the Williamsburg Collection, http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9HrZ2bNaiGk.
Failing to pass in habit of growth and character,
are such obviously formal things as hyacinths,
double tulips, and most of the Early and Cottage
varieties—even most of the daffodils are a bit
too bulky and stiff and garden-border looking.
But, fortunately, we have left a most gay and
companionable little company which includes such
things as the smallest of the daffodils, which
are lost among their more robust sisters in the
garden border, even though they may be grown there;
many of the fascinating little tulip species;
the trooping company of the brave-hearted "minor
bulbs" which come to meet the spring almost before
the earliest of the rock plants have opened an
eye—the grape hyacinths, snowdrops, scillas, chionodoxas,
and dainty little wild crocuses.
One should never want to be without these little
treasures in their rock garden, even if located
where all the most difficult and rare alpines
might be grown. There are many others equally
desirable, including numerous native American
species which are gradually becoming available,
to extend the season of little bulbs in the rock
garden from the grape hyacinths, through the later
blooming scillas, to the autumn flowering crocuses
in the fall.
About the Author:
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer
based out of San Diego, CA. She enjoys gardening,
landscaping, and collecting garden features, such
as those found in the Williamsburg
Collection
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