IN A DUNEDIN ROCK GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20592, 15 December 1928, Page 3

IN A DUNEDIN ROCK GARDEN.

THE SUMMER DISPLAY. The Linums, or mountain flaxes, are a feature of the rock garden in summer. L. varbonense is perhaps the most beautiful with its sky-blue flowers. It-comes from South Europe, and looks' very charming, if grown in groups. L. alpinum is a prostrate variety with chinablue flowers. It likes a gritty soil in a sunny position. L. flavum, with yellow flowers, flourishes’ on dry banks. L. viscosum has branching, downy stems, and flowers of a lilac shade with deeper Veins. It likes a fairly moist position. L. monogynum,. our New Zealand native, has large pure white flowers. Incarvillea grandiflora is a distinct and beautuul perennial from the high mountains of China. It has a tuberous root and rqunded leaflets, with glosinialike flowers of a deep rose red. Daphne mezereum, with its beautiful red hemes, is an ideal shrub for the rock garden.

Primulas in bloom are Bulleyana (orange); P. annesgrove hybrids, in all shades of pink, apricot, and buff; P. capitata, with deep purple flowers on rounded heads; and P. Cockburniana, with flowers of a tangerine shade. P. heladosa still continues to show its beautiful yellow tiers of bloom.

Geums are represented by the apricotcoloured Heldreichii and G. Borisii, a dwarf plant with scarlet flowers. If grown successfully Verbena chamidrifolia is one of the . most attractive plants in the rock garden. Its brilliant scarlet flowers in a mass are most effective, but unfortunately a good number of people in Dunedin seem to have failures with it. It must have a good root run/and ample drainage. It also likes sandy soil and a position in the open where it will get all the sun available.

Sisyrinchium Bermudianum (satin flower) is a pretty blue-flowered plant with grassy leaves. Like the Linums it only opens with the sun. Erodium Olympicum, with silvery, fern-lilje leaves and soft pink flowers, is one of the choicest of the heron’s bill family. The aethionemas and sun roses still continue t , brighten the rock garden, and the alpine floppies, in all coloun, of pink, tangerine, yellow, and white, help in the colour scheme.. W. P.