EARLY SPRING IN A DUNEDIN ROCK GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 11

EARLY SPRING IN A DUNEDIN ROCK GARDEN.

The little tenants of the rock garden have had a very severe test this past winter, with an over-abundance of frost and cutting winds. But happily they have come through with flying colours — colours which are very evident now. As in other branches of the garden, the alpine section has its heralds or advance guards of spring. Some of the most precious of spring’s early greetings have made their appearance in the rock garden. One might be tempted to say they must be growing in a very sunny, warm position: but that is not so. Most of them, strange to say, are shade-loving plants, and one of them does not get the sun at all. This beautiful little subject is Cyclamen coum, with small, round, green leaves, which form a nice contrast to the red blooms. It is a native of the Greek Archipelago, and is a lovely asset to the rock garden if given good drainage, with a mixture of loam and leaf mould, to which may be added decayed vegetable matter. The corm must be covered, and should remain undisturbed for years, for this is a great factor in its successful cultivation.

Another little jewel, Erica carnea, with its flowers of deep rose colour, is now at its best, and certainly looks happy nestling against the stones. It is a native of the ranges of Central Europe. Saxifraga Grisebachii is a precious species from Macedonia, with grey-blue rosettes and drooping carmine flowers. This subject likes a warm spot, and sandy loam with limestone grit. Omphalodes cappadocica, with its lovely porcelain-blue flowers, is also among the earlies. It likes semi-shade, and will bloom into the summer. It is a native of the woodland mountains of Turkey and Persia.

Soldanella alpina is a lovely little gem which has a charm for all rock garden lovers, and is now showing its lilac-blue bells on stems 4in or sin long above the kidney-shaped leaves. It likes a cool, moist position, protected during the winter with a piece of glass. It is a native of the high Alps and Pyrenees. YV. P.