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Mimi’s secret garden patch

On consulting our friend ‘Google’, Rockeries go back in time and it is evident that each country
has its own interpretation of how its rockery should be presented …and in what composition.
In Japan, as we well know, it’s almost mystical, and on gazing at the orderly formation of stones
or rocks, interspersed with simplistic greenery or flowering plants and tufts of grasses, one is
filled with a feeling of peace with no jarring colours to complicate ones thoughts.
For my part, I look on rockeries as a sort of plant tapestry or jigsaw, which I put together –
slotting in a little hillock here and a crop of rocks or one/or a few strangely shaped monkey
face rocks. One can start with a small mound of stones and build around that height until
achieving the size and shape that pleases. I am of course describing a small rockery in a little
sheltered corner of the garden or even with a focal point of a little fountain, - placing the
rocks and plants inbetween on a slight slope.

We are spoiled for choice in Africa with all the succulents, cacti and creeping plants that
burst into flower thereby filling up the spaces between the rocks. Tallish Aloes can be placed
inbetween the low lying plants but the fun part is when everything takes root and makes its
way as nature so demands. There is something very beautiful about tiny flowers hanging over
the different hues of rocks. I enjoy getting a bag or two of small white pebbles and placing
them running through the surrounding rocks as if it is a little stream wending its way
in-between the plants. The white of the pebbles tends to show up your colours and adds
excitement to your ‘rock picture’.
Years ago I wanted to create a rockery in my lawn, I consulted ‘those that know’ and took
my hosepipe to make a rough shape on the grass and then proceeded to dig in the middle to
form the base of the rockery. In the middle I placed a bird bath which developed into a daily
jostling of birds meeting for their swim. I also had a pampas grass on the one side of this
feature and within a few months, the plants had spread and in spring the whole rockery was a
mass of flowers….very gratifying.

I end this quarter on sharing with you the following quotations:
Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts. Sigmund Freud.

Plants require patient labour and attention. Plants do not grow to satisfy ambitions or to
fulfill good intentions. Liberty Hyde Bailey
They thrive because someone expended effort on them!

Basel Botanical Gardens, by S.C
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