Rock Garden Design And Construction: North American Rock Garden Society

Few gardens can transport visitors to wild and rugged landscapes as well as rock gardens. The basic components may look simple, but eye-catching rock gardens are among the most challenging --- and satisfying --- expressions of the gardener's craft. A true rock garden is a specialized habitat that allows the gardener to grow plants that do not flourish anywhere else. A truly beautiful rock garden is not just a collection of rare and unusual plants but a properly designed and constructed space that mimics the perspectives and textures of nature. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of building rock gardens in all parts of North America.

In "Rock Garden Design and Construction more than 40 expert members of the North American Rock Garden Society provide the tools gardeners need to create stunning plant habitats in a variety of regions and climates. The chapters emphasize topics such as rock placement, materials, planting, and maintenance and discuss nearly every possible variation on the rock garden theme, from planting troughs to creating water features. Readers learn about growing bulbs in the Southeast, gardening on balconies, and building paths in woodland shade as well as cultivating choice alpines and other small perennials, conifers, and even cacti.

The book presents regional styles and techniques from the Mediterranean climates of California to the cold blasts of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. In addition, a dozen public rock gardens from Newfoundland to Oregon are profiled to help beginners learn from the trials and errors of experts. More than 100 inspiring photos accompany the lively text.

Few gardens can transport visitors to wild and rugged landscapes as well as rock gardens. Eye-catching rock gardens are among the most challenging -- and satisfying -- expressions of the gardener's craft. A true rock garden is a specialized habitat that allows the gardener to grow plants that do not flourish anywhere else. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of building rock gardens in all parts of North America. Topics covered include rock placement, materials, and planting and maintenance. Variations on the rock garden theme, from planting troughs to creating water features are also discussed. The book presents regional styles and techniques and profiles a dozen public rock gardens from Oregon to Newfoundland. More than 100 inspiring photos accompany the lively text.