My mom started collecting rocks when I was in my teens. Over the past two decades the little dishes filled with colorful stones that adorned corner tables, bathroom vanities, and her bedroom bureau grew into an impressive stockpile of stones in assorted shapes and sizes. Slowly but surely, my mom’s rocks had steadily invaded of our home. A few years ago it got to the point where my dad suggested that the rocks find a new home. After careful thought and consideration they decided that the rocks would be better displayed in a rock garden than in various rooms throughout their home.
A lot of people regard rock gardens as dry, hard, cactus-filled areas and banish them to the corner of the yard. This is not the case with my mom’s rock garden. My parent’s live in Hawaii so they played off of a more tropical/Asian theme than a desert one. When designing your rock garden you should consider what look you want to achieve. Rock gardens can accentuate a koi pond or a waterfall; they can be located in the shade or be exposed to the sun. Personally, I think exposure to the sun is an important factor as reflections can help bring out a rock’s inherent beauty.
To take advantage of natural light, consider building a rock garden on a natural slope. My parent’s yard is flat so they created a slope with some garden soil. From there it is just a matter of building upwards. Set the rocks in the lowest point of the garden—you may find it is necessary to bury half or more of the rock to anchor it firmly in place. After the rocks are in place, let the soil settle around them for a few days. Next, survey your work from a distance to be sure you are comfortable with the layout before adding plants.
As with any landscape design you will want to incorporate a variety of plants with attractive colors and textures. By including those with different flowering seasons you can have a colorful rock garden for most of the year (save for those months that it isn’t buried under snow). Obviously, my mom doesn’t have to contend with snow (just with the neighbor’s dog). Her rock garden has become a space that exudes peace and tranquility. (That is, when my 2-year-old is not digging around in it gathering up rocks to whip into the pond.) A rock garden does not require any more work than a traditional flower garden does. In fact, my mom claims that she spends less time maintaining her rock garden than she does up keeping her rose bushes. Give it a try. In the end I’m sure you will agree that moving your rock collection outdoors is a decision you won’t regret.
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