The Rock Gardening section of the Miller Library is quite extensive. It contains some of the library’s oldest tomes rich in detail, but the scarcity of newer titles might suggest this form of gardening has gone out of fashion.
However, for those interested in creating gardens that are tolerant of our droughty summers, rock gardening is an excellent style to consider. To help spur your interest, I recommend Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style.
Author Joseph Tychonievich has an infectious, enthusiastic writing style and easily brings new life to an old gardening subject. His research finds rock gardens evolving with expanding plant palettes. They are set in both sun and shade, and can be compatible with nearby, more lushly planted areas. Moreover, they don’t necessarily include rocks! “This book aims to be an introduction into that wide world of the rock garden in all its diverse modern incarnations.”
He uses many examples from throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, and includes two gardens in Medford, Oregon. His list of recommended plants is restrained but goes well beyond the traditional alpines, and encourages experimentation.
Published in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society, Fall 2017