| Often the stones of which the rock garden is to be | | | | depends, primarily, upon their porosityâthe |
| constructed may be obtained locally; sometimes on the | | | | capacity for absorbing and storing moisture, and thus |
| place itself. Under these conditions, we must usually | | | | encouraging the creeping, thirsty roots to hug the rock |
| take what is available, and make the best of it. But not | | | | and follow its surface deep down into the soil. |
| all stones are equally appropriate for rock garden | | | | If you have roamed through fields and woods, or have |
| building. | | | | stones about your own place, you have undoubtedly |
| "Sympathetic" Stones | | | | observed the difference among them in this respect. |
| If rock plants ask for bread and you give them a | | | | Some stones have a smooth, close-grained surface |
| stone, they will be very well satisfiedâif it is the | | | | as impenetrable as marble; others are so porous that |
| right kind of stone. Some rocks, due to their character | | | | they will almost drink water like blotting paper. |
| and texture, are termed "sympathetic" to plant life. This | | | | |