LITMIR.BIZ

       Some stones exhibit stripes of white quartz crystal encased in the body of the rock. Quartz is a conductor of energy that some of us can feel.

      The “bluestone” granite of Stonehenge, the most famous stone arrangement in the world, contains a high quantity of quartz and feldspar. Many prehistoric natural stone monuments seem to share the characteristic of containing large amounts of quartz.

       Three Tips for Making Your Stone Circle

      1. If you create a stone circle, make sure the diameter is the right size. Don’t place them so far apart that you have to shout to each other while sitting on the stones. Paint the points on level ground where you plan to set the stones and stand on those points before you put any rocks in place.

      2. Consider how many stones you want. Some people have four stones and place one in each of the four cardinal directions. Others use eight for the eight points on the compass such as northwest, southeast, etc. And some prefer odd numbers and will use five stones, spaced evenly.

      3. “Settle the stones” into the earth by digging a slight depression and then setting the rock within it. It is like planting a rock. You can plant a carpet of green Scotch moss and Irish moss around them, or you can also tuck different kinds of thyme at the base — their leaves will release a delightful aroma when you brush against them.

      The Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, has replicated a Native American “gathering circle” made of sitting stones. One is a large stone of white quartz that faces east to greet the first light of day. The explanatory sign next to the circle says, “…feel free to sit on any stone…the rocks offer an ancient story of their own. They point to the four directions which indigenous people understand as elements of Creation carrying meaning and power.”

      The material of the stones corresponds to the qualities of the four cardinal directions. The sign explains the specific stone layout saying, “a granite stone bears a natural stripe pointing directly south…the west-facing granite, rust-colored with its iron content…another granite stone points a vein of green quartz directly north…”

      Quartz was an important part of a Native American stone circle. One reason that Native Americans valued milky or clear quartz crystals is their belief that quartz contained supernatural power that could be used for various purposes. Quartz was considered solid light and was seen as being connected symbolically to the sun. This belief probably came from the practice of forcefully rubbing two quartz pieces together or striking a small stone against a piece of quartz crystal. The friction causes the quartz to emit white light. This is called triboluminescence and is not a spark but essentially pure light. The mechanical action causes the electrons in the atoms to absorb energy. When the electrons return to their usual state, the energy is released in the form of light coming from the interior of the crystal.

       A stripe of quartz crystal makes this stone stand out among others.

      * * *

      The spirit of stone can be found in the stones we use in our landscapes and those that sit alone on the beaches, in the woodland, in the prairies and rocky cliffs. Their silent song is the one we celebrate in our rock gardens. The next chapter focuses upon rock gardens and explores how we can work with stones to create outstanding landscapes.

      Two

      In Praise of Rock Gardens

      As a rule a rock garden should not be near the house; it is something savoring of the wild that does not fit in with most architecture.

      ~ Henry S. Adams

      In my part of the world, northeast United States, there are rocks and more rocks. If you are a gardener, the urge to combine rocks with plants is a natural one. This endeavor can begin a lifelong love of rock gardens as it did for me. And the one thing that I have discovered is that there are as many styles of rock gardens as there are rocks. It is all dependent on what you want and where you live. They can be expansive and dramatic or small and quiet. They may be located along a road, by the beach or in an urban backyard. In this chapter, I describe various rock garden styles and focus on the rocks and their placement.

       Heat-loving plants such as agave (Agave americana) and Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima) thrive in the Gravel Garden in Chanticleer, a Philadelphia-area “pleasure garden.” Planted on an open slope, the Gravel Garden features granite steps, stone benches and gravel mulch that surrounds heat-loving, drought tolerant plants.

      In rock gardens, the stones are the show. Their character may instill a feeling of a “savoring of the wild,” as H. S. Adams noted in his classic book Making a Rock Garden. In these gardens, rocks of all sizes and textures are set solidly into a natural setting with few straight lines or symmetry. They need not be complicated and are basically a habitat where plants and rocks co-exist. Here are a few ideas:

      • A single existing boulder can be enhanced with a few additional rocks scattered nearby.

      • A steep stony bank or outcrop can be planted up with some selected plants.

      • A small rocky channel can run through an expanse of carefully placed rocks and succulents.

      • A rocky hill can become a showcase for a collection of plants and stones.

       Where to Locate a Rock Garden

      The recreation of a mountainous rocky landscape was a popular endeavor in the past, when the classical advice was to set a rock garden away from the house and beyond the outdoor living area. But today, current styles have widened beyond the original alpine model and rock gardens can be established wherever you want. You are free to create what you like – where you like – with the understanding that, above all, rocks are the essential component. Even the name has changed; rock gardens are now commonly called rockeries. This moniker embraces all kinds of man-made rock environments.

      Rockeries can fit in with the most irregular of sites, such as hot, rocky outcrops or forgotten side yards. It does not matter if there is sun or shade because rocks withstand any environment. The plants, however, must be suited to the light conditions you provide. The stones can be accompanied by sun-loving sedums or by a collection of hardy shade-tolerant ferns. A cautionary note: do not create a rock garden beneath a tree with greedy or inhospitable roots or dense shade such as a Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The roots may fight with the plants for water and prevent the rocks from being set deeply into the earth, while the leaves may cast so much shade that few plants can thrive.

       The rock garden in Bartholdi Park, part of the U.S. Botanic Garden, located in Washington, D.C., is an example of the “hill and crest,” where the land slopes up to show off the rock garden denizens.

      

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