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"  Small things \u2014 whether it&amp;#039;s teacups or plants \u2014 hold a certain fascination, especially when they are displayed in a setting that invites scrutiny of each exquisite detail. Rock gardens can show off tiny plants to their best advantage, and it&amp;#039;s easy to provide the conditions under which they will thrive. Many compact perennials \u2014 not just the alpine natives so well suited to the soil conditions of such sites \u2014 fit rock gardens beautifully. In this plan for spring, suitable for a sunny place in Zones 4 to 8, colorful perennials and dwarf evergreens flank a three-foot-wide path. It is critical to prepare free-draining soil and place the rocks carefully prior to planting. Try to create a setting such as you might find in nature: At least a third of each rock should be underground, to prevent them from tumbling out of place and to provide a cool root run for the plants. To extend the season of color, add later-blooming plants such as dwarf dianthus, thymes, and hypericums. A mulch of fine gravel or grit is ideal to facilitate surface moisture runoff.  --&amp;amp;gt;  KEY TO PLAN  1. Rock cress (Arabis caucasica &amp;#039;Compinkie&amp;#039;) 2 single plants; 4&amp;quot; to 8&amp;quot; tall, to 12&amp;quot; across; loose mat of evergreen, blue-green foliage, covered with clusters of 1/2&amp;quot; to 1&amp;quot;, bright pink flowers. Shear after bloom time. 2. Perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) 4 single plants; 12&amp;quot; tall, 12&amp;quot; to 24&amp;quot; across; dark evergreen foliage; dense heads of pure white flowers. Shear after bloom time. 3. Basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatile &amp;#039;Citrinum&amp;#039;) 3 single plants; 12&amp;quot; tall and across; loose mounds of grayish oblong leaves; clusters of small pale lemon yellow flowers, lightly fragrant. Shear after bloom time. 4. Thrift (Armeria maritima &amp;#039;Dusseldorf Pride&amp;#039;) 3 single plants; to 18&amp;quot; tall, 6&amp;quot; to 10&amp;quot; across; buns of evergreen, grassy, blue-green leaves; wiry stems topped with globes of hot pink flowers rise above. 5. False rockcress (Aubrieta deltoidea &amp;#039;Purple Gem&amp;#039;) 3 single plants; 4&amp;quot; tall, 18&amp;quot; to 24&amp;quot; across; sprawling mat of evergreen gray-green foliage; 1/2&amp;quot; royal purple flowers in clusters. Shear after bloom time. 6. Dwarf Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa &amp;#039;Flabelliformis&amp;#039;) 5 single plants; ultimately 12&amp;quot; to 15&amp;quot; tall and as wide; squat pyramid dwarf evergreen with fans of emerald foliage. 7. Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) 10 groups of 7 bulbs planted 3&amp;quot; apart; 6&amp;quot; tall, 3&amp;quot; across; bright blue nodding flowers; plant bulbs in the fall. 8. Mugo pine (Pinus mugo &amp;#039;Mops&amp;#039;) 4 single plants; ultimately 2&amp;#039; to 3&amp;#039; tall and across; 1&amp;quot; evergreen needles. 9. Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca &amp;#039;Jean&amp;#039;s Dilly&amp;#039;) 2 single plants; ultimately 4&amp;#039; tall and 1&amp;#039; across; narrowly upright dwarf cultivar with dense dark green foliage. Slow growing. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a2744/design-rock-haven-0404/>