The little rockery in the back garden in May

Quite a few changes have been made to this little rockery in the last 6 weeks.  And still more to come.

 This is the north end of the little 15 feet of the little rockery.  Since the Irish heather on the left was crowding the entry path, I move these cement blocks over to the right a few inches. I took out most of the dianthus at the front.  The dianthus at the back is now at the edge of the pathway into the strawberry patch.   There will be pictures.  Just this morning moved stones around this end of the rockery to try to create more of a 'crevice garden' on a small scale. I moved the big gentian at the back of this photo to the front little rockery a while ago.  It might survive the move.  Have to keep it watered.

This shows about 3/4 of this little rockery.  There is a delespernum, the campanula raini, and the little lewisias. 

Continuing to the right in the photos we see part of the strawberry jar and the big daphne.  In front of the daphne is another gentian

that I have moved to the front garden.  The  SCLERANTHUS

 uniflorus  Knawel cushion, New Zealand moss, Gnarled cushion:  is in the bottom right corner of the photo.

Four-flowered knamel uniflorus is a cushion-forming, evergreen perennial with tiny, linear, 

       bright green leaves and inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers in mid- to late summer, each                 followed by a small, yellow seed.    

    Evergreen  Cushion or Mound Forming

    Requires a well-drained sandy or gritty soil. Best in sun. Drought tolerant 

    once established. Remains evergreen where hardy Not a good choice for regions 

    with hot, humid summers.    

    Can be sheared once a year to encourage the production of fresh leaves.  

    Tends to die back in the center with age. Once this happens, lift and divide 

    the clump.

    Australian Astroturf: Scleranthus biflorus & Scleranthus uniflorus

    Light: Full sun     Soil: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil.

    Water: Regular water, drought tolerant when established. 

    Height: Scleranthus biflorus- 2-4” tall. Scleranthus uniflorus- 1-2”   

    Spread: Slowly, 6-10” in a year.  

    Hardiness:Scleranthus biflorus Zones 6-9, Scleranthus uniflorus Zones 7-10.

    Another moss look-alike that is in the Dianthus family. These adorable cushion plants 

   are ideal for rock gardens, patios and paths, fairy gardens and much more. Scleranthus 

   biflorus is the fluffier of the two species. Scleranthus uniflorus is the densest and 

   a bit lighter green. Both species are evergreen and can tolerate light foot traffic.

 The ALYSSUM   Basket of Gold Alyssum - full sun, sharp drainage, 8 - 10 tall x 12 -14 spread.
 Is in the edge by the stone path of the little rockery at the back.  It bloomed earlier than this May 24 phtoto.  It is a new plant from last year.  It seems to be growing a bit from the scruffy little thing it was last summer.  I think it is a tough enough plant to survive in my rock garden.  

 This is a close up of the little Daphne domini that I transplanted in the little rockery.  It grows  towards the front of the bed with the big red rock between it and the big daphne.

 I think this is the other gentian that I moved to the front little rockery.  I think those 3 gentians are going to survive very nicely in the front little rockery.

DELOSPERMEUM -Cooperi -  fire spinner -  lovely ice plant.  
    Delosperma Fire Spinner® has vibrant tri-colored flowers of orange, red and lavender that are  unique in the world of perennial flowers. Outstandingly colorful. An evergreen ground cover, 
this ice plant blooms in late spring. A 2011 Plant Select winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant.  
I need to figure out how to make this plant produce more blooms.  The plant has been in this spot for 2 years and is spreading nicely, but has had only one bloom each year.

 This small spruce has been in this spot for quite a few years.  It, the big daphne and the little lewisias below have been in this little rockery for quite a few years.

 These little lewisias self seed around a bit.  They are blooming abundantly so they must be happy where they are growing.

 This is the top of the strawberry jar.  I cannot seem to find the name of this plant in my notes.  I will keep searching..  

Behind the little rockery is the strawberry patch and beyond that is the cutting garden.  There will be more renovations on this area as time goes on.