Poppies blooming in Alice's Rockery - June, 2007
Poppies blooming in Alice's Rockery - June, 2007
Astilbe blooming in Alice's Rockery - July, 2007
Alice's Rockery - August, 2007
The rockery project began in January 1985, led by Alice Simonds and Betty Wood. The site chosen for the rockery was a neglected area on the north end of a large barn at Beaver Brook. Once the site was chosen, the gardeners used the horticultural library to study rock garden plants and seeds. Plantings were begun in a greenhouse; by spring, large rocks and then seedlings were placed, thus creating Alice's Rockery.
In early 1999, the Maple Hill Gardeners decided to restructure the rockery. Changes began in the spring with the removal of a dead tree. As a result of this change, the rockery was altered from a shady garden to a sunny one. In addition, the volunteers rearranged old rocks in the garden and brought in new rocks for placement.
Plants in Alice’s Rockery include: Leopard's Bane, Campanula, Dianthus, Bleeding Heart, Cotoneaster, Hosta, Greek Valerian, Autumn Crocus, Astilbe, Woodland Aster, Woodland Phlox, and Labrador Violet.
Alice Simonds still admires the beautiful gardens in her own backyard. In May, 2004, the Maple Hill Gardeners worked in Alice's gardens one Monday morning, and then shared lunch and a birthday cake with Alice at her home in Hollis. Alice turned 103 years old in May, 2007. Alice is a lovely person, one who continues to be an inspiration to all of us!