American Garden

The American Garden provides some of the deepest iridescent blues found in the rock garden.  The low-growing alpine gentian (Gentiana acaulis) is the first to bloom.  Next is speedwell (Veronica latifolia 'Crater Lake Blue') with its deep purple-blue flowers.  The non-flowering mounds of sandwort (Arenaria spp.) from the Wallowa Mountains are in stark contrast.  The Tatsien delphinium (Delphinium tatsienense) blooms in July on long stems with bright iridescent blue flowers.  Orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), deep pink stonecrops and soft blue gentian (Gentiana septemfida) accent these blues.

Clockwise from left: Mat forming Veronica rupestris 'Mrs. Holt' (Speedwell) is packed with flowers, Arenaria 'Wallowa Mts.' (Irish Moss) isn't a moss at all and Lewisia x cotyledon (Hybrid Lewisia) was discovered by and named after the explorer Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame.