Wikopedia definition of rock garden (Sounds really great. Great example
in Melbourne is the Botanical Gardens in the city)
Rock garden
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A rock garden, also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, is a type of
garden that features extensive use of rocks or stones, along with plants
native to rocky or alpine environments.

Rock garden plants tend to be small, both because many of the species
are naturally small, and so as not to cover up the rocks. They may be
grown in troughs (containers), or in the ground. The plants will usually
be types that prefer well-drained soil and less water.

The usual form of a rock garden is a pile of rocks, large and small,
esthetically arranged, and with small gaps between, where the plants
will be rooted. Some rock gardens incorporate bonsai.
A naturalistic rockery in England
A naturalistic rockery in England

Some rock gardens are designed and built to look like natural outcrops
of bedrock. Stones are aligned to suggest a bedding plane and plants are
often used to conceal the joints between the stones. This type of
rockery was popular in Victorian times, often designed and built by
professional landscape architects. The same approach is sometimes used
in modern campus or commercial landscaping, but can also be applied in
smaller private gardens.

The Japanese rock garden, in the west often referred to as Zen garden,
is a special kind of rock garden with hardly any plants.
link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_garden

FarmI wrote:
"0tterbot" wrote in message
...

when people talk of a rockery or rock garden, what is it they mean? any
garden with rocks emerging above the surface, or is it more specific than
that?


Usually raised, rocks emerging and well drained.


similarly, if a plant is "good for rockeries", what does that mean? that
it drapes aesthetically over rocky bits, or is it a cultural notation?
(wants more heat & less water, or something like that?)


Generally the plants need good drainage and won't tolerate wet feet. It
could also mean that they drape well over rocks or cascade down rock faced
walls or a few other things as well.