Clarence Hay's Rock Garden

For over 30 years Clarence Hay maintained an extensive index card file in which he meticulously noted scientific name, cultural information, source of plant material and field observations for the 600 different species and cultivars of rock garden and alpine plants that he tended.  He noted, for example, that  in 1928 two Gentiana acaulis (as pictured here) were transplanted from the original to the rock garden.  The plants were moved again in 1935 when the Gentian section was established.  He attributed the demise of the last specimen to the anti-mole gas he had used to combat an invasion.
    Renovation and maintenance of the rock garden is an important objective of the Friends of the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge.  The garden now features many of the original plants augmented with over 600 distinct species introduced during the first two years of reconstruction. Detailed information concerning both historic and contemporary plants is available on a searchable data base.  The gardens are open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk.