Rock Gardens are one of the most effective landscaping features.

They also provide that all elusive curb-appeal that adds signicant value to a home at minimal cost.

There are few features in the garden that provide such a variety of interests in so little space as a well-planned and carefully planted rock garden.

The smallest plot may contain a rock garden which will house a representative and charming collection of alpine plants; but, on the other hand, there are few features in the ordinary garden that are so neglected and so ill-understood.

It must be remembered that the chief function of the rock garden is to provide the plants grown in it with conditions, so far as possible, similar to those existing in their natural haunts.

The alpines and high alpines are the most typical of all rock plants and are mostly natives of the high mountain crags and screes of the Alps and Himalayas.

The ideal rock garden, therefore, should, so far as possible, provide the soil and natural conditions pertaining in these regions.

During the short alpine summer the plants are subjected to fierce and baking sun; many of them, therefore, have thick leaves covered with down or hair to protect them from its shrivelling rays.

The roots, too, at this time need ample moisture, and this is provided by the melting of the snows on the mountain tops, whence it permeates through the scree of the moraine.

Also, to live in their natural haunts they require to be very deep and strong rooted, very often with a much greater root run than the foliage and flowers which their roots support.

Enjoy. DT.

Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
188f Desert Luxury at the J.W. Marriott in Las Vegas

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The JW Marriott in Summerlin, a northwest suburb of Las Vegas, has a huge ceiling lobby, providing a cool, North African/Mediterranean type of desert motif. There is plentiful natural lighting and real jungly plants, making the luxury resort glow in the late afternoon like sundown on the sand dunes, when the day relents to the evening Saharan brilliant night sky.

Book The JW Marriott In Las Vegas

In certain parts of the Sahara it has not rained for ten thousand years, and lately in Vegas, it has been eerily rain sparse. While staying at the JW Marriott, which is actually a Canadian managed brand of the Marriott chain, I felt like I was in a 1930's newsreel, with the Marriott reminiscent of a Moroccan grand dame frontier fort, something out of Beau Gest. It is a wonderful resort sitting out amongst the retirementville enclave of Summerlin - giving it a sentinel loneliness, like the French Foreign Legion post that Gary Cooper left at the end of the movie Morocco, with Marlena Deitrich trailing forlorn and behind.

Where is Summerlin? Summerin is a 36 square mile, master planned community developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation. For many years Summerlin was ranked as the nation's best selling master planned community, according to an independent survey by Robert Charles Lesser & Company, a leading national real estate consultant.

There are actually two hotels here, or I should say two six-story towers, with 541 guest rooms and suites, located on the south and west end of the immense resort. I heard through the grapevine that other towers are planned. The Spa Tower has 286 rooms and suites The Palms Tower with 255 rooms and suites. Guest rooms offer interior views of the gardens or panoramic views of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the west. Rent a bike or hike the area. You can see the glistening lights of Vegas to the east, because you are actually in the foothills of the Redrock area, known for it's outstanding climbing routes.

The size of the guest rooms average about 560 square feet, and are very comfortable, with either king, queen or twin beds.What I really liked about the room was the huge Jacuzzi tub that you could lay down in. Ahhh - now that is pleasure!

Pool and Gardens - The elaborate $12.5 million complex of gardens and pools covers acres. The gardens include an 11,000 square foot grass edged pool with waterfall and four 25-yard swimming lanes, plus two 250-square foot spa pools equipped with handicap lifts. The Marriott Las Vegas is landscaped with 3,500 trees, including more than 800 palms, and features a $1.5 million lighting system. There is 24-hour valet parking service.

My usual first stop at a hotel is the in-house lounge. This is where you get the latest lounge lizard and bartender's versions of how to run a good hotel, and the chance to check out the out-of-towners. It is my Nielsen poll.

The chit chat was subdued and sublime, with a shift change, so there wasn't much coming forth with from the lounge bartender, just golf talk from a couple of packaged vacationers. After no major breaking news bulletins issued at the cozy lobby bar, I quickly drained my Heineken and spun away across the blond hardwood floors that could serve double duty in a line dance venue.

There are several restaurant presently at the JW Marriott. That evening I was inducted into fine Italian dining at Ceres, a formal and sedate dining venue - a sort of continental European atmosphere, with a very formal staff, held in check by the prim and proper restaurant manager, a step back to a Casablanca film figure. There we are back in Morocco. I really like Ceres, and they have a special room out towards the back of the restaurant that is private, but it was very hot - this was the last legs of summer. So I shed my jacket like snakeskin.

Ceres, in the Spa Tower, overlooks waterfalls and the garden and serves classic seafood dishes. Ceres also has a five seat section with a large paned glass looking on to the furiously working chefs. The chefs bring items to the glass for the diners to check, and they explain how things are prepared. It was a unique touch. You can sample the food, too.

This is Ceres' claim to fame - and it is fame well deserved, so pass it around to your friends.

* King Crab Mediterranean Seafood Stew.
* One pound of Alaska King Crab Legs.
* Pan-Seared Oregano Salmon, with Citrus Pine Nut Toasted Israeli Couscous. with Olive Roman Tomatoes, and Italian Parsley Butter Broth.
* Other fare includes Sea Bass, Snapper, Seafood Scampi, Lamb Chops, Steaks, Lobsters.

Everthing is served elegantly at Ceres. I picked the Salmon, just because it sounded the most elegant. When it arrived, it was seared perfectly, crispy outside, and flakey on the inside, just the way I like it. Take the Oyster Rockefeller for an appetizer.

Many of the other restaurants along the Promenade

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.

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