Alpines have been a favourite plant for generations of gardeners and are as popular now as ever. Historically they were used in rockeries, but they offer far more potential for today's gardens, which are generally becoming smaller. Whether planted in troughs, window boxes, raised beds or between paving, alpines offer fantastic versatility and colour for nearly every month of the year.
Michael Mitchell started Slack Top Alpine Nursery on leaving Askham Bryan Horticultural College in 1986 and now has twenty-five years experience in the propagation and cultivation of alpine and woodland plants. Michael has taught alpine courses for the Royal Horticultural Society at their garden in Harrogate for several years. Michael and his wife Allison started exhibiting their alpine plants at several of the major UK flower shows in 2006 and have since won seven gold medals.
"For a long time I have struggled to find a single book to recommend to beginners taking up alpines and rock gardening other than the Collins Guide to Alpines and Rock Gardens (first published in 1964), but now here is a new book that I am confident will guide both beginner and novice in all aspects of growing alpines. This is obviously a book that is written from years of practical experience and does, I would say, live up to its title and cover all the essential information you will need when growing alpines."
- Scottish Rock Garden Society