Nephrite such as Lantian, Shaanxi, were also in great demand). There, white and greenish nephrite jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the Kuen-Lun mountain range northward into the Takla-Makan desert area. River jade collection was concentrated in the Yarkand, and the White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash) Rivers in Khotan. From the Kingdom of Khotan, on the southern leg of the Silk Road, yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the Chinese imperial court and there transformed into "objets d'art" by skilled artisans, as
Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa The Ornamental Gardens are located at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Once used as a test facility for the development of winter hardy roses, weigela and peonies, it now acts as the steward to several large collections of ornamentals. Several notable collections include the Explorer rose collection, the Arthur Percy Saunders peonies and the Isabella Preston lilac series. To provide a proper environment for the many plant collections the Ornamental Gardens has been subdivided into several features. These include the Macoun Memorial garden, the Lilac walk, the Rock garden, the Perennial