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| Gardens in Winter |
There is astonishing beauty to be found in Winter
Gardens.
Gardens.
I was yet again reminded of this looking out to my
Garden State home’s garden rooms.
Garden State home’s garden rooms.
I am transfixed by the sun hitting the leaves of the
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) as they stand guard around
the water garden fountain.
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) as they stand guard around
the water garden fountain.
The sun makes them positively shimmer.
The water fountain captures the snow in geometric patterns,
as does the parterre.
as does the parterre.
The urn atop the fountain is a snow cone of a winter
tiara.
tiara.
I admire the Red stems of the Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) and the Red bark of the Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum
‘Sango-kaku’) that together mark the arbor in winter.
‘Sango-kaku’) that together mark the arbor in winter.
Their red-color displays against the white of the snow
are a show-stopper.
are a show-stopper.
The Star Magnolia (Magnolia
stellate) is remarkable in that its
pussywillow-looking flower jackets
capture the sunlight too – their fuzzy robes sparkle.
capture the sunlight too – their fuzzy robes sparkle.
The herb garden glitters at night with little solar
lights dancing on the white snow and garden statues.
During the day, the rosemary, sage and sedum heads
peek out from the snow with their pretty stems and seed heads.
peek out from the snow with their pretty stems and seed heads.
The moon and lights twinkle on the garden’s snowscapes.
The thing here is that all this beauty was designed. Planned.
As a garden designer, I wanted the garden to knock us
out with beauty in every season.
out with beauty in every season.
It delivers.
When planning your garden designs, be sure to include
a layered mix of conifers, evergreen shrubs, trees, and perennials. The annuals
are just the punch of summer color here in the Northeast.
a layered mix of conifers, evergreen shrubs, trees, and perennials. The annuals
are just the punch of summer color here in the Northeast.
Also be sure to add garden hardscape and ornamental
elements, including art,
elements, including art,
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| A garden client’s Alice in Wonderland sculpture is indeed happy in her wonder-land |
bird baths; structure – as in arbors, pergolas and
walkways and parterres; rocks, stones; landscaped land – meaning hills or
swales and steps.
Snow brings lacy
patterns to the gardens especially as it forms ribbons of white on the hardscapes.
patterns to the gardens especially as it forms ribbons of white on the hardscapes.
Not so much lawn.
Think destination. Think a focal point where your eyes
lead you.
lead you.
These are the “bones” of a good garden design.
Also, be sure to add a bird feeder or two. It not only helps the birds but it makes for
a winter aerial show as the birds flock to the seed or suet.
a winter aerial show as the birds flock to the seed or suet.
Did you ever see the robins swarm fruits and berries
on your hollies and cotoneasters? Wow.
on your hollies and cotoneasters? Wow.
And if you love flowering plants so much that you must
have them in winter, there is plenty to choose from. I use a lot of winter blooming camellias,
have them in winter, there is plenty to choose from. I use a lot of winter blooming camellias,
hellebores, and
Paper Bush (Edgeworthia
chrysantha) to name a few.
Winter
Wonder in the Garden
Wonder in the Garden
The magnolia’s seemingly spindly branches managed to
hold a bricklayer’s pile of snow and yet not yield to the weight.
hold a bricklayer’s pile of snow and yet not yield to the weight.
Unlike the Arborvitae (Latin for Tree of Life) Thuja
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| arborvitaes looked like dragons or bears swaying to get inside |
During Monday’s snowstorm – it looked like the conifers
were swaying in toward the window – looking for all the world like some
snow-strapped animals or creatures from a Hobbit film.
were swaying in toward the window – looking for all the world like some
snow-strapped animals or creatures from a Hobbit film.
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| Can you see the face here? |
They bowed in half with the weight of the snow.
I did knock the snow off most of the branches especially in anticipation of the next, ice storm but you must be mindful. The plants need the water, too.
As did the cherry laurel. This was the first time I’ve
seen these evergreen shrubs laid low by snow.
seen these evergreen shrubs laid low by snow.
They looked like ballerinas in repose…
As I was posting the
beauty in the winter garden images, I was suddenly reminded that my garden
friend, Suzy Bales, shares my love of the winter garden.
beauty in the winter garden images, I was suddenly reminded that my garden
friend, Suzy Bales, shares my love of the winter garden.
In fact, Suzy wrote a
fabulous book about it. The Garden in Winter: Plant for Beauty and
Interest in the Quiet Season. goo.gl/QNmRrs
fabulous book about it. The Garden in Winter: Plant for Beauty and
Interest in the Quiet Season. goo.gl/QNmRrs
A few years back when
the book was first published, I wrote a book review for The Garden in Winter for
a gardening column in The Two River Times.
the book was first published, I wrote a book review for The Garden in Winter for
a gardening column in The Two River Times.
In looking up Suzy’s
book, I see another garden friend’s book: The Garden in Winter, by Rosemary
Verey goo.gl/koCd0N This book celebrates flowering winter plants.
Yes!
book, I see another garden friend’s book: The Garden in Winter, by Rosemary
Verey goo.gl/koCd0N This book celebrates flowering winter plants.
Yes!
For those of you who
just can’t bear not seeing flowers in the winter garden, consider these plants:
just can’t bear not seeing flowers in the winter garden, consider these plants:
“Rosa chinensis, Viola, Bergenia, Anemone, and Cyclomen, bloom intermittently
throughout the winter, and there are “characteristic” winter-bloomers
such as many types of bulbs, Camellias, Arbutus, and Buddleja.”
Don’t be a
Scaredy Cat. Don’t be afraid of Winter
Scaredy Cat. Don’t be afraid of Winter
At lunch last week, my first book editor and I were discussing how the
weather news media uses the language of war to describe seasonal weather!
weather news media uses the language of war to describe seasonal weather!
So aggressive…. And climate change, notwithstanding — it’s Winter.
While one must be prudent and driving conditions are certainly to be considered – and seniors need to be especially mindful, there is also a winter bias we must recognize and work to avoid.
Have fun. Remember, many travel to winter holiday resorts…
Engage in winter sports: ice-skating, sleigh riding, snow ball fights.
When is the last time you saw folks out enjoying the winter?
When is the last time you saw folks out enjoying the winter?
Winter foods and drinks enhance the sensuality of winter.
Take winter walks. Look at nature.
Observe. Winter trees, especially tree groves, offer unparalleled, artful patterns.
And there are few things more dramatic and inspiring than a winter’s sky.
Share the beauty.
Observe. Winter trees, especially tree groves, offer unparalleled, artful patterns.
And there are few things more dramatic and inspiring than a winter’s sky.
Share the beauty.
You will be astonished by the romance of winter. (Dream Dr.
Zhivago or The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The
Wardrobe)
Zhivago or The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The
Wardrobe)
Embrace the Splendor of the Winter Snow.
And know that it is like a spa treatment for your garden plants.
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I'm sorry that Google Blogger is not allowing me to post part of this story 🙁 I've tried several times — and will try again later when perhaps Google repairs the issue. sigh…