The Garden In Winter

September 01, 2012

Winter. The gardener’s down time. That time when we can relax and enjoy our gardens from the comfort and warmth of our cozy homes and easy chairs. Now, what exactly are you going to be seeing when you gaze out your windows this winter? Are you going to be looking at an empty snow-covered landscape, or are you going to be looking at a snow-covered wonderland full of interesting shapes and textures?

By adding structural and architectural elements to your garden, you can add visual interest even in the months when the garden is dormant. Using trellises, walls, statuary, gazebos, and other solid structures in your landscape can add visual interest when the plants have stopped blooming, especially when they are covered with a fresh blanket of snow.

Certain plants can also add interest to the winter garden. Evergreens are an excellent addition as they hold their color all year. They come in many different shapes and sizes to fit nearly any landscape. They even sport differing colorations, from blue to green to gold. Planted in hedges or individually as accents, they add color and structure to the winter landscape.

Don’t forget that some plants have interesting seed or bloom heads. You can leave these on the plants to dry, and they add interest in the winter months. Also, trees and shrubs that produce fruit can hold on to some of their berries well into the cold season. In addition to a splash of color, these are excellent food sources of animals and birds. Even bare tree branches can make a statement in the winter garden. The book The Garden In Winter by Suzy Bales offers fabulous photographs of winter gardens and plant suggestions to help you create your own winter garden.

Heather C.
Lee's Summit Branch