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The Garden in Winter
Winter is the perfect time to inspect the underlying structure
of the garden and make any necessary changes to enhance its appeal.
This structure is often called the "bones" of the garden.
It includes permanent architectural elements such as walls and fences,
but also the forms of trees, shrubs and woody perennials which add
form, texture and color when deciduous plants are bare of leaves.
Architectural elements should be chosen carefully for seasonless
appeal. Of course, existing walls and fences already contribute,
but arbors and trellises have an appeal of their own. During the
growing season, they provide support while hidden beneath climbing
plants, adding height to the garden. In winter, their forms are
revealed as defining structural elements in contrast to the winter
colors of carefully chosen plants and shrubs.
Your garden doesn't have to become a brown sodden mess in winter
if planned carefully. There are many plants whose contrasting forms,
textures and colors add winter interest. Though their beauty may
be more subtle than the riot of color that is the garden in spring,
they are still extremely important. Evergreens, trees and shrubs
with interesting bark or brightly colored stems, bushes covered
in bright berries, and the graceful forms of twisted limbs serve
to create varying textures, colors and shapes which come into their
own at this time. During the warmer months, they serve to anchor
the garden and become an elegant backdrop for blooming perennials
and annuals.
One of our favorites is the Golden False Cypress. It's hair-like
foliage and strong golden color are very striking in the winter
 garden,
adding an unusual color and texture. Its golden mounding form is
especially elegant when dusted with snow.
Another great asset to the winter garden is the Paperbark Maple.
It's subtle multicolored bark and deep texture create lots of interest,
especially when paired with plants with brightly hued leaves such
as those of Burning Bush, or when contrasting with the dark green
of an evergreen shrub as seen here (right).
 Deciduous
shrubs and trees with unusual forms are planted for the interest
and structure they provide to the winter garden once their leaves
have dropped. The most popular of these are the contorted Pussy
Willows that have curly stems and branches in a bronzy-red color
and the contorted hazelnut, popularly known as 'Harry Lauder's Walking
Stick' (see left). This slow grower will spread over time, and should
be pruned back occasionally for form, but there is nothing like
its curling branches when covered in a layer of snow.
 Plants
with brightly colored berries add great texture and color to the
winter garden and provide a much needed source of winter food for
songbirds. There's the bright orange glow of Pyracantha, the shocking
reds of the Hollies (left)and Nandinas (right), and the subtle steel
blue of the stately Juniper. The evergreen leaves and needles of
these plants are the perfect foil for their bright berries, bringing
green hues and textures that offset them well.
 Some
perennials known for their flowers and scented foliage during the
growing season are beautiful in the winter garden too. The evergreen
foliage of Lavender 'Munstead' (left) gives off a subtle silver
sheen in summer when topped by its spires of violet blooms. Once
the blooms are gone and the weather grown cold, the silver glows
against the dark of the surrounding soil. Another silver beauty
is Russian Sage (right). Even though the plant dies back to the
ground in winter, it's dead branches and stems add silvery threadlike
shapes to the winter garden if it is left uncut until spring.
 The
popular Burning Bush is not the only shrub planted for its red color
in winter.
Another very popular plant, and another of our favorites, is the
Red Twig Dogwood (left). Its bright red stems contrast sharply with
the dark surrounding soil and any evergreen it is combined with.
Another beautiful shrub that reaches somewhat larger proportions
is the Red Tipped Phontina (right). It is one of the few evergreen
garden plants with ovoid leaves making it a wonderful foliage contrast
to the spiny, needle-covered conifers.
 The
conifers themselves come in a wide variety of colors and shapes.
They vary in hue from gold to dark green to blue.  Their
forms have an even wider range from enormous heights to groundcovers
with weeping, globular or columnar shapes. Some varieties are green
in summer and turn golden in winter. Varieties of Arbor Vitae such
as the globular Thuja 'Rheingold' (right) have golden tipped branches
in summer which turn a beautiful bronze in winter. 'Emerald Green'
is another, more columnar, Arbor Vitae that also takes on a bronzy
hue in the colder months.
 Last,
but far from least, are those lovely plants which grace us with
their blooms in winter. The Lenten Rose, probably the most popular
of the hellebores, blooms in late January to early February bearing
clusters of light green bell-shaped blooms atop mounds of fan-like
foliage. It is a must in the winter garden, bearing the promise
of spring to come. The thrill of discovering it has bloomed while
out strolling can brighten the darkest of winter days.
 In
the more southern zones, Camellias are the roses of winter. Various
varieties bloom from December to March in shades of red, pink and
white. The blossoms can vary from single to semi-double to double
in form. There is sure to be one or more you'll find invaluable
additions to your winter landscape.
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