Winter Garden

Winter Interest in the Garden  



Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

When I first started gardening years ago, I thought gardening was only for Spring and Summer. I believe that was the first time in my life, I openly admitted I was wrong. I almost thought I wasn't going to be able to write this article due to our abnormally warm and snow-less Winter.

I was wrong. Again. 
 





Winter for me is Do It Yourself season. I try to get any inside updates done because I am already trapped here because of the weather. I try to make the best of it. Another thing that I have done since moving up here to yankee territory, is rectify my view for all 4 seasons. There is nothing sadder then looking at dead grass and it's 5 degrees with no snow on the ground. For months.



Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.


I think it was my 2nd winter in our home that I looked out the window and literally said hell no. I need a better view. Picking up the house and moving to a new locale was my first idea. Later on, a more cost effective idea came to mind. Adding evergreens and conifers where I could, so during these bitterly cold snow covered months, I would have something to look at.

Imagine my shock when I found out how most evergreens are actually more disease resistant then a lot of perennials. I am still a novice (in my opinion) gardener. Simply because a lot of the gardeners I come in contact with look at a plant and exclaim "Oh that's a genus spursa hyper obtusa" and I have to give them a look that says I knew that. Which is a big fat blonde bold faced lie.



Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

I am on edge today as I am writing this. Simply because this afternoon into tomorrow we are going to get temperatures that range from 20 below to 50 below and I am worried about some of my favorites. They are zone 5 and those temps can easily kill a human let alone a Weeping Atlas Cedar. 

I am going to go to home depot and buy some 12' rebar stakes and some moving blankets to make a tee pee and wrap it to give it a fighting chance. 50 below temps just say kill kill kill to me and I don't want to lose these babies!



Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

Back to discussing winter interest; I also try adding hardscapes like metal sculpture or concrete ones for interest as well. I think everything looks beautiful covered in snow or ice, especially trees, or yard art.


Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

Just an FYI, I snapped these pics with my cell phone. I am surprised I was able to snap the snowflakes. I am no professional photographer but my cell phone does better then my camera.


Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.



Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

This beauty below is one I bought about 8 years ago at a flea market for twenty bucks. Every winter is yellows and every year I go into shock thinking it's dead.

Then I remember it does this every winter. It didn't come with a tag and I forget the name but the birds love it and any bird house I put near this specimen they flock too.


Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

I may need to find another one!

My skyrocket junipers are doing great. I cannot wait for them to get over 5 feet and really start to show off their color.


Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.

Happy snow day!




Adding winter interest in the garden using evergreens and conifers for color and structure.