Today we’re visiting with regular GPOD contributor Carla Z. Mudry in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
The garden in winter is magical all on its own. It doesn’t have the lushness of a full summer garden awash in colors and blooms, or the refreshed newness of spring awakening full of new greens and springtime bulbs, or even the golden hues of fall, but it has sparkling, frozen magic. Its bare form and structure are different than in other seasons, but it has a stark beauty interspersed with the glorious greens of evergreen shrubs and trees.
It is so worth developing a four-season garden. Even in winter, like all dreams of spring, I love my garden in winter.
Walk around your garden this winter. See you all in the spring!
Owl sculptures in the garden, dressed up in the snow
In winter, the bones of the garden—tree trunks and evergreen shrubs—are everything.
A garden bench under a holly tree (
Ilex opaca, Zones 5–10) has received a soft cushion of white snow.
A bright red birdhouse looks all the brighter in the winter landscape.
A holly branch with bright red berries creates a classic winter vignette.
The delicate colors of the stems of these shrubs go unnoticed in the summer, but they take center stage against the snow.
The leaves of
Rhododendron act as mini-thermometers, hanging down and curling tight in the coldest weather and opening up again when it warms up.
The flower heads of smooth hydrangea (
Hydrangea arborescens, Zones 3–9) fade to brown and hang on all winter.
Of course, conifers are the kings of the winter garden, looking all the more beautiful when topped with fresh snow.
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Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo
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The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
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The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Comments
I have so enjoyed your beautiful winter garden, Carla! Thank you so much for sharing this winter beauty. You have inspired me to really appreciate the often overlooked beauty of a garden at this time of year. Thank you for opening my eyes to this new perspective for me!
Thanks for sharing your winter garden! It’s difficult to make the garden as interesting in winter as in other seasons, but oh, so rewarding, and just when we need it most!
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