Garden Photo of the Day

It’s that time of year

Keep your eyes peeled for wonderful winter scenes

Today’s GPOD is a reminder that just because snow and cold weather are on their way (or already here), you should still be enjoying the beauty of your garden. Even more, you should be taking pictures of that beauty and sending them in to us! And, let’s be honest, we all love to see gardens and flowers any time, so if you have photos of those, send them in, too. [email protected]

Have a garden you'd like to share? Email 5-10 high-resolution photos (there is no need to reduce photo sizing before sending—simply point, shoot and send the photos our way) and a brief story about your garden to [email protected]. Please include where you're located!

Sending photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box is just fine.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

You don't have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!

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  1. user-7007498 12/14/2017

    We just had our second snowfall tonight in Harrisburg, only a couple of inches, but everything is beautiful. I enjoy winter when there is fresh snow on the ground. The trees, perennials, and especially the ornamental grasses are as gorgeous as ever.

    It always kills me to see people cut down ornamental grasses in the fall (or even sedum, echinacea and other perennials with great winter interest). The Hakonechloa in the first picture looks wonderful in the snow, as well as the ?Panicum virgatum in the 3rd picture.

    I have sent in some winter photos yesterday, so hopefully they will be posted soon.

    1. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

      Looking forward to seeing your post, Kev. To continue the 'white/cream' theme, this Grevillea 'Ivory Whip' is in bloom down here at the moment (Michaele has had a sneak preview of this pic. and in her inimitable style thought that it was like a 'chorus line of frilly dancers'. Cheers from Oz mate

      1. user-4691082 12/14/2017

        That is a cool plant!!!!

      2. user-7007498 12/14/2017

        What a great looking flower on that plant. Your photos are causing me to read up on a lot of plants I never heard of. Thanks, Frank, for pushing my gardening education. It looks like this plant is very long flowering. How wonderful.

      3. Maggieat11 12/14/2017

        Such a unique plant! Thanks for sharing, Frank!

      4. User avater
        meander_michaele 12/14/2017

        I'm going to be lazy and ask you, Frank, instead of googling...is this a bush type plant or a tree? And those leaves are so slender, they almost look like needles. My ideal would be for it to be a bush that allows those exquisite flowers to be seen at eye level or gazed down on slightly.

        1. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

          It is a medium to large sized bush, Michaele. Plenty of flowers (5-6 inches long) at eye level. Bees and nectar seeking birds are attracted to the flowers.

      5. cheryl_c 12/14/2017

        Frank, you have again caused an arousal of plant envy! If only Oz wasn't such a long plane ride away! BTW, our Aussie relatives landed in San Fran yesterday, and will be here on Monday for a 10 day visit. You all sure have a better concept of 'holiday' (4 weeks) than we do!

        1. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

          Yep you could see a lot and have a great time down here over 4 weeks, Cheryl. Once you are on the plane, time will fly - especially if you are at the front end of the plane. Have a great time with your Aussie relatives from Queensland where snow is unheard of. Get some Tim Tam biscuits/cookies (Arnotts) if you would like to impress them.

      6. sheila_schultz 12/14/2017

        The plants and flowers you have shared with us from your part of the world are big, bold and outrageously cool, Frank! Definitely fitting for Oz!!!

        1. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

          We are such show-offs too, Sheila.

          1. cheryl_c 12/15/2017

            Stunning! You keep holding back and 'dripping' them to us, one at a time! Actually our family (son, daughter-in-law, and 12 year old granddaughter) live in Victoria. Andy works in Melbourne, as 'assistant principal bassist' for the Melbourne symphony. Our granddaughter is showing equal talent on the violin and saxophone!
            We've been to Oz twice before, and to New Zealand for one of those trips. The plane trip makes it hard for me, even sitting toward the front, so I'm not sure we'll get back there again - I'm too claustrophobic! BUT, these pictures you are sending sure are making me rethink all that....

          2. frankgreenhalgh 12/15/2017

            Hey Cheryl - Please accept my sincere apologies for my confusion - the kangaroo in my top paddock seems to get lost now and then. Well, they are here in Victoria - better still! Obviously a talented family. Claustrophobia is not nice - so I understand your situation. Our main house is in Melbourne. Hope your family enjoys Melbourne - the world's most liveable city (now that I have typed this - I think have mentioned it to you previously. Cheers, Frank
            PS. Today's GPOD features barns - I'm wondering if there would be any interest in your part of the world in pics. of rotundas/gazebos in pubic gardens in Melbourne and country centres in Victoria.

          3. cheryl_c 12/15/2017

            I think we'd love to see pics of garden structures from other parts of the world! No problem on not recalling every detail of previous conversations. They love Australia, and I'm not sure we'll ever get them back Stateside to live...just to visit.

          4. sheila_schultz 12/15/2017

            Showing off with these glorious blooms... well deserved, my friend!

      7. User avater
        LindaonWhidbey 12/14/2017

        Frank, this flower is a winner. Our small grevillias that we planted last summer had minuscule flowering which we hope will increase over the years. I doubt if this beautiful varietal grows in our area.

        1. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

          Linda, it is a pretty tough plant which grows quickly. If you don't have snow hanging around it might be OK, especially if you already have a surviving Grevillea. Yes the flowers of your current Grevillea will probably get bigger as the plant grows. Good luck with it. Grevillea species vary greatly - from prostrate forms to tall trees - it is an amazing genus.

        2. frankgreenhalgh 12/14/2017

          To show the diversity of the genus here is another species, Linda.

          1. User avater
            meander_michaele 12/14/2017

            And, just look, even your butterflies have extra special coloration.

          2. user-6536305 12/14/2017

            Oh wow! Are these for real? Thanks for sharing Frank?

      8. user-7008735 12/15/2017

        I see the Can Can dancers, too! Such cool flowers!

    2. soilgoil 12/14/2017

      Kevin, I agree that Hakonechloa and other ornamental grasses are beautiful year round. However, I've had a problem with Japanese Forest Grass; it has attempted to take over my dwarf and miniature shrub garden to the point where I've had to hire someone to help me grub out the invasive roots and haul off the topsoil to avoid it spreading further.

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 12/14/2017

    Hmmm, the shovel included in the last picture strikes me as symbolic of the eternal optimism that resides within a gardener's heart...there will always be a reason to dig some new holes for another round of planting. I'm guilty of this as I just bought a red twig dogwood call 'Arctic Fire' and now have to find a place to put it.

    1. sheila_schultz 12/14/2017

      You'll love Arctic Fire Michaele... it's a great dogwood!

      1. User avater
        meander_michaele 12/14/2017

        I'm looking forward to it settling in and producing lots of branches for color next winter. I have a large grouping of a variegated leaf variety called 'Strawberry Daiquiri' and they have certainly not disappointed with their winter red stems. I was hoping 'Arctic Fire' would seem a bit more orangy red but that doesn't seem to be the case. However, I like the idea of its more compact size. Doing some google searches has brought one named 'Midwinter Fire' to my attention but that might have to be a mail order purchase next spring.

        1. sheila_schultz 12/14/2017

          As soon as you mentioned Midwinter Fire, I realized that my memory betrayed me because I had Midwinter Fire, not Arctic Fire. The orange/red coloring of the branches of MF are great in the winter, but... it is very, very twiggy and is determined to spread rapidly. It also is a fast grower. Within 2-3 years, the mail-order twig I planted was about 8' tall and it was a good 12-13' when I moved. It is definitely an upright grower as opposed to being bushy.

          1. User avater
            meander_michaele 12/14/2017

            Whoa...thank you for that information on Midwinter Fire. It sounds like it might be more vigorous than I am interested in. I wonder how it would behave if confined in a container...any thoughts?

          2. sheila_schultz 12/14/2017

            Hmmm... I really don't know how it would do in a container, but it might be worth a try if the pot is sizable! They take to pruning nicely, so containing it might be the answer if you are looking for a more manageable shrub. Actually, if you had a spot in front of an evergreen, the winter contrast would be stunning! You'll be pleased with the color!

    2. User avater
      LindaonWhidbey 12/14/2017

      Great choice. Would love to add this to our garden but the deer eat them like candy:(

      1. User avater
        meander_michaele 12/14/2017

        I know I shouldn't tempt fate by saying this but, man, I feel so lucky (so far) that the deer don't come up into my garden areas. I see them running across a hay field to go into our woods so I know they are around. I know they have their charm but I prefer to see them from a distance and not have them chow down on my plants.

        1. User avater
          LindaonWhidbey 12/14/2017

          You’re right , Michaele, about the deer being beautiful to look at but it gets harder to appreciate them when they destroy an expensive conifer by using it as their scratching post. I hope that you continue to see them from a distance:)

  3. cheryl_c 12/14/2017

    We've not had the blessing of snow yet, but I've been admiring seed heads on the 'weeds' in our glade garden (also called the 'power line easement), where the white crown beard is 5 feet tall with flat topped clusters of seeds - I'm waiting for snow or a really wet frost to capture those and the grey head coneflowers. Does anybody else love the seed heads of caryopteris as much as I? They make small cones of snow when the conditions are right.

  4. User avater
    LindaonWhidbey 12/14/2017

    We rarely get snow on Whidbey and if it falls, it doesn’t usually last through the day so we have a totally different kind of winter. It’s still pretty but nothing quite beats that newly fallen snow making interesting shapes in the garden.

  5. foxglove12 12/14/2017

    Heavenly!

  6. user-6536305 12/14/2017

    Nice winter garden especially love the lost photo! Thanks for sharing!

  7. btucker9675 12/14/2017

    Loved how the chokeberry in my front border in NJ looked with snow on it... but then the wild turkeys would stomp through and eat every last berry! : )

    1. cheryl_c 12/15/2017

      Darn those turkeys! Stomping through!

      1. btucker9675 12/15/2017

        They were also beautiful in the snow with the sun gleaming on their plumage, so that sort of made up for the berry plundering!

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