Garden Photo of the Day

Winter Interest in New England

Bark, branches, and leaves to keep the garden beautiful

By GPOD Contributor

Today’s photos come from Barbara Cain.

Hello and happy spring! I’d like to share some photos of the plants I have incorporated into my garden for winter interest. Normally the New England winter is long and dull, so I have added plants that have interesting bark or leaves and that are showy this time of year.

Japanese stewartiaJapanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia, Zones 5–8) has a lot going for it—showy white flowers in the summer and red fall color, but the intricately patterned and colored bark lasts throughout the year and may be the most beautiful feature of this small tree.

Paperbark maplePaperbark maple (Acer griseum, Zones 4–8) has warm brown bark that peels away in delicate sheets.

lacebark pinePines and other conifers bring winter interest as evergreens, of course, but the lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana, Zones 5–8) also boasts colorful, patterned bark.

Dawn redwood
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Zones 4–8) is an unusual conifer that is actually deciduous. The species was first described from the fossil record, and 150 million years ago it was common across the northern hemisphere, but it was thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered in central China. Now it is widely grown in gardens, where we can enjoy its textured bark and unusually shaped trunks.

Sasa veitchii
Winter interest doesn’t just come trees. Sasa veitchii (Zones 6–9) is a bamboo with broad green leaves that develop distinctive light tan margins during the winter. Like most bamboos, though, this plant can spread aggressively, so plant with care.

‘Arnold Promise’ witch hazel
Witch hazels are always one of the first plants to begin blooming in late winter and early spring. This is the variety ‘Arnold Promise’ (Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’, Zones 5–8), which has profuse, fragrant, yellow blossoms.

Cornelian cherry dogwood
Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas, Zones 4–8) has clusters of tiny, bright yellow blooms early in the spring. The flowers will be followed by edible red fruits later in the year.

Weeping katsura
Weeping katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendula’, Zones 4–8) is always a beautiful tree, but with the leaves gone during the winter, you can enjoy the intricate pattern created by the weeping limbs.

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.

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

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

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Sun Joe Cordless Telescoping Pole Chain Saw

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

BAR + CHAIN: 8 in. auto-lubricating bar + chain with 2.7 fl oz oil tank capacity and oil level window. TELESCOPIC: Telescoping pole extends from 3.7 ft to 7.2 ft, providing up to 14 ft of overhead reach. ADJUSTABLE HEAD: Multi-angle head adjusts from 0º to 30º 24-VOLT SYSTEM: 24V 2.0 Ah IONMAX lithium-ion battery allows for up to 32 cuts of 4" x 4" pine on a single charge.
Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece
Buy at Amazon

VegTrug Classic Cold Frame

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Provide a natural growing habitat for your plants with VegTrug’s durable and versatile Cold Frame. A spacious and visually attractive cold frame provides the perfect microclimate environment to extend your growing season. The wood frame has 6mm double insulated and shatterproof polycarbonate that safeguards your plants from extreme weather conditions.
Buy at Amazon
X
View 12 comments

Comments

  1. User avater
    user-7007816 03/23/2020

    You have an amazing collection of unusual and beautiful plants. Great work.

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 03/23/2020

    Loved your photos...esp. of the various tree barks...all are so fascinating and worthy of having their very own centerstage close up. The foliage of Sasa veitchii is truly striking and I'm curious about how tall it gets, etc.

  3. User avater
    treasuresmom 03/23/2020

    Love all the trees but especially the katsura.

  4. sagebird52 03/23/2020

    Very interesting - trees add so much in so many ways and seasons . Thanks.

  5. User avater
    simplesue 03/23/2020

    I spotted the unique leaves of Sasa veitchii right away! I grow Sasa Palmata, just fine in zone 6b in Pittsburgh. I could not ge the vietchii to survive for some reason.
    Your photos capture garden interest in winter...a time to see the garden a different way than a gardener sees it in spring or summer...thanks for sharing.

  6. cheryl_c 03/23/2020

    Barbara, your photos could make a lovely atlas of plants with winter interest! What a fabulous variety you have, several of which I only know from photos. Thanks for sharing!

  7. SteveA 03/23/2020

    Barbara, I have always wanted to plant Pinus bungeana. How long since you planted it?

  8. User avater
    bdowen 03/23/2020

    A good reminder to think beyond summer's flowers. The tree bark photos show a lot of variety.

  9. janeeliz 03/23/2020

    Beautiful photos of your awesome trees! Love them all.

  10. Maggieat11 03/23/2020

    What a lovely collection you have. Great to share them with us. I have been wanting a Lacebark Pine and a J. Stewartia for some time now...

  11. user-5117752 03/23/2020

    Wonderful reminder of how beautiful tree bark and winter looks can be. We often forget to think that far in advance when doing our plantings. I'm still learning and I've been gardening for almost 20 years now.

  12. user-7007940 03/24/2020

    Such a nice collection of trees. Beautiful

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage 

In this episode, we’re turning up the drama—garden drama, that is! We’re talking all about plants with big, bold foliage that steal the show and bring serious texture and presence…
Design
Green Heroes: Plants Making a Positive Environmental Impact

This article has the potential to be very short. That is because most garden plants provide some type of environmental benefit to their immediate surroundings—assuming they are chosen appropriately for…
Design
Fine Gardening Magazine Issue #223 Web Extras

All Magazine Extras!

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage 
How-To

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers