Winter Doesn't End the Beauty of Your Garden

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Posted by @jvdubb on
Some gardeners mourn the end of their growing season when plants die back. Some gardeners work hard in the fall, cleaning out their beds and cutting everything back for tidiness. While there are reasons to cut back some plants, I've come to love my winterscape when things are left as is.

Okay, I will admit that pure laziness is part of the reason I leave my fall gardens as is, but there is something Dr Seuss-ish about the landscape left with the winterbitten plants and dried-out grasses against the white snow and, of course, the naked trees.

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Grasses are well known for their winter interest.
Freezing rain stuck to Eragrostis Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/9d2deb

I love the red curls of this Panicum Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/6822cd

Muhlenbergia loses its color but not its light wispiness Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/b43823

Carex Frosted Curls keeps some of its color Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/ac1ac6

Juncus playfully pops through the snow Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/b86b36

And Schizachyrium dazzles with color and texture Thumb of 2015-01-29/jvdubb/affacb

Changing shapes are some of my favorite winter alterations.
Anaphalis blooms mature to this
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Rudbeckia against the shed
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Even the mums look cool. Someone said they look like little hula skirts!
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Opened Asclepias seed pods wave like a beauty queen
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Astilbe and hydrangea blooms lose color but keep their wonderful shape
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Winter is also a great time for color!
Some plants keep their color, such as Primulas, Carex Evergold, Santolina, and Antennaria. For me, some green is always a welcome winter sight.
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Dianthus also can remain green for much of the winter
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And of course, many Sedums provide entertaining winter color. Sedum Tricolor holds its color, while Sedum Angelina turns wonderful warm shades
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Red Twig Dogwoods also provide fire red to keep your winter soul warm
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See: Lazy gardening does have its benefits!

And then more snow comes and creates a whole new scene!
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Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Beautiful winter garden! by CarolineScott Feb 24, 2015 10:49 AM 4
The glory of a garden in winter by flaflwrgrl Feb 23, 2015 7:55 PM 3
birds! by frankrichards16 Feb 23, 2015 6:21 PM 0

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