As
the temperatures continue their seasonal descent, I would hate for us to lose
sight of the beauty still lurking in the Winter landscape! Over the weekend I
was helping (in a sous chef kind of capacity) my girlfriend make a live green
Christmas wreath for her front door. (see pic below) It was great fun as we
tied our bundles of evergreens & chatted away. Her winterberry berries were
the crowning glory! This got me thinking
about our the plantings in our gardens and the winter interest they may hold...
Although you may not be planting it, this is
the time to plan for it - your winter landscape. Walking around a nursery this
time of year is the perfect way to observe what a potential tree or shrub will
look like this wonderful time of the year. Most are open selling Christmas trees,
wreaths, roping, poinsettias & greens, so walk around! Some of my favorite
shrubs are winterberry, firethorn, red twig dogwood, nandina, & cotoneaster. The non-deciduous boxwoods, azaleas
& hollies have beautiful foliage too. The evergreen trees like cypress,
cedar, white pine, spruce & hemlock are the bones of any landscape & evergreen
decorating. Trees with berries like dogwood, holly, chokeberry &
serviceberry are a feast for the eyes as well as the birds. (Sorry, yes they
will get eaten as some point). Make sure, if you are to purchase in spring or
fall, to ask your nursery or do your research on planting trees & shrubs
that berry. Many, like the holly & winterberry, require a male & female
planted in the same area in order for the flowers/berries to form.
Now it is time to get creative with your
holiday decorating! Even if you don't have the greens to cut on your own
property, I am sure you have a friend who does. Another great suggestion that
came from my garden club's president, is to buy inexpensive boxwood and pine
roping & deconstruct it. You will have plenty of plant material to work
with so let your creative juices take you wherever they may go. I started
collecting tabletop sleighs at garage sales & I love to stuff them with branches,
pinecones (some spray painted silver & gold of course) & picks &
lights (see pic below). My fireplace mantel is the traditional favorite with
beautiful branches of greens, lights & pinecones. Remember, you can
decorate with greens & berried branches all winter long too!
Enjoy being outside this winter, planning your garden & getting creative in your home with your Winter landscape!
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